July 26
Better to Be Late
Than Never
“The end of a matter is better than its beginning. So it is better to be patient than proud.”
Ecclesiastes 7:8 (NIrV)
Anthony gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. The cars ahead of him were barely crawling forward, and he could feel his frustration boiling over. He had an important meeting in less than thirty minutes, and now he was stuck in a traffic jam with no way out.
“This is ridiculous!” he muttered, slamming his hand on the dashboard. “Why does this always happen when I’m in a rush?” He let out a string of curses under his breath, shaking his head in disbelief. His mind raced with excuses he’d have to give his boss. Would they think he was irresponsible? Would he lose the client?
Minutes felt like hours as the line of vehicles inched forward. Then, as he finally neared the source of the hold-up, his anger turned into a deep, unsettling silence.
A horrific accident had unfolded just ahead. Twisted metal, shattered glass, and crumpled vehicles were strewn across the highway. Ambulance lights flashed against the gray sky, and paramedics rushed from one vehicle to another. A crushed sedan sat motionless, its windshield shattered, the airbags deployed. The weight of the scene pressed heavily on Anthony’s chest.
His frustration disappeared in an instant. His meeting, his deadlines, his complaints—they all seemed so small now. He swallowed hard as the realization settled in: If I had left earlier… if I had been just a few minutes ahead… that could have been me.
He exhaled slowly and whispered, “Lord, forgive me. Thank You for protecting me, even when I was too blinded by my own impatience to see it.”
As traffic cleared, he continued driving, his heart beating with gratitude instead of rage. Being late wasn’t the worst thing that could happen. Some things—like life itself—were far more important than schedules and meetings. He had learned a lesson in patience the hard way, but he was thankful for it.
Prayer:
Lord, teach me to be patient when things don’t go my way.
Help me to trust Your timing instead of my own, and to see interruptions as opportunities to grow rather than obstacles to my plans.
Thank You for protecting me even when I don’t realize it.
May I always choose patience over pride and gratitude over frustration.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
