CURRENT THEME: BREAK OUT AND LIVE! (For feedback or suggestions about specific themes in this series, send me an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

It started with an SMS I received in the studio during my radio programme on Radio Tygerberg 104FM. A desperate grandmother, Aletta, from Eerste River, told me about her 9-year-old grandson, Cole, who was heartbroken after the bicycle he had waited for a long time, was stolen from their backyard the night before. They did not have the finances to replace it. She said Cole cried as if a family member had died.

In the hope that someone somewhere in the Cape Peninsula had a second-hand bicycle that they were not using anymore and could donate it to the little boy, I shared the SMS with the listeners. Less than two minutes later, to my surprise, I received an SMS from a listener telling me that he would buy a new bicycle for Cole. I was overjoyed.

We arranged for the grandmother, her grandson and the benefactor, Ryno, to come to the studio. What Cole and Aletta did not know was that the new bike, which was easily five times the value of Cole’s bicycle that had been stolen, was hidden in another studio. A colleague of mine waited for my signal to push the bicycle into the studio where we were.

When that moment arrived, the 9-year-old Cole and his grandmother were both in tears. None of them could believe their eyes. Through his tears Cole hugged the benefactor, Ryno, while thanking him continuously. Only afterwards did the grandmother tell us that Cole and his friends had dreamt about that exact bike. Because they do not have a lot of money, she always told them that only God could provide such a bicycle for Cole. God did.

This story made me realize once again that God truly knows our deepest desires. In Psalm 37:4 we read: “Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” And in Ephesians 3:20-21 we are reminded that nothing is impossible for Him: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think . . . to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Do you find yourself in a similar situation in which you have to deal with a loss or disappointment? Perhaps an important relationship ended, a business deal fell through or you were not appointed for that “dream job” you applied for. Instead of sobbing or feeling sorry for yourself, start thanking God. He knows your future and is probably protecting you from a wrong choice of perhaps preparing you for a much bigger breakthrough.

Can you imagine the smile on God’s face when that bike was pushed into the studio to the 9-year-old’s amazement? He loves to surprise us. What are you trusting Him for in 2014? God bless.

Father God, thank You for being in control of my life. Please help me not to feel discouraged if things do not work out as I had hoped for, but rather to trust that you are still in control. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

• See picture of the 9-year old Cole, granny Aletta and Ryno at www.benescke.co.za or on the Fbook, page, Stories van hoop.