By Kristen Cain, who is based in Michigan

One Friday night I drove to Windsor, Ontario to lead a ministry meeting. I left later than usual and ended up getting stuck in traffic. I should have known I would get stuck in traffic, as Fridays and Saturdays are usually busy times at customs at the bridge going into Canada. I found myself frustrated as I sat on the bridge waiting for the semi trucks to get through, and all the many cars and trucks in front of me.

I’m going to be late! I grumbled to myself as I looked at the clock on my truck dash. Better call Kevin at the church and let him know I’m stuck in traffic. As I reached for my hip, it dawned on me that I must have left my cell phone on the kitchen counter. And I was already more than 15 minutes late!

Most of the time our support ministry meets in a converted bar that has been turned into a little church down on Dullard Road. Trey has a spare key but is out of town today, and so Kevin won’t be able to open the door, I thought, as I glanced at the dash again. Now I was really frustrated. Didn’t God know I needed to be there? What was Kevin going to do, and did he even know I was coming?

It felt like forever, but finally I managed to get through customs and get down to the church. I was over 45 minutes late. Frustrated, I parked, jumped out of the truck, and discovered no one was at the building. I unlocked the door and walked in. A few minutes later, I stepped out the door and looked up and down the street. Nothing!

I finally decided I probably needed to call Kevin, so I drove over to the local McDonald’s to use the pay phone. When he answered, I quickly apologized for my tardiness and forgetfulness to bring my phone.

“I noticed that the soup kitchen mission was open around the corner so we are just meeting in the back room over here,” he said. “Daren let us in.”

I had met Daren a few years back. He and his wife, Mandy, run a soup kitchen two days a week on the next street over. I jumped into my truck and drove back to where my group was meeting. I met Mandy at the door and thanked her for letting us have access to their building. Her response really struck a chord in me: “Isn’t that what Christians do for each other? It really wasn’t a problem.”

As I drove home that evening, I thought about what a crazy day it had been and all the things that had been stressing on me. But more than anything I felt humbled and amazed at God’s provision. He had foreknown what was going to happen that day, and in his great provision had taken care of the whole situation. The meeting had managed to go on without me. Imagine that!

Why had I worried so? Was the God of Creation not even capable of taking care of a simple meeting for this ministry?

This day was a great reminder to me of how God certainly doesn’t need us, nor is He controlled by our circumstances. When we think about who He is, our role to play is rather small in comparison. We are more like children trying to assist their father. While the Father is busy at work, we simply have the honor of taking part in it. Thank you, Jesus!