My 2-year-old and I were walking along a busy street when suddenly she broke loose of my grasp and ran ahead of me. I rounded the corner after her, only to see her feet leave the curb and venture into the street.

No sooner had my little one taken a quick stride when--plop--she stumbled and fell. Later, with my daughter's bruises washed and kissed, I couldn't help wondering, What if she hadn't fallen? A car might have hit her.

What we don't see while we're feeling pain is God's hidden purpose. Sometimes, the very incident we see as hurtful is God's way of protecting us from worse harm.