Bringing Hope to Strangers

I used to work on the eighth floor of a building full of medical and dental offices in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. After finishing my shift one day, I waited for an elevator. Coincidentally, two opened their doors at exactly the same time.

Quickly glancing at both of them, I saw a family crying in one and nobody in the other. My first natural impulse was to go to the empty one.

But in a fraction of second, I felt impressed to get in the elevator with the family. Even though they were standing in the back of the elevator and I was facing the door, I could hear them crying all the way to the lobby.

My heart ached because they had certainly just received a devastating diagnosis. When the elevator stopped, I held the door and waited for them to leave.

At this moment I heard a voice telling me to give them The Great Controversy CD that I had in my purse. Everything happened so quickly that they left the building without the CD. Their car was right in front of the building, but I was not brave enough to stop them. While crossing the street to go to the bus stop, the voice insisted.

So I turned back. I glanced at the car, and the driver’s window was closed. Getting closer, I noticed that the passenger window was open.

I stretched out my arm and offered the CD to the wife, telling her that God had asked me to give it to them. On its cover, she read, “A biblical study series that will bring hope to you and your family.” She told me that for sure God had used me because I had no idea how much their family needed hope. I smiled, and we followed our different paths. I never met them again. Many are suffering and searching for hope.

I invite you to never leave your home without a book or a CD in your purse. God will place somebody in your path who needs these words of hope.

Just be willing to stretch out your arm and be a blessing.

One day in heaven, we will learn how God used us to give courage and hope to others —just as I will know about that family.

Ana Maria de Souza Gonçalves