I write often about the dangers of assumptions and stereotyping, and God graciously helped me learn the same lesson tonight. I could have easily assumed that she had no needs (what a silly assumption, we all have needs). I could have assumed she had it all together (who has it all together?). I could have assumed that because of the location and town she didn’t need to hear the gospel, everyone around me goes to church, right? Wrong.

I sat in my usually corner with my computer opened, ready to spend a few hours writing before returning to my family. It’s my Sunday afternoon routine, typically uneventful. I often wear headphones to drown out the overhead music so I can concentrate, but today I decided not to bring them. After getting settled I quickly realized that I wouldn’t be writing at all. Instead the Lord had different plans– better plans. The young woman beside me needed to hear Good News, news that I hadn’t planned on sharing, but the best news she would hear all day. But in the end, it would be I who would be reminded of something that I continue to write about: don’t make assumptions.

The woman beside me was 25 years old, had on short heels, skinny jeans, and a trendy top all of which looked like could have been bought from Good Will or Forever 21 (trendy but potentially thrifty). She had messy brownish, blonde hair and bright brown eyes. She sat beside me typing on her small laptop computer. As we began to make small talk, I made the assumption that she was a suburban woman, potentially wealthy, writing in a coffee shop using it as her “office” like many other hipsters or millennials. I assumed much of this because of the location of the shop, but I also assumed these things because I had stereotyped her. So who was she?

She was actually a woman who had recently come out of an institution and had spent time in Brooklyn in a shelter because she was homeless. She had recently returned to her parents’ home, medicated, and hoping for a future different than her present. She was humble and open and hungry for truth. We opened up her little green New Testament Bible that she carried around with her. It was dirty and worn which made my heart leap—she had been reading it. We looked at Scripture and cried and prayed. I got the name of her anonymous blog and her email address and after two hours of talking, I left.

My Lesson

I write often about the dangers of assumptions and stereotyping, and God graciously helped me learn the same lesson tonight. I could have easily assumed that she had no needs (what a silly assumption, we all have needs). I could have assumed she had it all together (who has it all together?). I could have assumed that because of the location and town she didn’t need to hear the gospel, everyone around me goes to church, right?

Wrong.

Even those assumptions are foolish. There is no one who doesn’t need the gospel. I need to hear the gospel. And aren’t we all needy? Yes. God kindly reminded me not to assume tonight. I would never have thought that a young, beautiful woman would have had the life that she has experienced. And I imagine when people meet me; they wouldn’t assume some of the hardships I’ve experienced. Most importantly, God reminded me tonight that He desires all to know Him and He will use even the most unexpected situations to make that happen.

Trillia Newbell is a freelance journalist and writer. She writes on faith and family for The Knoxville News-Sentinel, and serves as the managing editor for Women of God Magazine. This article first appeared on her blog and is used with permission.