Face to Face With the Divine (from May 7th by Heather Stacy)

By Heather Stacy Director of Outreach, Lula Peoria, NFP

I get up every morning knowing that I will meet God in the beautiful faces of the people I get to serve. What does seeing God look like for me in what I do? Let me tell you…

It doesn’t always look the way people expect. It’s not always in quiet moments or peaceful places. Sometimes, I see God on a street corner, wrapped in a worn blanket. Sometimes, I hear Him in a shaky voice asking for help, or in the laughter that breaks through even the hardest days. I see God in resilience—in people who have every reason to give up, yet somehow keep going.

In my work in street-based outreach with our unsheltered neighbors in Peoria, I have come to understand that God shows up in the middle of real life—messy, complicated, and often painful. He is there in the conversations that happen on sidewalks, in parking lots, under bridges. He is there in every act of kindness, every shared meal, and every moment of trust built one step at a time.

Part of why I see God so clearly in this work is that I have lived it. I have experienced both chaotic substance use and chronic unsheltered homelessness. I know what it feels like to struggle, to be unseen, and to fight just to make it through another day. By the grace of God, I have been sober for three years now. That journey has shaped not only who I am, but how I show up for others. It allows me to meet people with understanding rather than judgment, with compassion rather than distance.

Seeing God looks like recognizing dignity where the world often overlooks it. It means seeing someone not for their circumstances, but for who they truly are—a person created with worth, purpose, and a story that matters. It means listening, really listening, and honoring the courage it takes for someone to be seen and heard.

There are days when the work feels heavy. Days when the needs are overwhelming, and the answers are not easy. But even in those moments, God is present. He is in the small victories—a safe place found, a connection made, a spark of hope rekindled. He is in the strength He provides to keep showing up, even when it’s hard.

I have learned that sometimes being the hands and feet of God doesn’t require grand gestures. It looks like sitting beside someone and reminding them they are not alone. It looks like offering compassion without judgment, and grace without condition. It looks like showing up consistently, with love at the center.

Through this work, my faith has grown in ways I never expected. I have seen firsthand that God does not turn away from brokenness—He steps right into it. And when we are willing to meet Him there, we begin to see His presence everywhere.

So when I say I meet God every morning, I truly mean it. I meet Him in every person I serve. And in those moments, I am reminded that we are all connected, all worthy, and all deeply loved.