The Invisible Hand of God – January 21, 2001
In the winter of 1777, Isaac Potts was passing through the woods near the American army headquarters at Valley Forge. On his way he heard a voice just ahead. As he drew closer, he was quite surprised to see the commander in chief himself on his knees in the act of prayer. Concealed by thick trees, Potts overheard George Washington giving thanks, and pleading for the liberty of his beloved country.1
With all his heart, Washington believed that Americans would be preserved from their enemies through the will of Divine Providence. He often affirmed his trust in “the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men.”2 This kind of faith is still exerted in the lives of many citizens throughout America today.
When a young athlete volunteered to say the customary prayer before an important college track meet, the entire team was surprised. It was something he had only done once before in his life, and it took a lot of courage. In his simple but heartfelt prayer, he made a request that every team member would be protected from harm during the competition. Not long after the prayer, one of the other athletes accidentally threw a javelin toward this young man. The javelin pierced through his shoe, pinning his foot to the ground. It looked like the injury would be severe. But after the javelin was carefully removed and his shoe was taken off, it was found that the javelin had merely passed between his toes. Surprisingly, he was left unharmed. Within minutes the young athlete set a new school record in the high hurdles. He later expressed his assurance in the invisible hand that protected him.
A single incident such as this may seem like a coincidence. But a pattern of blessings through the years reveals the outline of a benevolent power outside ourselves. Deep within, we sense the divine origin of our good fortune. Extra money appears just as bills are due; sudden recovery from illness defies medical explanation; a flash of insight resolves a troubled relationship—these are miraculous headlines from the stories of faithful lives.
The congressional prayer room in the United States Capitol building honors George Washington’s example of faith. A stained-glass window at the front of the room portrays him kneeling in prayer. Surrounding him are the words of the Psalmist: “Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.”3 Now more than ever we need the protection of surrounding ourselves with those words. And if we’re in harm’s way, or if we feel that we can’t possibly win our battles through our own merits, we can in full confidence reach up to grasp the invisible hand of God.
Program #3727
1. See William J. Federer, ed., America’s God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations (Coppell, Texas: Fame Publishing, Inc., 1994), 640-41.
2. Federer, 652.
3. Psalm 16:1.