| Thanks for Nothing - by Joel Hempel It was 1978 when we were driving to Canton, Ohio, to celebrate Christmas with my parents. Heavy snow was forecasted when we left Cincinnati, but we were young, and although I no longer thought I was invincible as I once believed in my adolescence, I did think Marcia and I could handle the bad weather. It was late at night when we left the church following the Christmas Eve celebration. Driving north out of Columbus on Interstate 71, the snow was heavy, and the visibility was minimal. The boys were asleep in the back seat, Marcia was keeping watch, and I was white-knuckling the steering wheel. As many of you have experienced, the road ahead was barely lit through the falling snow and the thick darkness. Suddenly, with no warning, about 30 feet ahead, a bridge abutment appeared directly in front of us. I made a sharp turn to the right. The car slipped to the left. Out of control, we headed for the end of the bridge. Bracing for the worst, I felt the wheels suddenly grab hold of whatever they found dry beneath them. A disaster was evaded by a few feet. As our hearts raced, we thanked God for saving us from our foolishness. There was no doubt about it; Jesus was our hero. But for all the times you and I have thanked God for various blessings, there are countless other times when we experienced nothing because God was working behind the scenes to protect, heal, or rescue us. We have no empirical evidence to offer as proof of our Lord’s care, but we do have his Word. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified . . . for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV). When Abraham and Sarah couldn’t get pregnant, God was working. When Joseph was sold into slavery, God was working. When the disciples were being thrown about by a storm in the middle of the sea, God was working. When their brother’s death crushed Mary and Martha, God was working. And then there was this: Where was God the Father when Jesus was dying on the cross? He was silent; he offered no word of support; no angel was sent to aid his Son. Jesus was left with no hope to hold onto. Jesus the man and Jesus the Son of God was utterly abandoned by the Father. But again, the question: Where was God the Father? It appeared to the then-known world that nothing was happening on that day except for an enemy of the state dying on a cross. Where was God? He was quietly saving humanity! He was silently at work – and on the cross with his Son. Thank you for doing nothing, God. As our faith grows and God’s grace enriches our trust, we will have the eyes to see when nothing is apparent. | 
