For those of you that don’t know, I experienced a major car wreck about a month ago. I tried to avoid the semi on my right, tried to avoid the wall on my left, and then lost control. I crashed into the semi, bounced off of him, spun at least once and then crashed into the concrete wall on my left. It was a terrible experience but I walked away with minor cuts and bruises.

As I sat there in shock wondering how on earth I ended up where I was, I realized something. All the things I had been so worried about, melted away. I was just happy to be alive in that moment. Well, maybe not that exact moment, but my perspective on my life’s joys and concerns shifted drastically. I realized that I wanted to live in the present and not worry about the future that I have no control over.

Jesus talks in Matthew 6 about worry. He asks the disciples, “Does God not care more for you than the birds or the flowers of the fields? Won’t he take care of you?” And then he tells them, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew‬ ‭6:34‬ It was made strikingly clear that God takes care of me and that each day is meant to be lived not worried through. Jesus overcame sin and death so that we could live a life full of abundant love.

My second perspective shift came after struggling through the what if’s, which was almost scarier than the wreck. What if I had been in a different car? What if I had been pinned underneath the semi? What if I wasn’t wearing my seat belt? What if I had rolled? The list when on and on and the fear wrecked me for a moment and then God brought me comfort! It was the simple truth we find in Psalm 33:11 “But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

God has a plan and purpose for me that I have not finished yet and that’s why I’m still here. There’s still work to be done! A month later, I no longer have bruises and I have a new car named Garfield!