There were two accidents on Interstate 80 this weekend.  On Sunday a missionary couple and their three children were driving through Nebraska headed to Colorado for training before going to Japan, when a distracted semi truck driver slammed into their minivan killing them almost instantly. Another driver also died.

Meanwhile, in Ottawa, Illinois on Monday there was another accident involving three semis and a car.  Two people in the car died as did someone from one of the semi trucks.

A friend of mine was driving on the same road in Illinois, and stated that the accident happened just behind him and his wife in their car.  Someone commented and seemed to indicate that their safety was proof that God was watching over them.   I too am very glad that God protected them, but it made me think.

Do we only think God is “watching over us” when good things happen to us?  Was God not watching over the missionary couple in Nebraska?   I submit that He was.  God loves that family, and He loves my friend as well. The outcomes of their respective travels this weekend are in no way an indication of the level of God’s care for or attention to their well-being.

I’m going to say something, and you may want to write it down.  Get a pencil.  I’ll wait.

Here it is:   The amount of God’s love for you cannot be determined by the good or bad things that happen in your life.

For us Christians, God loves us and has a perfect plan for us.  This plan does not always go the way WE think it should.  Sometimes that plan includes fire, flood, storm, death, sickness, tragedy, and sorrow.  No matter if we are rich or poor, sick or healthy, happy or sad, God is still in charge, and His will is still the best possible place for us to be, even if it doesn’t seem best to us.

Paul says in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”   He doesn’t say “Rejoice in the Lord when things are going your way” or “Rejoice in the Lord when you agree with God’s choices.”  It says “always.”   Remember that today.