When God Moves Suddenly: The Power of Faithfulness in the Waiting

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.”
—Matthew 24:45–46 (NIV)

The Phone Call That Changed Everything

It was a Sunday afternoon when the phone rang. My mother was calling from Dominica—not the Dominican Republic but a small island in the Caribbean. Because calls were expensive, she wasted no time with pleasantries.

“Your father has had a heart attack. Your brother is in Guam. Your sisters can’t come. I need your husband.”

Just like that, the weight shifted. My hand instinctively covered my stomach, both from nerves and the new life within me. Where I should have thought of my dad’s needs immediately, my instincts went to our young family, the little one at my side, the responsibilities. I prayed silently even as my mind raced. We pinched pennies every day, not through extravagance but through discipline. We set the thermostat low, switched the lights off as we left a room, and carefully stretched meals. Still, how could we afford this with the upcoming costs of another child?

I promised my mother that my husband would be on the next flight. Then I hung up and prayed harder.

A Test of Stewardship

Back in the late 90s, Dominica had only one daily flight in and out. If my husband was to reach the island by 1 p.m. the next day, he would need to drive six hours from our home in South Carolina to Atlanta, Georgia, through the night, to catch a 7 a.m. flight. All this after a long, sweltering weekend of National Guard training. He wasn’t even yet aware he’d be going.

When he finally came home that night, sweat-stained and weary, I told him everything. He listened, showered, ate leftovers, then grabbed the meal I’d packed for the trip, kissed me goodbye, and headed out with a carryon in hand.

He never blinked when I told him the ticket cost over $700. He didn’t complain about the gas, the exhaustion, the long drive, or the unknown waiting on the island. He only said, “Don’t worry. We have the money, I have the time, and God’s got the rest.”

That simple faith was a healing balm to my soul.

God in the Details

When he landed in Dominica, my father was waiting—frail, but alive. Medical personnel, who didn’t have the resources to care for him and had done all they could, communicated with the ground crew in Miami. In the brief window before being flown out for what would become a grueling emergency surgery and lengthy recovery, my dad handed over the keys to the house and van, gave written instructions for the bank and government officials, and prayed over my husband.

My husband felt ill-equipped. Yes, he could handle the storm shutters and repairs to winterize the mission home for hurricane season, but going to the bank to withdraw tens of thousands of dollars to pay laborers who had been building the churches? That was beyond him. Yet God had gone before. Because my father had been a faithful steward of relationships, every official, every worker, and every church member rallied to help my husband.

And when the week was done, my husband returned home changed. He had seen God’s people at their best. He had witnessed how stewardship—of finances, time, faith, and relationships—prepared the way for God to move suddenly.

The Lesson in the Waiting

My father lived many more years, continuing his mission work. But I never forgot how God showed up during those tense hours. The “sudden” move of God was built on years of quiet preparation.

We had practiced good stewardship. My husband had served faithfully at work. My father had nurtured relationships. And in one heart-stopping moment of crisis, all those seeds bore fruit.

God does move suddenly, but He calls us to be faithful in the waiting, so we’ll be ready when the breakthrough comes.

Your Turn

Think back: when has God shown up suddenly in your life? How did your faithfulness in the waiting prepare you for that moment?

Share your story in the comments below or with someone close to you. Your testimony might just be the encouragement another weary heart needs today.

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