There was a sharp jolt, a rush through my body, and a sudden silence in my mind. In that instant, the job disappeared and only one thought remained. I could not stop thinking about my family.

Yesterday, I was replacing an overhead exhaust fan for a client. I thought the power was off, but shockingly, it wasn’t. In an instant, I got zapped. One moment everything felt normal and the next my heart was racing and my hands were shaking.

In that moment, my thoughts did not go to the job or the inconvenience. They went straight to my family. I thought about Cindy, my kids, and the life God has so graciously given me. What struck me most was not the electricity, but the realization that I had leaned on assumption instead of wisdom. I thought the breaker was off. I intended to be careful. But I skipped a simple step. I did not test the wire with a voltage tester pen, and that small decision carried real weight.

As I stood there, catching my breath, something else came rushing to mind. My father-in-law has told me more times than I can count to always double-check the power. He didn’t say it dramatically or with fear, just steadily, patiently, and consistently. It was wisdom passed down through years of experience, care, and concern. In that moment, his words echoed louder than the shock itself.

There is a saying in the electrical trade that goes, “Electricity doesn’t care what you think, it only cares what you touch.” That truth hit me hard. Assumptions mean nothing to unseen power. What matters is verification. What matters is wisdom. And the same is true in life and in our walk with God. Intentions are not enough. Good motives do not replace careful obedience.

God, in His mercy, protected me, but He also taught me. This was not the first time He has reminded me to slow down, to pay attention, and to walk more carefully with the life He has entrusted to me. Time and again, He has used moments both quiet and startling to call my heart back to wisdom. Wisdom is not just knowing what is right, it is doing what is right. It is honoring the life God has given us by refusing to rush through what matters most.

So often in life, we assume things are safe. We assume we have time. We assume everything is under control. But assumption is never a substitute for discernment.

This situation was another reminder that my life is not just my own. It is a stewardship. My family depends on my presence. My children need their father. My wife needs her husband. God calls me not only to work hard, but to walk wisely. I learned the hard way, but I learned. And today, I am grateful. Grateful for God’s protection, grateful for His mercy, and grateful for the wisdom spoken into my life long before I realized how much I would need it.

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Lord, help me to use more wisdom, not just with my hands, but with my heart, my words, and my choices. Help me to slow down and remember that every day is a gift, and every breath is worth protecting.

Let this story be a reminder to take nothing for granted, to move through life with care, and to receive each day with humility and thankfulness.

Reflection:
What small habit or safeguard have I been tempted to skip, and what would it look like to practice it consistently?