When God Used My Hard Times for

Someone Else’s Breakthrough

I’ve done some crazy faith things but this one might be one of the craziest. It's also one of the most clear examples in my life of how God can orchestrate divine appointments in the most unexpected ways. A divine appointment, in the religious context, refers to a specific, God-ordained meeting or encounter with another person, often with the purpose of fulfilling a divine plan or bringing about a positive change.

On March 18, 2024, I made the difficult decision to resign from my role as VP of Business at a proptech startup. The company was experiencing some heavy financial challenges and rather than watch them go into debt trying to pay me and my team, I decided to be one less financial burden for the company. After I resigned, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next. I hadn’t applied to a job in over 12 years. I didn’t even have an updated resume. All of the jobs I’ve had recently were basically given to me. I spent the next couple of weeks trying to figure out what my next steps would be. I started applying to new jobs but weren’t really really sure if they would be a good fit. A bit lost in the sauce, I started looking into gigs on Craigslist that I could do in the meantime while I figured out my life. In my 20’s, I used to be a brand ambassador and made decent money promoting products at conferences. I figured I could do this again while I figured out my career path.

While scrolling through Craigslist one day, an interesting title on a post caught my eye.  “Do you have a car and valid license on April 15?”  Intrigued, I opened the posting to read a short paragraph from a clearly desperate woman asking if someone would let her borrow their car so she could take her driver’s test on April 15. She was offering $150. I had a Porsche Macan that cost significantly more than $150 so lending it to a complete stranger was absolutely insane. But something about her post stirred something deep within me. Maybe it was the obvious desperation in her words that resonated with my own recent experience of feeling helpless. Whatever it was, I found myself typing a response to her post and agreeing to meet with her at the DMV on April 15, 2024.

Signs, Doubts, and Divine Appointments

The drive to the DMV was filled with doubt and confusion. By the next day, I had less conviction. What am I doing? I kept asking myself. When it started raining, I wondered if it was a sign from God that I should turn around. Who lets a stranger drive their car in the rain? The grounds are going to be wet. It’s high risk. However, I continued on to the DMV.

When I met Jasmen, I knew within thirty seconds that she was exactly the kind of person who deserved help. She had thoughtfully planned every detail of this driving test to make me feel comfortable: I would sit with her in my car until the DMV instructors arrived, ensuring the car was never left alone with her.

Her reaction when she saw my Porsche was priceless. She gasped, telling me she had never been in a Porsche and that this was the most expensive car she’s ever been in and will likely ever be in. I sternly replied to her "This will NOT be the most expensive car you'll ever be in. There will be other, more expensive cars that you'll drive and own one day." She beamed at me with shiny eyes.

After a quick driving lesson to familiarize her with the car's unique features, it was time for the test. I watched her drive away with the DMV instructors, my heart pounding with nervous excitement. Not more than 10 minutes later, I see my car make its way back to the driveway. The instructors stepped out followed by Jasmen who is shaking and crying. She had failed the test. I don’t remember what she did but it was something that was an automatic fail on the drivers test. They told her she could try again the next day.  I felt bad for her, but I tried to stay positive. "Hey, you can take the test again! This is not the only chance you get.” She shook her head, and looked down. “It is the only chance I have. I don’t have enough money to pay you another $150 to come back. And I don’t have another car to borrow.” "Don't worry about the money," I said. "I'll come back tomorrow. You don't need to pay me anything."

Right Place, Right Time, Right Person

I find out later that she had taken 3 buses to get to the DMV that day. I told her that I would pick her up from her house the next day so she didn’t have to take so many buses. As it turned out, Jasmen’s house was SUPER far from this DMV.  This DMV, which was closer to my house, was the only location with immediate appointments available. The long drive between her house and the DMV gave us a chance to get to know each other. I was really curious how a 28 year old woman went through life without a driver’s license. She explained to me that nobody in her family had a drivers license except her grandmother. They all drove but were doing so illegally without a license. Jasmen’s grandmother was getting up there in age and could no longer reliably drive them. She was getting her license so she could help support the family and drive them around. She also shared with me that she was in her second round of interviews with Pepsi and the role required a valid drivers license. I was certain she would pass her test and get the job, and I told her so. This whole situation was too crazy for it to end in despair.

The second driving test went well. Jasmen passed her test and received her driver’s license. I have never seen someone so happy. On our way home, I told Jasmen how I'd resigned from my job just a month earlier and was struggling to figure out what I was going to do next. I had been applying to jobs but haven’t heard anything back. I paused for a minute and said: "Maybe I became unemployed so that I could help you get your license. If I had to lose my job so YOU could get a job, I'm okay with that. I would lose my job again to help you. God works in mysterious ways. God has never failed me. And He will never fail you."

Jasmen started crying. I started crying. Through her tears, she asked, "Are you a Christian?" I said, “Yes I am.” She then said something that will stay with me forever: “I’ve never met a Christian like you. All the Christians I know wouldn’t help a stranger. You are the nicest Christian I’ve ever met.” When we arrived at her grandmother’s house, she asks me if she can give me a hug. We hug for awhile, not saying a word.

The Lesson in the Valley

It’s been over a year now since I met Jasmen at the DMV, and I still chuckle at the absolute craziness of it all. But I also marvel at how God can use every situation for good. Resigning from my job and being unemployed with no real plan for the future was one of the lowest moments in my recent adult life, but God still found a way to use it for good. He used my valleys to be someone’s mountain top experience. Even though I felt like I wasn’t doing anything in my life at the time, God could still use it to make an impact in someone else’s life. It reminds me that we don’t have to have much to be used by God. We just have to be willing to obey and step out in faith. Your valley might be someone else's answered prayer. Your willingness to step out in faith might be the very thing that changes everything for someone else. And in the process, you might discover that God was preparing something beautiful for you too.