A friend bought me a red jacket recently to wear to some upcoming Christmas events. It was out of my norm, but it made me laugh when I put it on, so I said, "Sure!"

I wore it last weekend to see a musical I’ve never seen before called Jersey Boys. It tells the backstory of the singing group Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.

I wasn’t sure if I should wear it. I wasn’t sure if I should go. I wasn’t sure about a lot of things that night.

As soon as I walked in, the person seating me asked, "Are you a singer? An actor?"

I said, "No, but I am a producer."

She said, "Oh, I thought so, with that red jacket! Are you connected with this show?"

I said, "No, I’m just here to enjoy it." She smiled as she went on her way.

I really was looking forward to it. One of the reasons I decided to go was because God has spoken to me several times through one of the group’s songs, "You’re just too good to be true."

He spoke to me through it one night in a copy shop when I had just decided to mail out some flyers for my new ministry. He spoke to me in my car one day when I had just applied for a ministry position that I wasn’t sure I could take on. And He spoke to me when I saw Frankie Valli in person this summer, singing live on stage at the age of 89!

When I heard about the Jersey Boys musical, I knew I wanted to go. But I wasn’t sure I’d be able to.

But once the show started, and the singers started belting out song after song, I was so glad I came. I love music! I love musicals! I’ve even written and produced my shows! And this one was sweeping me off my feet.

But I was TOTALLY stunned when, half-way through the show, all four guys appeared on stage WEARING THE EXACT SAME JACKET I was wearing!

No wonder the person seating me asked if I was a singer, an actor, or somehow connected with the show! I looked like I BELONGED in it!

Then the song came on that God has used to speak to me multiple times throughout the years, starting more than 25 years ago. And He spoke to me through it again that night in a brand new way.

In that moment, I knew I was exactly where God wanted me to be. I knew I was wearing exactly what He wanted me to wear. And I knew He was answering some of the deep, deep questions on my heart that night.

You see, God doesn’t always show us the future as a roadmap how to get there, but to confirm that He is IN IT when we DO get there.

I think of the two disciples who were walking and talking for hours with Jesus along the road to Emmaus. They didn’t recognize Him until He broke bread with them and departed. THEN they said, "Weren’t our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road…?"

I think of Peter and John who heard Jesus call out to them while they were fishing in the morning. He said to throw their nets on the right side of the boat, and they did it, even though they didn’t know it was Jesus telling them to do it. But as soon as the fish started pouring into their nets, they ran to Him, saying, "It’s the Lord!"

And I think of my own decision to go to this show, to wear the red jacket, and to step out in faith for the other decisions on my heart that night.

God doesn’t always show us everything up front–or even most things!

But if we keep stepping out in faith, doing THE NEXT RIGHT THING He puts before us, we might just find when we get there that He was waiting for us to arrive all along.

Then we can run to Him, like Peter and John did, saying, "It’s the Lord!"

P.S. If you’d like some Christmas inspiration for yourself or those you love, now’s a good time to get some copies of my Christmas novella, "St. Nicholas: The Believer"! It’s been turned into a ballet, a musical, and in less than two weeks, a puppet opera in Italy!

I think you’ll find it a heartwarming and touching reminder of God’s love for you and of the reason we celebrate Christmas at all. Here’s the link to get your copies.