Miracles, Big and Small by Rabbi Yechezkel Elias
A few years ago, my father Shlita, the Rosh Kollel of the Montreal Community Kollel, was involved in a car accident where his vehicle flipped over, crashed into a light pole, and erupted in flames. In a stroke of Divine serendipity, two Muslims who were passing at that very moment stopped their car and pulled my father from his vehicle just a few seconds before it exploded. The two had not even planned on being in the area altogether. Having stumbled on some excellent sales, they had wrapped up an
extended shopping trip a full day earlier than expected, and they used some of their extra time to take a more circuitous route back home, a route that brought them to that exact spot at that precise moment. The hand of Hashem was certainly evident at that time and continued to be most evident in every subsequent twist and turn until my father’s full recovery.
This story continues to inspire us, serving as an eye-opener that helps us go through life with the awareness that He is always watching us from the shadows. It does not, however, show me His involvement in my daily life. Where, then, can I find His Hashgachah every single day?
A solution. The challenges we face are the manifestation of Hashem’s constant Hashgachah.
Suppose you are having a really hard day: tough meetings at work, trouble with the bank, yelled at by the boss. You escape from the office and begin your ride home, only to be stuck behind a slow-moving tractor, tripling the time of your commute. Finally, you walk through the front door, ready to collapse ,and are greeted by a cacophony. Supper isn’t ready, the kids are fighting, and some sticky substance
seems to have spilled all over the floor.
Freeze. This is a Divine Providence moment. You were just sent a challenge costum-tailored to your unique talents and abilities.
You might be down and out, but you have the power to choose. He’s right there. He’s setting you up for the challenge, and He’s telling you, “You can do this!”
[This is an excerpt from a book my learning partner and I are loving called Ani Maamim: A Mission for Life by Rabbi Yechezkel Elias (https://www.artscroll.com/Books/9781422631645.html)]