GOD'S FAVOR IN TURNING BACK TIME

 

GOD’S FAVOR IN TURNING BACK TIME

In April of 2014, I was driving to a friend’s house when it started to rain. As I turned into the far lane of the freeway on-ramp, the wheels on my pickup hit the grease in the road and it started to hydroplane just like hitting black ice. I turned into the skid, but then I was sliding in the opposite direction and out of control. The whole truck slipped one way then the other, then toward the cement easement.

 

I heard the forceful sound of crushing metal as my front end smashed into the cement. I heard the garish crunch, but I didn’t feel it. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion, and I was the spectator watching a movie of myself.

 

This slowing down of time happened to me before in Michigan when a big truck jackknifed across the freeway right in front of me, and I nearly hit it but suddenly stopped only about five feet short.

 

I am convinced that God slows down time in these kinds of situations. In Isaiah 38:8 God said, “Behold I will bring the shadow on the sundial ten degrees backward.” That was about forty minutes. God can and will do this for us. And I pray for protection every morning and truly believe that angels surround us so that we don’t get hurt. Psalm 5:12 promises this: “With favor thou wilt compass him as with a shield.” I believe that with all my heart.

 

The back end of my truck jutted out into the oncoming lanes. Fortunately, there were only a few cars coming, and they were able to go around.  I managed to scrape my way across the two lanes and into the hotel parking lot.

 

A tall, good-looking man came over. He asked if I was hurt and I said I wasn’t. He said, “I saw the whole thing, and I can’t believe you weren’t hurt and that you can actually drive your car!” He pulled a tool out of his shirt pocket, “I always carry this with me.” It looked like a pair of pliers, but then he began to cut into the metal bumper with it and was able to bend out the bumper and use the tool again to loosen the last bolt holding it on. He put the piece in the bed of my truck. Then he used the tool again to pull the fender away from the wheel so it wouldn’t scrape. After a little effort on his part and testing on my part, I was able to drive freely. All I had was twenty dollars with me, which I gave him and thanked him profusely for the help.

 

A couple more miracles took place around this incident: my roommate found a place to get parts at the most discounted prices in America, and my neighbor offered to put them on for free. What I’ll end up paying is less than half of what I’d pay with the deductible on my insurance.

 

I’m not trying to say that all of this was a delight. Not so. After the accident, I had to grab my mind and mouth many times to keep out the negatives of worry, stress, and despair. But thank God I was able to do it. I’m learning to keep quiet and trust Him even in the negative situations, and He comes through every time.

 

As Jesus says in Luke 12:6-7: “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? ⁷ But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows” Or as the song paraphrases: “If His eyes are on the sparrow, He will surely watch over me” (Luke 12:6-7).

 

Love, Carolyn