Publisher’s Points to Ponder: Invisible hands at work

Lately, I’ve been pondering about coincidences and the way circumstances and people connect. I do not believe in coincidences. I believe everything happens for a reason. Everything that happens is a test of our character and our courage. I believe that God is at work behind the scenes in every circumstance.

As I write this column, we are 13 days deep into the new year. So much has transpired during the past 13 days. I reluctantly admit that my patience has been tested, and I’ve struggled to pass the test on a few occasions. The icing on top of the cake was the car accident I had after leaving church Sunday. Out of nowhere, someone put their car in reverse on the street and slammed into the front of my car. My first response was to jump out and check the damage. I complained about the expense, and the time it would take out of my day to deal with the repairs. I guess my behavior would be an indication of what I value most.

It wasn’t until later that night following the accident that I realized it was an accident. I don’t think the person who hit me intended to back into me. I was inconsiderate of the possibility that the driver could have been stressed out about what he did, and not one time did I attempt to console him. After I thought about the situation in a calm state, I repented, and I prayed for the driver and his family. I prayed that everything would work out for the best. At that moment, I realized that although this accident was not favorable for me, God’s invisible hands are still at work even when we feel defeated.

As Christians, we sometimes miss the mark when we fail to respond “Christlike” in some situations. It does not do any good to beat ourselves down for our lack of compassion. Instead, we should repent immediately, reflect on our actions and, when possible, reach out to the person to ask for forgiveness. Also, we should strive to control our temper so we can be directed by the Holy Spirit to do God’s will always.