My story starts with a prayer and ends with me laying on my horn, my foot jammed against the brakes as hard as I could push. But it wasn’t the near-miss accident in the rain that was the really amazing part of this whole situation. It was the series of events that came between it and the prayer. See, as Christians, we know that God is in control. We know that He always has a plan. But what my story this week has taught me beyond the shadow of a doubt is that the hand of God really is on our lives in a very real and personal way. We just need to have our eyes open to see it.
The Lead-Up
It all started with a prayer. Because of road construction, I had just started taking a new route to work in the morning. Right near the school, there is this one turn that always trips me up. I’m not a great driver as a general rule, and about the second or third morning I hit that same curb, I prayed, “Dear God, thank you for protecting my tires.” It was just one sentence in the middle of many I pray on my way to work, but the next morning when I got to the turn, I prayed it again. I had been doing that about three or four days when Saturday rolled around.
That Saturday, there was a ladies’ tea party with a devotional happening at the church. I had already told the pastor’s wife I couldn’t come. My job as a teacher has been really stressful lately, and I felt I needed time to rest. But, that morning, my two best-friend-Sisters-in-Christ had both called, encouraging me to go to the party. At the last minute, I relented. Maybe it would be good for me to spend some time eating yummy food and laughing with the ladies for a little bit on a Saturday afternoon.
The Tire Problem
I wasn’t at the meeting long before the pastor came in and told me that his son Matthew, who was out working on the grounds, just happened to see that one of my tires was low. He looked a little closer and saw a screw stuck in my back driver’s side tire. Matthew would air it up, but I would need to stop at Discount Tire on my way home to get it patched. Long story short, the tire guy said he could patch it, but it really wouldn’t be worth it. The tread on my tires was gone. It had been over five years since I had bought my tires there, so I needed new ones.
Now, a while back, God had impressed upon me that I’m not to use my credit card anymore. I had just gotten paid for the month a few days before and hadn’t had a chance to move any money to savings yet, so I decided to go ahead and bite the bullet and get new tires. That was Saturday.
Rain, a Falling Light Pole, and a Clean Stop
Just four days later on my way to work, I was saying my usual morning prayers as I drove. I always start my commute by praying on the full armor of God and then asking for protection for my family and me. Then I pray Psalm 91 and Psalm 23 and then basically chat the rest of the way. I had just finished Psalm 23 as I drove down the main street from my house on the way to the freeway. It was raining and slick. Just then, right out of the blue, a light pole fell right in front of my truck! I laid on my horn and slammed on my brakes, hoping the drivers behind me would realize that I had to stop and not rear-end me.
Praise God, I didn’t hit the light pole. Praise God again, nobody hit me. I was able to maneuver my vehicle around the right side of the pole and exit the area. I stopped in a nearby parking lot to call the emergency number to let the police know what happened. Behind me was a snarl of traffic, and as I had squeezed out of the area, I noticed there was a car in the median, probably the culprit for the broken pole. Police were already on the scene by the time I ended the call and got back onto the road.
Hindsight is 20/20
When I got to work a little later than usual, I told the teachers in the rooms next door to mine what happened. I mentioned the prayers for protection and the clean stop, and I praised God for keeping me safe. I then messaged my husband and the pastor’s wife, one of my besties from church, to praise God and let them know what happened. Later, my friend texted me back and reminded me about the new tires I had bought just four days before.
As I contemplated the events, I was amazed by what I saw. The accident hadn’t happened in isolation. In fact, it wasn’t a random thing at all. The hand of God had started preparing me for that moment over a week in advance. Nothing was left to chance. Instead, detail after detail was laid perfectly in place.
I Reviewed the Series of Events in Light of Scripture
1. I was praying about tires way before I had any idea there was going to be an issue.
Romans 8:27, “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
2. I wasn’t even going to go to the meeting, but at the last minute, I changed my mind.
Proverbs 16:9, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”
3. The Pastor’s son Matthew, a very devout young Christian, “just happened” to see that my tire was low and stopped to search for the cause.
Philippians 2:4, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
4. My decision to buy tires that day was based on the idea that I was trying to be obedient to God regarding the use of my credit card.
James 1:25, “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
5. My new tires held in the rain, but if the pole had fallen a little sooner or later in that thick morning traffic, it could have been a very different situation for a lot of people.
Psalm 91:11-12, “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
The Hand of God is On Our Lives
Nobody likes getting a flat, and paying several hundred dollars for new tires didn’t feel like a blessing at the time. But there is a reason that the Bible tells us not to lean on our own understanding. We just don’t see the whole picture. God knows what He’s doing, and He’s always in control. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” We just have to have faith and remember that whatever happens, He is working things out for our good and His glory.
Interested in more articles about testimonies? Check out Two Kinds of Testimonies: Are You Telling Yours? Or, try A Testimony of Healing After a Prayer in Faith. Please sign up to receive my blog in your email at the top right or the bottom of your phone. Also, check out my YouTube Channel where I read the blogs out loud. I also have a playlist of hymns from my church.
I love how God works in out lives! What a wonderful testimony to His love and our obedience! Thank you for sharing, how uplifting!!!
Thank you for your comment! He is so good to us!