Accidental Shopping Trip
by Lynette Kittle
“He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” - Psalm 91:4
Have you ever felt when something unexpected happens like a natural disaster, car accident, or violent act that God let you down? During these events, have you ever felt like maybe He didn’t care what happened to you, or somehow you were being punished for something you had done?
Just Another Lovely Day
It was a beautiful sunny, bright Saturday Spring afternoon when three of my four daughters and I were returning from a fun-filled shopping outing at the local mall. Just minutes from home, we had spent the day finding bargains, eating lunch, and being together. Driving back the fun continued in the car as we discussed sales we found and sang along to our favorite songs on the radio.
Then suddenly our leisurely trip home changed as we spotted cars stopped in multiple lanes and debris strewn across the roadway. Slowing down to miss hitting the vehicles and debris, before we knew what was happening, a truck made a u-turn crossing the median and headed straight towards us with no intentions of stopping. Coming windshield-to-windshield, we could see the frantic look on the driver’s face
Although hitting our bumper head-on, he continued to step on the gas, smashing and ramming into the front of our car, making no effort to stop or swerve away from us, seeming like he was going to keep pushing our car down the street. For us, it seemed to be happening in slow motion like a movie, as we watched in disbelief. Although a frightening situation, none of us screamed or panicked during the accident. Rather there was a calmness and peace surrounding us, tucking us in around the edges and buffering us from the impacts.
Instead of fear and panic, we experienced what John 14:27 describes. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Help from Strangers
Soon nearby witnesses in other cars ran to the truck, opening the driver’s door, turning it off, and pulling out the keys. With this action, the driver jumped out of the truck and took off running down the street. As the driver ran, strangers came over from their cars and off the street to see if we were okay or needed help. Soon the police showed up to assist us.
“We’re okay,” we answered and none of us were injured. Before leaving the scene, we learned we had been hit head-on by a drunk driver, one who had hit several cars in front of us before making a U-turn and hitting us.
God Had Us Covered
Later I discovered how just minutes before the accident, one of my daughters sitting in the back seat had an unusual experience concerning our safety in the car. “All of a sudden, a fear and panic tried to come over me,” she recalled, “but I thought, ‘no,’ I don’t need to be afraid. We prayed for God’s protection before leaving today and everything is okay. We’re safe.”
Gratefully, I believe my daughter’s strong resistance to panic’s call to be afraid, along with her confidence in God’s divine protection over us, helped us to experience and rest in His peace during the accident. Just like Philippians 4:7 explains, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Intersecting Faith and Life:
Consider times when the unexpected has happened in your life. Although you may have been surprised and caught off guard, are you able to look back and see how God prepared you ahead of time to go through the experience? Like our family’s prayer before going shopping, what are ways you can prepare you and your family to be ready for the unexpected? Like Philippians 4:9 suggests, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Further Reading:
Isaiah 26:3
Romans 15:33
Isaiah 41:10
Photo credit: Unsplash/Mike Petrucci
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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