Just keep trusting

Lift up your eyes

It happened in a Starbucks shop on 51st Street and Broadway, just a hop, skip and jump from Times Square. He was playing keyboard and singing backup for his friend who added rhythm with an arsenal of percussions. Apparently, they were striking all the right cords because the basket was close to overflowing with tips.

During their rendition of “You’ll Never Know,” he noticed a lady singing along with them. After the song was over she came over and apologized. “Did my singing along bother you?” she asked. “No,” he replied, “We love it when the audience joins in. Would you like to sing up front on the next number?”

To his delight she accepted. “What would you like to sing?” he asked. “Well,” she said, “do you know any hymns?” She didn’t know who she was dealing with. He grew up singing hymns with his mother. “Just name one,” he said.

She was strangely silent for a moment and then said, “Goodness, I don’t know, there are so many good ones. You pick one.” He thought for a moment. “Okay, how about ‘His Eye is on the Sparrow’?” His new friend was silent, her eyes averted. Then she said, “Yeah, let’s do that one.” With his two-bar setup, she began to sing.

Why should I feel discouraged?

Why should the shadows come?

Why should my heart fell lonely

And long for heaven and home?

The audience of coffee drinkers was transfixed. The song rose to its conclusion.

I sing because I’m happy;

I sing because I’m free.

His eye is on the sparrow

And I know he watches me.

The applause was deafening. Embarrassed, the woman tried to shout over the din, “Oh, go back to your coffee! I didn’t come in here to do a concert! I just came in to get something to drink, just like you!”

But the ovation continued. He embraced his new friend. “My dear, you have made my whole year. That was beautiful!”

“Funny, that you picked that hymn,” she said, “It was my daughter’s favorite song.” “Really?” he exclaimed.

“Yes,” she said, grabbing his hands. “She was 16. She died of a brain tumor last week.”

Stunned, he asked, “Are you going to be okay?” She smiled through tears, “Sure! I’ve just got to keep trusting the Lord and singing his song and all will be fine.”

How did it all happen? That they were playing in that particular coffee shop? On that particular night? That a wonderful lady happened to walk in? Of all the hymns he knew, that he happened to pick the one that was her daughter’s favorite?

Coincidence? I don’t think so. Someday I believe we will learn that God has had more to do with what happens than we ever dreamed. I think He has been arranging such encounters since the beginning of time. What do you think?

And it’s a great truth—“If we just keep trusting God and singing his song, everything’s going to be okay.”

“This is the victory that overcomes the world—our faith.” (I John 5:4)