Divine Reminders in Disguise
"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." — Hebrews 13:2
We all have them—
moments so perfectly timed, so unexpected, that they make you stop and think, That had to be God.
In recovery circles, we call them God Shots—those encounters or events that carry His unmistakable fingerprints. The world calls them coincidences, but we know better.
I’ll never forget my first God Shot.
I was barely one day sober in treatment. I couldn’t sleep, and my mind was spinning with dread. I worried about my family, who had left me until I sought help. I worried about my job, my life, my mental state. The darkness felt like it was closing in, and I was coming apart inside.
In desperation, I prayed one of those “foxhole prayers” soldiers talk about—what Catholics might call a Hail Mary. I promised God I would listen. I would surrender. I would let Him lead. I begged Him for a sign—any sign—that I could make it through this.
It was 2 a.m. when a treatment center tech came in to check on my new roommate. He glanced at me, saw the wreck I was in, and simply said, “John, I think you’re gonna make it. I really do.”
At first, I thought he was just saying it to give me false hope. But then it hit me—I had just prayed for a sign. I had just asked God to open my ears. And here was this man, at the exact moment I needed it most, delivering words I didn’t know I was desperate to hear: You’re gonna make it.
Who else could have orchestrated that?
Later, at about a month sober, I heard a woman in a meeting say, “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” When I thought back to that night, I knew it wasn’t random. It was God—quiet, present, and loving—stepping into my mess to remind me He was listening.
God’s Word is full of these moments. Balaam’s donkey speaking (Numbers 22). Moses hearing from God through a burning bush (Exodus 3). Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). Each was a turning point—God showing up in a way that couldn’t be ignored.
The beauty of a God Shot is that it doesn’t have to be dramatic. Sometimes it’s just the right word at the right time. Sometimes it’s the reminder that He’s closer than your own breath.
The key? Stay awake to the small things. God Shots don’t always shout—they often whisper.
Prayer:
Lord, open my eyes to see You at work in my life. Help me to notice the people, the moments, and the blessings You send as reminders that I’m never alone. Let me not dismiss them as coincidence, but receive them as Your personal touch. Thank You for showing up in ways I can see, hear, and feel. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
Can you recall a recent moment you’d call a “God Shot”?
What made it stand out to you as more than coincidence?
How can you keep your heart open to noticing these moments in your daily life?
