From Selfish Desires to Divine Purpose: How One Church Lady Found Joy and a Lottery Win

For years, Miss Dorothy was known as the sweet, steadfast lady who occupied the third pew at First Baptist Church. With her silver hair neatly pinned and her Bible worn from decades of study, she was a picture of faithfulness. But what few people knew was that Miss Dorothy carried a secret longing—a yearning to win the lottery.

“I thought if I just had more money, I could finally be happy,” she confessed one Sunday during a testimony service. “I imagined a big house, fancy vacations, and the freedom to buy whatever my heart desired. But deep down, I knew those dreams were all about me.”

For years, Dorothy faithfully played the same numbers, hoping her windfall would come. Yet despite her prayers, the big win never materialized. It wasn’t until a particularly moving sermon on surrender that Dorothy’s heart began to shift.

“The pastor said, ‘True happiness isn’t found in fulfilling your own desires but in aligning your heart with the will of God,’” Dorothy shared. “That hit me like a ton of bricks. I realized I’d been asking God to bless my plans instead of seeking His.”

Dorothy stopped buying lottery tickets and started praying a different kind of prayer: “Lord, use me however You will. Help me to desire what You desire.” Her prayers grew less about herself and more about the people around her, especially the youth in her church.

“I began to notice how much potential these young people had and how many obstacles they faced,” she said. “I wanted to help them grow in their faith, pursue their education, and know they had a whole church family cheering for them.”

Months turned into years, and Dorothy found a new kind of joy—investing her time and resources into the youth ministry. She organized bake sales, helped with scholarships, and became a mentor to several young people. She no longer thought about the lottery.

But God had a surprise in store.

One afternoon, while cleaning out an old drawer, Dorothy found an unclaimed lottery ticket she’d purchased years ago. On a whim, she checked the numbers. To her shock, it was a winner—a big one.

“I was in disbelief,” she said with a laugh. “I must’ve checked those numbers a dozen times!”

After the initial shock wore off, Dorothy knew exactly what she wanted to do.

“This wasn’t about me anymore,” she said. “It was about God’s purpose. I’d already found my happiness in Him. This money was just the icing on the cake.”

Dorothy used her winnings to establish a youth scholarship fund at her church, pay off the debt for the church’s aging building, and start a community center for kids in her town. She also quietly helped struggling families and supported missionaries.

“I’m not saying God will give everyone a lottery win,” she said with her trademark smile. “But I’ve learned that when you align your heart with His, He gives you blessings far greater than money. For me, the greatest joy is seeing these young people flourish.”

Today, Dorothy is as content as ever, still sitting in her favorite pew on Sundays and cheering on the youth of her church. Her story is a reminder that true happiness doesn’t come from wealth but from living in the center of God’s will—and when we do, He often surprises us with blessings beyond our imagination.

“Seek first the kingdom of God,” Dorothy says, quoting her favorite verse, “and all these things will be added to you. He’s been faithful to me, and I know He’ll be faithful to you, too.”

And with that, Miss Dorothy smiled, her face glowing with a joy money could never buy.