Nudge, “to touch or gently push”. Each of us knows what it is like to feel that slight sensation gently moving us in a particular direction. Some call it a “gut” feeling. Others might call it intuition. I see it as God’s gentle guidance. God formed us for this world to live for a purpose, and your station in life does not matter because each of us can impact the life of another. God does not ask us to change the world but to love Him and each other. A smile at the right time can change the trajectory of a person’s life. How often do we find ourselves following His guiding hand, and after we find ourselves on the other side of the situation, we understand the nudge.

So many do not believe that there is a God who involves Himself in our lives, and for them I pray that one day they understand how He is involved. Some will look at me and laugh because they believe I see this bearded old man in the sky telling me to make a right or left turn. All I can say is that for people of faith, we know that is not how it works, and we also know not to presume to understand the extent of His power. He sent Jesus to save the world and, on the third day after a brutal death, raised our Savior from the dead to prove to us His love. Why is it so hard to believe that God knows each of us and expresses His love for us every day? 

I have been asked where God is with all the suffering in the world. Why does he allow people to die in wars, in places where there is famine, or simply at the hands of pure evil? I simply remind the inquisitor that He is there too. When members of my family were being tortured and killed in ways that are beyond description, they prayed for God’s mercy, and He was there. When the brutality of others left them lying in pits slowly dying, they prayed for God’s mercy, and He brought them peace. They understood that God was there and that Jesus was their path. I have always been amazed at the unimaginable horror these people experienced, and yet their faith in Jesus was absolute. Despite everything they were subjected to, they found peace and that is the true power of faith in God, and in the Son.

I was talking to my daughter about my new grandson, and a cardinal appeared in my window at work, and of course the two of us immediately concluded it was a message from heaven. After I hung up the phone, it rang, and the caller number and caller were unknown to me, so I usually let those calls go to voicemail. A feeling came to answer the call, and it was Brian, whose 8-year-old little girl died recently, and he had a question. It was not long before I asked about his daughter and her death. Soon, the conversation turned to faith in God and our relationship with Jesus. We talked about the path toward healing and acceptance. The pain does not go away, nor does the anger, but faith in God allows us to accept life, and trusting in Jesus helps with the pain. The call ended with us both agreeing that neither of us had expected the conversation, but for both of us it was clear that God set it in motion.

The nudge is not about some grandiose message from heaven, but about a father in pain who needs to talk to someone and a new grandfather offering some kind words and an absolute belief that faith in Jesus is the path. We shared a few precious moments and a few tears, and I can only conclude that his little girl interceded and asked for God to give her daddy a nudge.

God does not demand anything of us because free will is ours, and in the end, we choose to be part of His kingdom or not.

Love God above all else and thy neighbor as thyself, and don’t ever ignore the nudge.

God Bless

Andrej N. Lah

Listen to Andrej discuss this Message from the Director on our podcast, CCAirwaves!