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Difficulties arise, tragedies unfold, and we are left asking why. Yet, this questioning is not limited to hardship; even the miraculous and the astounding provoke the same inquiry: why me? Whether we encounter joy or sorrow, the instinct to seek an explanation is ever-present. Sometimes, we turn toward the Divine in gratitude; other times, we condemn the world, laying blame on others and seeking external changes to restore our sense of well-being. Yet rarely do we pause to ask how we ourselves might change, how we might adjust our perception to see all circumstances—good or bad—as manifestations of the Divine.

The concept of divine intervention transcends the self-centered perspectives that judge events as right or wrong, good or bad, liked or disliked. It is not something conjured by prayer or invoked through ritual; it happens independently, often against societal norms and religious expectations. Divine intervention defies our attempts at control and resists being confined to our sense of order. It simply is.

Among the religious, there often exists a belief that divine intervention follows a particular formula—a path that must be adhered to if one is to invite the sacred into their life. Yet, I can tell you a story that challenges this notion. There was a woman, engulfed in the turmoil fear of losing her dog in a tragic accident. High on drugs, she ran into a field of thorny blackberry bushes, screaming profanities at God in her grief and rage. It was neither peaceful nor reverent. It was a raw, visceral condemnation of the Divine itself. And yet, in that moment of apparent spiritual abandonment, divine intervention occurred. That very day, she gave up her destructive habits, and though the dog was severely injured, it lived many more years.

There was no logical explanation, no physical or mental rationale for this turn of events. In the ancient world, this might have been called conversion—a sudden, profound shift from disbelief to unwavering faith. But it was not her effort that brought this about; it was her honest confrontation with the crisis at hand that allowed the divine to intervene.

Divine intervention is not limited to moments of despair. It is equally present when things are good, though we rarely notice it. When life unfolds smoothly, we may casually attribute it to a "God thing," without recognizing the significance of those pivotal moments that alter the trajectory of our lives forever. Every moment, in fact, determines the course of the future, whether we acknowledge it or not.

Yet when things go wrong, we search for reasons, for methods to escape the pain, while in times of prosperity, we resist change, convinced that God would never take away what we cherish. But perhaps divine intervention is not about giving or taking, not about what we deem good or bad. It may be that life itself is divine intervention, unfolding in ways that defy our limited understanding.

Everything we categorize as right or wrong, true or false, is merely part of the fabric of existence. Our feelings are information, and our thoughts either serve as barriers to, or vehicles for, our growth. We have the freedom to think as we choose, but we are also bound to the consequences of those thoughts, whether they lead to greatness or suffering.

Divine intervention seldom rests in our moments of despair, yet it is as present there as it is in our moments of joy. The question is not whether God is providing for us; the real question is what we are willing to do for God. Are we seeking to receive from the Divine, or are we seeking to give? Are we focused on what we want, or on how we can use what we have to benefit others?

Divine intervention is a constant, not something to be summoned through prayer or ritual. God is not a force to be controlled or directed according to our desires. Rather, it is God who shapes our lives and thoughts. So, when we pray, we must consider whether we are ready to align ourselves with God's will, even if it leads us down unexpected paths.

What if divine intervention comes through an accident? Through illness? Through an unexpected windfall? Or perhaps it arrives in the form of an ordinary day, unremarkable in every way. Are we prepared to serve God in whatever circumstances arise, or will we continue to serve only ourselves?

And so, the prayer I offer today is simple:

"God, I give myself to You today, to use me in whatever way best serves Your purpose. Relieve me of my self-centered thoughts so that I may see the needs of others and help to meet them. Help me to remember that in serving others, I find fulfillment, rather than demanding life to serve my desires. Thank You, God, for this day of life. Amen."

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