It didn’t take long for Gladys Aylward to realize her time being a missionary to China wasn’t going as planned. She had come to serve as a missionary’s assistant. But only a year after beginning that work, the missionary she was assisting died. They had been managing an inn together and now Gladys was left alone to run that inn. As she wondered what God was leading her to do next, a local official visited the inn.

The man asked Gladys to become an official foot inspector. The government had outlawed the practice of foot binding and they wanted Gladys to travel around to enforce that law. She told the official she would go, but only if she was free to share about Jesus Christ. The official agreed, and it was settled. Never had she imagined that she would reach people by working for the government examining feet. But that was part of God’s plan for Gladys. In the book of Proverbs we are told, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

You know, sometimes an unlikely opportunity presents itself. At first you may not be sure what the purpose is, and it may be different than what you had in mind. But God can use you in any situation to reach your world if your heart is right. Will you take advantage of every opportunity to share the Good News this year, this month, maybe even this week?             

This is Luis Palau.