Coincidence or Tender Mercy

I believe that many of the little miracles we see in our lives are mistakenly labeled "coincidences."  This label keeps us from seeing God's hand in our lives and causes us to brush past the lessons of love that are right in front of us.  In a 2005 LDS General Conference talk called, The Tender Mercies of the Lord, Elder David A. Bednar stated, I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence.  Often, the Lord's timing of His tender mercies helps us both discern and acknowledge them. 

If there is one thing that I have learned about God and His Son, Jesus Christ, it is that they are mindful of us as individuals.  They are aware of our weaknesses, our struggles, our desires, and our needs.  There have been things that have happened in my life that to some may seem like simple coincidences, but because God knows me, I know they were answers to simple, heartfelt prayers. 

One such event occurred as I lay in a hospital bed during my third pregnancy.  After 7 blood transfusions and a hospital stay that would last until the birth of my son six weeks later, I felt weak and discouraged.  I had been unable to care for my two other young children for weeks, and now I was relegated to a hospital bed while my body struggled to hang on to this baby for just a few more precious weeks.  I turned to the scriptures, hoping to find answers to the questions that plagued me about the whys and hows of possibly having a very premature baby boy.  As I opened my scriptures, my eyes fell upon the story of Abraham and Sarah, who in their old age were told they would have a son after years of waiting and wanting a child.  This scripture in particular, caught my attention, Is any thing too hard for the Lord  At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son (Genesis 18:14). 

At that moment, I knew that God had granted me a tender mercy.  Some may say that I came upon this scripture by coincidence, but I knew that God was reassuring me that my son would be okay.  After being told by doctors and nurses for months that this probably would not be the case, I felt sweet relief.  I knew that God, as the ultimate "physician," would make things right.  To say that things after that were easy would be untrue.  Ryan was born at twenty-eight and a half weeks, weighing two pounds, eleven ounces.  He stayed in the hospital for 2 months and was in and out of the hospital for a year; however, I count him as one of my greatest miracles.  After a rough beginning, he is now married and living a productive, healthy life.  

Sometimes the Lord lets us know He is there in the smallest of ways, but those small tender mercies can change the course of our lives if we see them for what they are.  In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Nephi says, ". . . by small means the Lord can bring about great things." (1 Nephi 16:29)  However, if we look upon these "small means" as merely coincidences, then we may miss the "great" opportunities for growth that He has in store for us.  I have sat in many Sunday meetings feeling low and depressed for some reason or other, only to have a healing balm offered me through the talks or lessons that were given.  The words spoken seemed directed at my specific problems. Had I not seen these tender mercies as evidence that God loves me, I would have not grasped the hope that they offered me to move forward in faith.  

I know that God answers prayers.  I know that He often does so in quiet, simple ways. Life is not merely a series of meaningless acts or accidents but rather, it is a tapestry of acts that culminate in an exquisite divine plan (author unknown).

I have listed below some references to talks or articles about this subject.  I hope they will build your faith and knowledge that God is mindful of you.


After Four Hundred Names

Answers to Prayers or Coincidence?

The Tender Mercies of the Lord