Have you ever looked around just observing people and then saw something you knew was not right? I experienced something similar during our time feeding the homeless in Jaco, Costa Rica. We were standing in a circle listening to the message before the meal when I look up and see my friend Enrique make eye contact with a shady looking man standing outside the circle. Enrique gave the man eye contact and a slight nod as if to say “Let’s talk later.”
I knew in my gut that this was not good! I said a quick prayer and finished serving the evening meal. I knew I had to say something to my friend. I looked Enrique in the eyes and boldly asked about the man standing outside the circle. I could see on his face he was shocked that I noticed what had happened and could tell that he was about to make a bad decision.
Apparently the shady guy was a drug dealer who wanted to use Enrique to translate with his customers who couldn’t speak English. He knew it was wrong to help him but he needed food and money to survive. He assured me he hadn’t done business with him since he got a job but I could see my friend struggling to do the right thing. Enrique wanted to leave the homeless feeding early and I knew he was going to go talk to the drug dealer. So I asked if we could pray for him before he left. My team huddled around him and prayed words of truth and encouragement. We parted ways not knowing what would happen to him that night but praying the Holy Spirit would speak loudly to his soul. I left feeling encouraged because I felt the Holy Spirit strongly use me to speak life into the situation.
A week went by and we saw Enrique on the streets with the drug dealer. We all greeted Enrique with hugs and told him we cared for him as he walked away. We stopped prayed for him right there on the street. We knew Enrique needed to make his own decision and we did all we could to point him the right direction but my heart still ached for him as we walked away. I wanted him to kick that guy to the curb and fully embrace the life God had for him.
As I sit here processing my interactions with him I know the Lord is telling me that we all do the same thing to Him. God pours into my life day after day and I have to choose what I am going to do with it. Am I going to follow his path or am I going to try things my way today? Regardless of what I choose He still loves me the same and invites me back into his loving embrace to try again the next day. In the midst of a hard day I am reminded that my God’s love for us never changes.
