By Lisa S. Tarno

Do you believe in coincidence? That was the question on the table at our bookclub last night. As a believer in Christ, I think there is less coincidence out there than there is purpose and intention. That is my short answer. I wanted to give this some more thought than how I answered last night. The definition of coincidence is as follows: 

“A striking occurrence of two or more events at one time apparently by mere chance:”- Dictionary

I have written and mused before that a life of chance versus choice is found in the very word of choice: O-I-C (Oh, I see!) I believe that when we are more spiritually guided, we see a lot more in this world than just happenstance. We are tuned into a higher frequency that heightens our senses to see the divine in all aspects of life. For others, they see life in one dimension comparatively. The chance vs choice article previously written was in regard to how we live our lives: by chance or by choice? I wrote, “The choices we make determine the path we take!” 

Let me give an example: When searching for our most recent home, the search was complicated and we had thought with a couple of houses we put an offer on that this was supposed to be thee home. Mind you, I am a woman of prayer and have prayed over every aspect I could think of in this endeavor. For various reasons, two of the homes we put offers on fell through and daunted I asked God on the way to view another open house to give me a “sign” because I felt my discernment was off.

Upon entering the open house viewing, something grabbed my attention right outside the entrance,  a literal sign that read: “This is God’s House”. I laughed and thought, “Could it be?” I really think God has a sense of humor. I took a picture of the sign and sent it to one of my godly girlfriends and asked her if she thought this was a “sign” sign.  She, even though she is godly, thought like most people it was just coincidence. I was initially marveled at her response leaving it to just chance because she too had been praying for our search of a new home.

As it turned out, this was the house for us. We got into a bidding war and won the opportunity to live in this home with God’s help. Later as it turned out, this house, unbeknownst to my friend was actually the former home of someone in her family! And to boot, that sign? She actually was the one who bought that sign for the family living in the home prior to us! I smacked her in the arm and said “Coincidence huh? Really?” To which she laughed and agreed it was a God thing! 

So my case in point is this illustration that highlights so many in my life. This was a good one! Are our life’s happenings by mere chance or are there actual underlying purposes for each movement in our lives? Here are a few of my favorite scriptures that highlight an involvement of the divine in our lives. Notice in Romans 8:28 it says that “God causes EVERYTHING to work together”. Does that leave anything out? Does that sound like coincidence? It sounds like a plan and a purpose for every detail of our lives to me.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In conclusion, for those who don’t believe in the power of prayer and call it a mere coincidence, I quote a unknown author by saying, “Well then, when I pray, ‘coincidences’ seem to happen!”