AS we ease into the Christmas season I am pleased to share a personal story of God’s amazing provision and rescue in these challenging times. Recently I went to a Rubis gas station to fill up. I had a major project at work that day and didn’t want the Friday evening traffic catching me with no gas.

I usually ask the gas attendant to run my card first, just in case there is an issue, but I was distracted for some reason. So she pumped in $15,000 (I drive a large vehicle with a large tank), closed my tank and took my card to swipe. Then, to my surprise, the card was “declined”. So I said, “Run it again,” thinking it must be a mistake since I had checked my account just before. But it declined again. And I didn’t have the cash on hand.

I called the bank. They saw the funds in my account so the decline didn’t make sense. With time ticking I drove off the pump and decided to take the gas attendant’s advice to go speak to the supervisor inside the shop.

As I pulled up in front of the shop, a man walked out and waved at me and entered his vehicle. I waved back politely, wondering if he knew me. Anyway, as I was about to open my door, the attendant came to me with a receipt of $15,000 saying, “The man that just waved at you paid your bill.”

What?! “This is some kind of joke,” I thought to myself. By the time I realised that it wasn’t a joke and that the man who waved at me had really paid my bill of $15,000, he was driving out the station. I shouted hurriedly, “Hello, wow, thank you!” He replied: “Have a lovely day,” and drove away, no stopping to take my thanks. Tears came to my eyes.

All the gas attendants in the station looked on, almost frozen, awed, and smiling. The man doesn’t know me, but God does, and He continues to be matchless in His love and provision for me! I continue to be humbled by His enduring care. Praise His name!

From this encounter, God’s children can be reminded of a few things:

•I shall not want — “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)

•God is my provider – “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

•He knows our needs before asking — “For your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8)

•God owns everything — “The Earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1)

•God oftentimes works through someone to bless others. “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

In this holy and festive Christmas season, let us all remember who God is and choose to be a vessel of light, love, and compassion in these dark times. Wishing all my readers a Christmas filled with kindness and a New Year of purpose and prosperity.

And to the beautiful man who paid for my gas, thanks again — may the Lord bless your going out and your coming in; may God bless you abundantly; and may your kindness be returned to you 100-fold! In these unusual days, God is doing amazing things through people like you!

(Note: Regarding the decline of my card, I later found out that there was a point-of-sale issue that would be resolved).

Passionate about faith and women empowerment, Shelly-Ann Mair-Harris is the author of several publications, including God’s Woman and The Goodies on Her Tray. A woman of faith for several years, Shelly-Ann is the creator of Family and Faith Magazine and Women & Faith. She is also a podcaster, an award-winning playwright and poet as well as a trained and experienced media, marketing, employee engagement, change management, and strategic communications professional.