SMILING JESUS IN THE DIRT

A moment in my life where I really asked for something…and GOD delivered.

A Devotional

Opening Scripture

"For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened."
— Matthew 7:8 (AMP)

Reflection

We often imagine meeting God in cathedrals, mountaintops, or moments of quiet stillness. But what if He is most present where we least expect Him—in the dust of a dirt road, the chaos of city traffic, and the grime of a sewer trench? This is the story of one man who asked to see Jesus and found Him smiling in the most ordinary places.

The Story

In 2011, in a season of profound loss and uncertainty, Emery's faith was tested. He had lost his job as an outside salesman for a regional building materials company, and the weight of disappointment pressed down on him daily. Still, his belief in God's providence never broke. When Pastor Bob invited Emery to join him, the pastor’s brother Duane, a good friend, Steve, and Pastor Basil Osuji (actually raised in Owerii before moving tomMaryland and becoming a pastor)on a mission trip to Nigeria, a flicker of hope stirred. Trusting that YHWH would provide, which He truly did, Emery prepared for the journey. In November, they flew from San Francisco to Atlanta, then on to Lagos.

Deep in his heart, Emery carried one quiet, relentless prayer: I want to see Jesus. All his life—even in the darkest valleys—he had sensed the hand of YHWH guiding him, rarely in the ways he expected, but always there. He clung to the promise in Matthew 7:8: "For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened."

One day, as they bounced through the rough sandy road to the church they were building, Emery in the rear storage area(known as the boot, six passengers and 5 seats) of a Ford Explorer, Emery's eyes caught something extraordinary. The vehicle lurched over from right to left on the rough dirt road, rattling everyone inside. As they approached a road grader on the right smoothing the ruts left by the rainy season, Emery looked up into the enclosed air conditioned cab—and there, to his amazement, sat Smiling Jesus, operating the machinery with a serene, joyful expression. The sight struck him like a revelation: Jesus, making their paths straight. Guidance. Obstacles removed.

Another day, in the bustling chaos of Owerri, putt-putts—three-wheeled taxis—darted every direction, ferrying passengers through the noise. Amid the swarm, Emery's gaze locked onto one to their right. Peeking from the front cab was Smiling Jesus, grinning as He helped people get where they needed to go. This vision—Jesus immersed in the city's frantic pulse—brought Emery deep comfort. He was there, in the rush and clamor, guiding and protecting.

The final encounter came as they headed to lunch, chicken and rice. Along the roadside to the right, three men labored to dig a trench for sewer waste for the tiny roadside shops, the sandy soil collapsing under each shovel. Amid their struggle, Emery saw Him again. Smiling Jesus, fit and content, shoveled right alongside them. His presence in that humble, grimy task—removing what was no longer needed—spoke of service and purification. Jesus was not above the mundane or the filthy work; He was in it, loving through action.

In each vision, Smiling Jesus served in the most ordinary, public ways. His smile—radiant with joy and love—whispered a profound truth: I am with you in every moment. Guiding. Protecting. Serving.

For me, these encounters were divine affirmation. He had asked to see Jesus—and he did, right in the middle of life's everyday tasks. The image of Smiling Jesus became a living testament to YHWH's unending presence and care.

Application

What if you asked to see Jesus today—not just in a worship service or a quiet moment, but in your commute, your workspace, your kitchen, or your hardest task? YHWH is not distant.

He is in the grader leveling your rough road. He is in the taxi carrying you through chaos. He is in the trench, shoveling alongside you in the mess you'd rather avoid.

His smile is not a reward for perfect faith. It is a promise: I am here. I have always been here. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking.

Prayer

YHWH, open my eyes to see You where I least expect You. Forgive me for looking for You only in holy places while missing You in the dirt of my daily life. Whether I am on a smooth road or a rough one, in chaos or in stillness, in clean work or filthy—let me recognize Your smile. Teach me to serve as Jesus served, and to trust that You are with me, always. In the name of Smiling Jesus, Amen.

Closing Truth

"I will never leave you nor forsake you."
— Deuteronomy 31:8