A near miss. That’s what it was. The eighteen-wheeler barreled on down the road, but I sat there shaking. With white knuckled grip on the steering wheel, I felt a flood of gratitude mingled with that torrent of fear. I pulled at my seatbelt to remind myself, yes, I was okay. I’d gotten out of the way in time. I’d dodged, swerved, braked just enough to miss the truck.

But the driver hadn’t even seen me. In fact, in his attempt to merge, he didn’t have a clue he’d nearly side-swiped my SUV and almost run me into the five-foot concrete median at a 70-mph gait. Still, I have to wonder how many times we’ve all experienced that same thing. A near miss. A time when God has protected us. When He’s kept us from harm, shielded us, sheltered us in spite of ourselves and even when we didn’t have a clue what was happening. I’m sure if we could see in a kind of spiritual panoramic, it would be many. Too many to count.

If we could know them all, in fact, if we could take snapshots of them and hang them on the walls of our hearts, perhaps it might make the hard things we do have to go through in a given day (or even today) seem a little less overwhelming. Perhaps we could better trust Him. Better cling to Him. Better pour out our hearts before the One who lavishly loves you and me. Maybe we could even see His greater purposes at work in the midst of our struggles and watch our faith rise, rise to reach beyond the fear.

As you think about this, how is God challenging you to trust Him more today, even in the hard things?

Remember today God’s hand is upon you. That is His promise. He is always with you no matter what you are facing. And His love surrounds you fully and completely. He is “a very present help in trouble” and “for” you forever. (Psalm 46:1, Romans 8:31). Thank Him today for your near misses and let that lead you into deeper trust in Him.

*First published by The Joyful Life Magazine.