God’s Presence in Unexpected Places
God’s presence in unexpected places
(We are privileged to have Mary Namubiru as the new Curate at Lifestreams, we long to hear more from Mary over the coming years of her training, here she writes her first article)
We often expect to encounter God in the quiet of prayer, the beauty of worship, or the pages of scripture. But sometimes, God shows up in circumstances or places we never imagined—places we might not even think are “spiritual.” Recently, I discovered this truth in the most unexpected of settings: an English pub.
I had never been to a pub before. I don’t drink, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I went with friends, curious to see what goes on in these social spaces that are so central to British culture. I ordered a lemonade, and we played darts. It was light-hearted, noisy, and full of laughter—a far cry from the stillness of a Sunday service.
But as we were leaving, something remarkable happened. In a narrow corridor near the exit, a man stood quietly. I didn’t know him, hadn’t spoken to him, and hadn’t mentioned anything about faith. Yet he looked at me and asked, almost in a whisper, “Would you pray for me?”
“Yes, of course,” I said. And there, in the corridor of a pub, I prayed for a stranger. In that moment, I felt the unmistakable presence of God. It was gentle, profound, and deeply moving. My friends were surprised too—none of us expected such a sacred encounter in a place like that.
God Is Not Confined
This experience reminded me that God is not confined to church buildings or religious rituals. Jesus met people in marketplaces, on roadsides, in homes, and yes—even at parties. The divine can be found in the most ordinary places, if we’re open to seeing it.
So perhaps the invitation is to look again. To be attentive. To carry a spirit of prayer and openness wherever we go. Because sometimes, the corridor of a pub becomes holy ground.
I wonder…have you ever encountered God in an unexpected place or circumstance ? We’d love to hear your story and share it.
