Have you ever heard someone say, “There are NO coincidences or there are no accidents“? You might hear this in reference to someone you sat next to at a bible study who later becomes an instrumental part of your life. Or it might be the person who “happened” to check you out at the grocery store, that you felt moved to say a kind word to and later find that it kept her from taking her own life like she had planned. It might take the form of something like “The person you married was no coincidence” or “that person who happened to be driving by…and stopped when you crashed your car…and ended up saving your life”…was no coincidence.

We all here these comments from time to time. The question is “Do you believe it?“  Are people just wishful thinkers, or is God really so intimately involved in our daily lives that he orchestrate events on our behalf?

In John Ortberg’s book “The Life You Always Wanted”, he posed a similar question that resonated with me: Why are people ok about praying TO God for everything…but seem skeptical and call people crazy when they suggest that He talked back?…as if God only hears and never speaks! Or in our case…why are they surprised when He responds through another person or event in our life?

I’m hear to tell you that God does speak to us, and I firmly believe that there are no coincidences. We don’t always recognize them at the time, but hindsight has a way of revealing them to us. I believe God CAN speak to us audibly (although it’s arguably more rare…and apparently not His preferred communication style). More often than not He speaks to us through other people, animals, events (coincidences), His Bible, a sunrise, the look  on the face of a small child, an innocent and unknowing question that strikes deep into our heart to address an issue we were struggling with, etc…

I have many stories of how God orchestrates “coincidences” to share over the coming months. However, I also want to hear your stories. If you have a story to share, please email it to brad AT deeperbiblestudies DOT com.