The LORD is my rock, my
fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my
shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. Psalm 18:2 (New Living
Translation)
It just takes a second.
Less than a second for your life to change.
My daughter was
chattering away, excited about passing her favorite mall and Joe’s Crab Shack.
My son was in another world, playing his Nintendo 3DS in the back seat. I was
driving, looking forward to making it home and seeing my husband, thinking
about calling him because I was now in very familiar territory on a highway not
far from his mother’s house
A minivan passed in
front of me and before my eyes a large piece of metal came from under the
minivan and was headed right for my car—my husband’s practically brand new car
that I drove to Rockford to spend the night for my brother’s birthday
celebration. The car that even as I was backing out of the driveway, my husband
gave a final shine to make the black exterior glisten in the sun.
It seemed like it was
happening in slow motion but it only took a second. The large, rusty piece of
metal about the size of bread box seemed like it was headed for the hood of the
car or the windshield. I swerved. I
thought for an instant maybe I had avoided it, but then I heard a clunk to the
side and then I heard the thud of the tire.
But as I pulled over to
the side of the road, the aroma of burned rubber getting stronger, I was
thankful to God that the metal had not gone through the windshield, injured my
daughter or son or caused a major accident on the expressway. I was grateful
for life and God’s protection.
God is my protector.
Have you ever looked back over your life and shudder at the things that could
have happened. I know I have. The time I walked out of the house when I was
about three years old and a stranger found me (maybe he was an angel) and
brought me home. The time I got off the wrong train in Harlem on my way to my
aunt’s house and walked through the unfamiliar streets of Harlem at night until
I found a familiar one. The times when I was studying abroad in Spain when I
would walk home alone in the wee hours of the morning. The times my family was
driving on the highway during tornado weather and we made it to our destination
safely. The stupid and even dangerous situations that I put myself in.
Then there are those
dangers unseen. Those times that the Enemy had an attack set for my life. But
it did not come near me because the angels of the Lord were surrounding me and
I didn’t even know it. Those traps others set for you and they fell in them or
they didn’t harm you. Or those times when you don’t have time to think, only
react and God guides you. His still, small voice keeps you calm, even in the
midst of a crisis.
God is our protector. And
even if my car accident had ended differently, he still would be. But I thank
Him that he spared me and my family. The tire was fixed and we made it home
safely.
If it had ended differently, I would be with
the Lord. He would still be good and He would still be a protector. But since I’m
still here, He still has purpose for me to fulfill in this life. And I thank
Him for His protection.
The greatest protection
is salvation. God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
But the Lord is faithful, and he
will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
Surely he will save you from the
fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his
feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be
your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow
that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the
plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand
at your right hand, but it will not come near you. Psalm 91:3-7
So do not fear, for I am with
you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
The Lord watches over you—the Lord
is your shade at your right ahnd; the sun will nat harm you by day, nor the
moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your
life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121:5-8
Reflection and Response
How has God protected you?
I thank God for being my
protector who…
I thank Him for…
No comments:
Post a Comment