When I tell you I had one of the strangest times of my life in California this past year, I mean it. I could tell you story after story about situations I was put in, that brought such confusion. However, there is a specific event that occurred that I will never forget.
I had the joy of working at a flower shop in Costa Mesa, California which felt like a dream come true. I got to spend every moment with flowers and it was only 6 minutes away from my young adults group.
The job entailed me cleaning the shop, processing flowers, taking orders and delivering the flowers. I went on insane adventures all throughout Orange County, CA delivering flowers to the most random places I have ever been to. Sometimes I would spend 4 hours straight driving around the county discovering the beauty that California had to offer.
Biggest Fear
For those that know me personally, they can attest that I used to be extremely paranoid when it came to driving. Growing up I was so scared to drive because I would always think people were going to follow and hurt me. If someone followed me for a second too long, then I would just about lose it. There often wasn’t an evening that I didn’t think night thinking someone would approach my car right when I parked. It was my biggest fear.
An unsettling conversation with God
During the time of working at the flower shop, my faith began to grow very strong. I spent a lot more time with The Lord and would always talk with Him whenever I drove. I got to spend time in the mornings and afternoons at my young adults group which helped my fears in life start to lessen as I put my trust in God.
But, I never could have expected what would happen in January 2024. I was on my way to deliver flowers to a well-known customer and as I was talking to Jesus I felt the The Holy Spirit whisper to me – something I will never forget,
“If you were to be taken would you still love me?” If the worst thing were to happen to you, would you still love me?
I remember laughing and saying “Of course I would. It would be hard, but I would still follow you.”
The conversation continued for a few minutes regarding this topic and I started to get confused and wondered if I was just being delusional.Why would this topic come to my mind after months of not being afraid anymore?
A few moments later, I specifically recall needing to take a U-Turn to get to the correct address. The U-Turn didn’t go quite as planned, so I had to put the truck in reverse. This led me to make eye contact with a guy around my age in a red car. I was so embarrassed. After I zoomed away I just laughed it all off.
Sharing a glance led to the unexpected
After driving for a few minutes, I realize that the guy who looked at me was following behind. As I got closer to the house I was delivering to, I thought maybe he lived in the neighborhood. When I got out of my he did too. I struck up a conversation with him asking if he knew where the house was. I didn’t think much of it. He walked me to the house and I set the flowers down and left.
I felt a bit uneasy and thought that maybe this person was going to steal this flower arrangement which was over $100.
I decided to call up the number of the person who ordered the flowers. She immediately answered and I told her the whole story. She called her son who was supposed to receive the flowers and I got a text back saying they did not know the guy. I was asked to go retrieve the flowers and deliver them to another house nearby.
As I got the flowers back and drove away, I noticed the same red car following me.
Getting Lost
I didn’t know what else to do, so I called the lady on the phone back. The address I was given was her daughter’s and she told me that her daughter would be waiting outside for me. I followed the GPS but, as I was shaking and freaking out, I missed the turns and got lost. I get a phone call back from the lady wondering where I went and was told that her older son would be on his way to help too. Each wrong turn I took, the guy in the red car was right there behind me.
Eventually I found my way to the house and the moment I saw the daughter, I went running and was embraced in a hug. As I turn around I see a man in a Tesla pull up and he comes running to the red car asking why he was following me. I heard him telling the guy in the red car to leave me alone and that he was going to call the cops. After what I felt like was forever, the guy in the red car left.
Was it just a coincidence?
A panic attack set in and I couldn’t breathe. The son comes running in asking if I was okay. Moments later I found myself taking a police statement. As I calmed down and talked with this family I was informed about the “coincidences” that saved my life.
- The daughter decided to take the day off of work. She was not supposed to be home.
- The son was supposed to be in a meeting, but it was cancelled. He decided to come home for a few moments to eat a burrito
- The number I called wasn’t supposed to be the ladies. It was meant to be someone else’s phone number
I could not believe what had happened. God was there in every moment.
God was in the details
My biggest fear just about happened. I was followed and almost taken. How was it that moments before I felt God ask me if I would still love him if my biggest fear occurred?
After I spent time thinking about everything, I noticed I was developing a new fear.
When I was in college, I was taking a course and my professor stated that more than half of the people who will graduate from University will walk away from Jesus. Life completely changed after that and now my biggest fear is walking away from.
