Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out Your arrows and rout them! Psalm 144:6

I tried to find a Bible passage that referred to surviving being struck by lightning as a good thing.

I tried a long time, but I couldn't find a single one.

Most of the time the Bible thinks of lightning as being a large demonstration of God's power. Sometimes, as in the above passage, God is called upon to use His lightning to show displeasure to His enemies. Not a single passage said getting hit by lightning was lucky.

Even so, "lucky" is what a Fox News story called 16-year-old BreAnna Helsel. The article told how BreAnna, during a thunderstorm, had gone to the kitchen to shut an open window. It was there that the lightning struck her. BreAnna said she saw electricity shoot out of her fingers into the ceiling lights, which blew out the home's power.

Now I'm not an expert on such things, but if we were to talk about luck, or better yet, God's protection and providence, the really blessed person would be the individual who didn't get struck by lightning.

That makes sense to me. I may feel God is smiling on me when I survive an auto accident, but shouldn't I feel all the more special for the times He's kept me from any auto disaster? I may be blessed if I survive an illness, but shouldn't my heart be thankful for all the days my body has chugged along without any necessary maintenance at all?

It's a different way of looking at things. Too often we need the bad, the sad, the troublesome, and the terrible to be reminded just how many blessings God has showered upon us.

Consider this: That we might live forever in paradise, the Father sent His Son to live and die and rise for us. By God's grace and through the Savior's sacrifice we have dodged the damnation bullet.

This is why, especially today, I would encourage you to give thanks for the lightning which hasn't struck, the cavities which the dentist hasn't drilled, the hunger we've never felt, the plague and pestilence which never came. Today and always, give thanks for a good God who wants the best for His children.

THE PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, how many accidents have never happened to me I cannot begin to imagine. Send Your Holy Spirit so I may develop a deeper appreciation of the height and depth and breadth of Your love. In the Name of my Savior, I ask this. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: 1 Kings 5-7    Acts 7:44-60

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