A friend once said, “God works in ways we can’t even see.”  

I remembered this years later in painful circumstances.  

After anticipated but emotional goodbyes in South Asia, we moved to another country expecting to work there. However, the situation suddenly changed and did not look hopeful. Our grieving hearts had no place to settle. Weeks of waiting grew increasingly stressful. The disappointments culminated in an unexpected pregnancy and miscarriage, our second such loss. Life unraveled fast and we felt abandoned, especially by God.  

It was time to move on, so we booked plane tickets. Perhaps God and the world would forget us, letting us disappear into another life to nurse our wounds.  

Someone we trusted connected us to a family with an empty apartment. It was in a region of the US where we had never lived and had zero acquaintances—perfect. We made the arrangements.  

One week later, tears streaming, we returned the key to our guesthouse. The airport taxi was waiting. Would we ever return to Asia? A hopeless, unknown future loomed. 

God was tenderly guiding us. We just didn’t know it yet. We had nearly reached the taxi when we noticed a family arriving at the guesthouse. The father was frustrated because he’d forgotten the shampoo.  

 “We’ve got an unopened bottle,” I offered. “We’re headed to the US anyway.”  

“Thanks,” he sighed, exhausted. Suddenly looking on us with compassion, he asked where we were headed. 

We told him, surprised to learn he completed his medical residency there. He asked about our connections, so we told him about the family, their empty apartment, and how we’d never met them.  

“The person you’re headed toward,” he laughed in joyful disbelief, “is the chief doctor from my residency. We’ve also stayed there. You’re going to the right people. They’re amazing at loving people who are hurting.”  

We messaged the family in the US—it was all true! We left Asia with a fresh infusion of hope. 

Our pain was met with God’s guidance and healing. We were embraced, without judgement, by a wonderful family and community. This time strengthened us to walk with God into serving others again.