Will You Marry Me?

"Hi, do you speak English? Yous are pretty. Will you marry me?"

My friend Rebecca and I were simply enjoying dinner on the sidewalk when a man in his late-30s walked up to us and asked us that question. We were "swept away" by this shocking question. Who was this guy to think that some random girl off the street would marry him?!

As we fumbled our way through first names and occupations, I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me to ask him a shocking question in return. "Alex, do you think many or few people will go to heaven/hell?" He stared at me as he gathered his thoughts in English. "I think that many people will go to hell if they don't confess their sins to Jesus Christ, the savior of the world. I know that I will see Jesus face to face" he said confidently. He continued to talk to Rebecca and I about God's plan of salvation and how we can be part of it. By the end of the conversation, I revealed that we knew of Jesus's sacrifice and forgiveness. We prayed with each other. As he prayed, I was convicted by the way he openly prayed in the street with pure conviction and boldness. He earnestly prayed for his family, forgiveness for his thoughts, and for the way the Lord encouraged him through our conversation. When we parted ways, I left with a new sense of awe and conviction about my walk with the Lord.

What if I placed all of my hope and trust in Jesus (just like Alex) during these turbulent times? What more can He use of me? My friend, I pray that you and I can thrive -- and not just survive -- through the era of coronavirus.