I remember the first time I experienced God’s providence in a powerful way was in the mid 1990s. I had had a well paid job, but was now unemployed and surviving on unemployment benefit. Things were very difficult and my debts were mounting. I had always believed that the miracles in the bible really happened, but somehow I was not convinced that they could apply to my life and my circumstances.

It was spring and my shoes had large holes in the soles. I would get embarrassed when I sat down in case people saw these and when it rained my socks would get wet. It was a really hard and challenging time for me. I was desperate to buy some new shoes. I had seen some reasonably priced ones in a local shoe shop and was determined that when my next benefit payment arrived I would buy these.

The day arrived and I went to Milton Keynes shopping centre. I still remember the weather that day. It was dry with a clear blue sky and I was feeling better than I had done for a while. As I walked along the road I came across a busker playing the clarinet. I stood there for maybe five or ten minutes. As I listened I forgot my poverty as the beautiful soothing music wafted in the air.

Then, remembering my purpose to buy my much needed shoes, I began to walk away. As I did so a little voice, which felt like God inside me say, “ Spiro, he gave you what he had and brought you peace but you didn’t give him anything in return.” I stopped and searched my pockets for some change, but the only money I had on me were the two £10 notes I needed to buy my shoes.

I didn’t know what to do. I felt a struggle going on within me. I wanted to be generous, but I had so little. Then the thought came to me that I should give him one of the £10 notes. It seemed crazy but also somehow fitting when I thought of the peace that he had given me with his music. I felt a peace come over me. I turned round and dropped the note, somewhat begrudgingly into the hat, as I realised I now wouldn’t be able to buy the shoes I wanted. The man stopped playing and looked up at me with a big smile. “Thank you sir,” he said. “God bless you.” His words stuck with me. How could God bless me and help me I wondered? As I was already in the shopping centre, I decided I would stay and look around. I purposefully avoided, however, going past the shoe shop. Something seemed to draw me back there, however, and out of curiosity I decided to go and see if the shoes were still there. And they were - still on the same shelf - with their price tag of £19.95. I checked, hoping that they might be reduced, but they weren’t. I began to walk out again, a bit disappointed because inwardly I suppose I had been hoping for some sort of miracle. Then the inner voice came back. None of this made any logical sense but in hindsight I realise this was the Holy Spirit, who was urging me to go up and ask the cashier to do a price check on them!

She looked at me a bit strangely, as I asked as the price label was very obvious, but she politely obliged. As she scanned the shoes the expression on her face changed. “This must be your lucky day sir… these shoes have been reduced to £9.95!” I could hardly believe it and was filled with an incredible joy that I couldn’t contain as I realised God’s love and mercy to me. It was a lesson too, teaching me to trust God is in all things and that charity to others is always important even when you are in need yourself.

As we go into difficult times and the recession hits, we need to remember the important principle Jesus teaches us that “it is in giving that we receive” and to trust in God for our needs not our bank balances.

If you have had any similar experiences do write in and let us know your stories.

SPIRO SUEREF is member of the Welsh NSC and Goodnews contact.