Back in high school, I had a job as a cashier at our local grocery store. One afternoon, as my shift was coming to an end, I glanced outside and saw something unsettling – a car slowly rolling backward, with a woman desperately clutching the steering wheel, her legs dragging on the pavement. Without hesitation, I sprang into action, reaching into the car to hit the brake and prevent a potential disaster.
To this day, I still can't fathom how that lady ended up in such a predicament. Life has a way of throwing us into unexpected situations, whether it's our own carelessness, the consequences of our actions, or just the randomness of accidents, nature, or other people's choices. When faced with these trials, it's easy to feel overwhelmed.
Psalm 46:1-3
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into
the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar
and foam and the mountains quake
with their surging.
Remembering that day, I can't help but see it as a God Moment. God placed me in the right place at the right time to lend a hand. While He could have prevented the whole ordeal, He allowed it to unfold for reasons beyond my understanding. Maybe it was to give me an opportunity to help, or perhaps it served as a wake-up call for the woman to be more cautious or to address any issues with her car. Whatever the case, trouble found its way to our doorstep.
In John 16:33, Jesus reminds us, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
God never promised us a trouble-free journey through life. But He did promise to be with us in our trouble. So, when difficulties come our way – no matter their source – we can lean into Jesus, who has already conquered the world.