Grateful for the Things I Wish Had Never Happened

I wish this had never happened.

That was my first thought when I got the call — our car broke down unexpectedly, right in the middle of a normal weekday. The transmission gave out without warning while my wife was driving to work. It was stressful, sudden, and scary.

We didn’t plan for car trouble. We were planning on getting a few more years out of our car. We prayed and started looking for a new vehicle.

But just five days later — God provided.

We found a seller and drove away with a new (to us) SUV that’s safer, sturdier, and more suited for the next chapter of our lives. We are still in shock at how things came together so quickly.

And that’s when I remembered this quote:

“I’m grateful for the things I wish had never happened.” — Stephen Colbert

Colbert shared this in a powerful conversation with Anderson Cooper about grief and loss. He reflected on his story and how he had learned to be grateful for both the good and hard times in life.

There are things in life we would never choose — breakdowns, disruptions, diagnoses, and disappointments. And yet, sometimes, those are the very places where God shows up. Not always in the way we expect. Not always immediately. But in ways that shape us, teach us, and remind us that we are not alone.

Can you think of a moment you didn’t want, but now you’re grateful it happened?

I’m learning to worry less, pray more, and trust that God is working in the middle of the mess.

And I’m learning to say, with a little more faith each time:

“I’m grateful for the things I wish had never happened.”

-Luke Merrill, MA, LPC