Back in March of 2006 when I was 8 months pregnant with my 4th child, Kaleb, I got into a terrible accident. It happened near Center City in Philadelphia. My husband and I were new to the city and I was still learning my way around. As I was driving, I didn't notice the street lights in front of me.
In Philly, many of the street lights are on side posts and not high overhead like the traffic lights in Buffalo, New York where I'm from, which is what I was used to. Without realizing it, I drove straight through a red light into oncoming traffic.
"Bam!" a car slammed into the driver's side and sent my truck spinning and careening through traffic. It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life.
All 3 of my other children were in the car. I thought I might lose them that day.
I remember my truck was tilted up on 2 wheels; I just knew it was going to flip. I could look down and see the street. Witnesses said that the car should've flipped over, but all of sudden it seemed to snatch itself back up.
I know that was nobody but the Lord.
Though the truck was totaled and the impact of the crash caused substantial injury to my back and sent me into premature labor, none of my children had a single scratch on them. They were perfectly fine.
I still tear up when I think about that, because I know that had it not been for the Lord, things would have turned out much differently. He's so good.
I thought about the accident today because as I was sitting on my bed doing some work, I shifted my body and excruciating pain shot through my lower back on the right side, just above the hip. I'm familiar with that uncomfortable pain; I feel it from time to time as a result of that accident nearly 3 years ago.
Though it hurts, it pales in comparison to the pain I would have felt if one, or all of my children were lost in that accident (something that could have very likely occurred), which brings me to my point. Sometimes we go through difficult situations in our lives that take us by surprise. Those things may even jolt us and wound us.
But instead of focusing on the emotional, physical, or mental injury we may have sustained, we must learn to take a moment to shift our thinking. Focus on what could have and should have happened had God not stepped in and turned some things around. It'll cause you to see things in a new light and you'll begin seeing and saying how good God is, rather than looking at everything not so good, that may be going on in your life.
Although you and I may experience some residual side effects from a personal trial we came through, we still have more to be grateful for than we have to complain about. Amen?
No matter what you're going through, I want you to think about the goodness of Jesus and how He's kept you; how He's brought you through; how He sustained you when you got in a situation you couldn't get yourself out of; how He was merciful when you got into some kind of accident that WAS your fault.
He still protected you and brought you through. Oh bless His name.
My son Kaleb will be 3 years old next month. He was born healthy and has no problems as a result of that trauma.
Again, God is so good. Pslam 34:8 says, "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." (KJV)
As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com
