More from Preeti Stanly Thakor

I wrote this reflection in 2024, when Australia was still very new to me. I had just started working as a physiotherapist in a private practice in Sydney. Every day I had to take multiple buses to reach the clinic, and at that time I was still learning the public transport system.

One morning, I got off at a station where the GPS showed that I needed to change buses from the other side of the road. I crossed the road and followed the directions. According to the GPS, I needed to turn left. However, when I looked around, I could not see the familiar blue bus stop sign that marks most bus stops in Sydney. On the right side of the road, however, I could see a blue bus stop sign. Thinking that might be the correct stop, I walked there. But when I reached it, I noticed that the bus I needed was not stopping there.

At that moment, I started to feel very nervous. My patients were already booked, and it was very important for me to reach the clinic on time. Being new to the country and the transport system made the situation even more stressful. Finally, I decided to trust the GPS and walk back toward the left side of the road, even though I still couldn’t see any bus stop sign. I stood exactly where the GPS indicated and waited. In my heart, I was praying and asking God to help me. Suddenly, I looked up. Through the branches of a nearby tree, I noticed a bus stop sign hidden above. At that moment I felt an immediate sense of relief. Soon after, the bus arrived at that exact spot, and I was able to reach the clinic on time.

That small incident spoke deeply to me. Many times in our personal lives we wonder whether we are making the right decisions and whether we are walking on the right path. Moving to Australia was not easy. I missed my family, friends, church, and the familiar environment I had always known. Before we moved to Australia, we prayed sincerely and asked God for guidance. We believed we were following God’s direction and surrendered everything to God. However, when we arrived, the reality was very different from what we had imagined. At times it felt like we had lost our identity, our social connections, and our church community.

But through that simple bus stop experience, I felt that God was reminding me of something important: just because we cannot see everything clearly right now does not mean we are on the wrong path. Sometimes the direction is there, but it is hidden — just like the bus stop sign behind the tree branches. God sees the full journey, even when we only see the next step. Even when the path seems uncertain, God continues to guide us toward the destination God has prepared.

As we completed three years in Australia recently, we reflected on the many challenges we faced and are still facing. Through it all, God’s presence has been constant, giving us strength and guiding us at every step. God has a wonderful plan for us all. Just believe!