What is this thing called selective worries?
It’s the kind that chooses what to stress over — while often ignoring what really matters. Some people hold onto worry like a badge, others use it to justify mistakes. But in the end, God uses even our missteps to teach us.

A Sobering Lesson

Not long ago, I got a DUI. I had just left winery after what I thought was an innocent night of fun — a few glasses of wine with friends. Four, to be exact. Two in half an hour. I didn’t feel impaired, but the breathalyzer didn’t care how I felt. I was over the limit, and that was all the law needed.

I was embarrassed. Deep down, I knew this wasn’t just about the law — it was about responsibility, wisdom, and obedience. The Bible says,

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers… for there is no power but of God.” — Romans 13:1

I had failed not only man’s law but God’s law of self-control. (Proverbs 25:28: “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”)

When the Angels Were Silent

I remember asking myself, “Where were my angels that night?”
But then I realized — I never called them.
I never prayed before we left. I was too busy talking and laughing to invite God into that drive. My first mistake wasn’t the wine; it was the absence of prayer.

“Pray without ceasing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Without prayer, protection weakens. It’s like driving with your headlights off — you don’t notice the danger until you’re right on top of it.

The Waze That Wasn’t

The second mistake came when I asked my wife to plug in the directions on Waze, and she said no — “I know the way,” she told me. Maybe she did. But the app would’ve warned us about the checkpoint ahead.

Now, I’m not blaming her — I’m simply recognizing how one small act of disobedience can alter an entire evening. Scripture says:

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church.” — Ephesians 5:22, 25

It’s not about control, but order. God designed relationships with structure, so we can protect one another through obedience and love.

A Lesson Paid in Full

I paid for that night — literally and spiritually. But out of it came a divine reminder: even in our failures, God’s hand still directs us.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” — Romans 8:28

Yes, it was embarrassing. Yes, I could’ve done better. But I learned something powerful — God sometimes stops us in our tracks not to punish us, but to redirect us.

Next time, I’ll pray first, drive wiser, love deeper, and never forget to invite Him into every journey.