The first thing he did was march over toward me angrily, yell, cuss and call me all sorts of terrible names in front of the children.
I thought he was going to hit me at first. So I pleaded with him.
“Please calm down sir,” I said. “There are children here that don’t need to hear that kind of language. Also, I am 8 months pregnant. I didn’t see the light and didn’t mean to run it.”
My voice was quivering.
I was in shock and trying to make sure no one was hurt. My stomach was bleeding and seriously aching, but I didn’t know the source of the blood. There were so many things going on at once and this stranger going off on me was not helping the situation one bit.
I was driving in Philadelphia in 2006 (as I have shared before on the blog), a city that was new to me. So I failed to notice the red stoplight—a costly mistake.
By the time I realized my error, Bam!
I was hit hard on the driver’s side of my vehicle at that busy intersection in the middle of oncoming traffic. I was spinning around and around. Lord knows I thought I might lose all 3 of the Hobbs children and the one in my belly that day.
Then, when my SUV tilted up on its 2 left wheels, I was sure I would flip over. I literally could see the asphalt coming toward my face. Witnesses said there is no way we should not have flipped, but all of sudden, inexplicably, the automobile seemed to snatch itself back up. Not only that, it somehow ended up perfectly parked next to a curb, although it was completely totaled.
As you can imagine, I was quite shaken up when the truck came to a halt.
The impact of the hit did major damage to my sciatic nerve in my lower back and sent me into premature labor. Thank God our son Kaleb, whom I delivered hours later, was alright and none of the other children had a scratch on them, although I was pretty banged up internally.
However, before being hauled away in an ambulance with a medical team to explain everything that was happening to me internally, I was just trying to get my bearings, you know? I had no clue what was what.
My hands were trembling so badly, I kept fumbling and dropping my phone as I tried to dial my husband’s number. I could barely stabilize my thumbs enough to hit speed dial on my Blackberry. He was employed at a college in Center City right up the street.
I did not expect an irate driver to have to be restrained by others to keep him from assaulting me. He was pretty upset, which is understandable. No one likes to be in an accident. But his vicious display was inexcusable and merciless, which, unfortunately is the way many people treat us when we make mistakes, don't they?
Have you ever been at fault in a situation in life or in a bad position based on personal errors , or sometimes, uncontrollable circumstances, and were met with a cold, bitter response from others? Ever fell on hard times only to be given a hard time about it?
If so, it feels terrible, I know.
Some, not all, people have a way of looking down on you, talking about you, demeaning you, belittling you, criticizing you, and even cussing you out when you accidentally get in a jam.
Their first response, though it would be nice, is often not mercy, empathy, or compassion.
Like the other driver in my accident, all they can see is how stupid, reckless, careless, and irresponsible they think you are.
Instead of focusing on the fact that you are hurting, in distress, sorry, or that you simply were unaware of what you were doing at the time—even if it is your fault—their first inclination is not to be understanding. Their confused, negative emotions and judgments about your situation consume them. All they can see is their side, not yours.
The results are not pretty! Harsh words are exchanged. Verbal missiles are aimed at you. Accusatory questions are asked. Assumptions are made.
You, the one on the receiving end of the condescending look, harsh tongue-lashing, or, in some cases, physical abuse, are left broken, shaken up, destroyed inside, trying to collect yourself and find your way back to wholeness.
It can be hard enough to crash in life without heartless spectators gazing at the wreckage, judging you for it.
But you know what?
God is not like them.
When people look down upon you, God doesn’t see what they see. He knows the end from the beginning and views your crash as an opportunity to restore, redeem, make you whole, and put you back together again.
The struggle, difficulty, trial, setback, and loss will one day be a testimony.
People, on the other hand, can be very quick to pounce and pronounce judgment on something prematurely.
That’s why God is sending you this message today.
They judge you. He loves you.
So stop worrying about how others perceive your present condition. Where you are now and what you are currently going through cannot compare to the awesome and bright future He has in store for you.
So hold your head up high. Refuse to be defined by the perceptions of others. Even if you are facing a troubling season based on something that was your fault, it doesn’t matter. God does not keep a record of our wrongs, nor does He dangle mistakes and imperfections over our heads.
Folks do that.
His grace, mercy and compassion is unending and again, let me reiterate, God does not see like man sees.
At all.
To remind you of this truth, I’m stirring Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV into your cup of inspiration, which says, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”
When you drink down the contents of your cup, you will be reminded that you can never mistake human actions and reactions for God’s. His love is incomprehensible and His ways, according to Romans 11:33, are past finding out.
All you need to know is that He loves you endlessly, treasures you immensely, takes pride in you sincerely, and has a plan for you unmistakably.
You are His beloved, prized possession and He has a wonderful purpose for your life, despite where you find yourself today.
What He says is totally different than what they say.
So then, what does God say? “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11 AKJV)
Be encouraged.
Now let’s pray.
God, so many times, others judge me for my failures, imperfections, and shortcomings. But thank You for reminding me today that You love, accept and embrace me unconditionally, and that Your plan for my life is an amazing one, despite what things look like today. I ask that You will help me not to place such a high value upon what others say and think about me, but only to embrace Your thoughts toward me, which are all good. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
If you need prayer, don't hesitate to request it. I would be honored to stand in faith with You. I know that prayer works. CLICK HERE to learn how to submit your prayer request.
