Rain poured—as expected. In the early evening the wind suddenly picked up. The crepe myrtle branches outside my kitchen window swirled as if agitated in a giant washing machine. Whoa! I’d heard Hurricane Michael wasn’t bringing strong winds.
I strode to the front porch to check on the larger trees near our house. A giant gumball tree leaned precariously. “Ginny,” I yelled to my daughter.
The tree tilted toward her parked car. She needed to move it fast!
We have a circle drive, in our wooded front yard, where our kids park their cars. Because of the warnings around Hurricane Florence we moved their cars to protect them from flying debris during that storm. But Hurricane Michael wasn’t supposed to bring much wind.
I should have taken notice when the governor declared a state of emergency. The storm’s anger stunned me. So did God’s angels.
Ginny joined me on the porch just in time to hear a loud crack and watch the tree’s slow-motion fall. Ginny screamed, “My car!”
Background
To fully appreciate this, let me fill in the events leading up to this moment. The previous evening Ginny opened a letter saying her insurance agency had suspended her comprehensive and collateral car coverage. She thought it was a mistake because her records showed they’d continued to bill her.
She called Thursday and discovered they had indeed canceled her insurance. They said they’d sent two emails (that must have gone to spam) asking for a signature our state required. We worked together to email the signature that afternoon. They received it but said it could take seven business days to reinstate her coverage.
We helplessly watched the tree fall the evening of the day we learned Ginny’s car was not covered by insurance.
After the tree settled I shouted over Ginny’s voice, “The trunk missed! Those are small branches you see. It missed your car!”
It took a few moments to process the miracle. While regretting not noticing the wind a few minutes sooner I realized that too was God’s protection. Ginny wouldn’t have pulled her car forward a couple of feet. She would have tried to exit the driveway and moved into the path of the falling tree. Instead of a near miss, Ginny and her car would have taken a direct hit and been squashed.
These pictures tell the story. Not only did the trunk just miss her car, look at how the large branch heads in the opposite direction from it. Notice the broken pavement that received the initial impact. Can you say angels?
Ginny and I feel we witnessed a miracle. How many times a day does God protect us and we do not recognize it?
Many Kinds of Storms, One Refuge
Our experience reminded me we never know when a storm will assault our health, finances, or relationships. We don’t need to fear storms. We need to live in the protective shelter of the Most High. The Lord covered us when insurance failed.
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways (Ps. 91:11 NIV). #angels, #GloryToGod Share on XThose who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him” (Ps.91: 1-2 NLT).
Question: When Have you witnessed God’s divine protection?
Blessings,
Resources
Songs: Whom Shall I Fear [The God of Angel Armies] and 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
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We cannot fathom how much God is doing for us each day!
Sandi, I wonder if He’ll show us when we get to heaven.
Debbie,
I’m so praising God for His divine protection! I am reminded of
the destructive tornado that roared through Raleigh on April 16th, 2011.
It remained on the ground for quite a while, and we were warned that
it was headed in our direction. We hunkered down in the safest, innermost
room of our home, praying, “Lord, please send Psalm 91 angels to guard our
borders, and keep us from harm!” As the storm approached, we heard the classic rumble of a train as the windows shook and the entire house vibrated! I felt a
strange peace in the storm knowing the Lord was watching over us. Within
seconds, the tornado had moved on, and we were amazed that just beyond our border was a massive swath of huge trees – some mowed down completely and others snapped off like matchsticks. It looked like there was an invisible fence that kept the storm from
our property. We learned later that the path had made a slight turn or it would have roared straight through our home! Of course, praying not only for myself, but all my
friends and loved ones, I found the same phenomenon at my son’s home; a swath of destruction just a few feet from the border of his property. The blessings didn’t stop
with protection, but continued with provision. The strong winds had ruffled our shingles like bird feathers, and our 30 year old roof was replaced by our insurance company. Thanks so much, dear neighbor, for sharing your testimony and reminding
us of the Psalm 91 angels that “guard us in all our ways.” Blessings to you! Kay
Kay, I well remember those tornadoes. We were at the beach but our children were here. We hauled off 10 dump truck loads of branches and trees! We also got a new roof, but the inside of our home and children were safe. What a Savior! Thanks for sharing your experience of God’s protection!
Wow! What a wonderful demonstration of Gods love and protection!
Isn’t it, Kim! A good reminder that He is always involved even when we don’t see it.
Praise God! That is such a powerful testimony of God’s protection and constant care and of His ministering angels. I have no doubt He dispatched them to move the tree so it would not crush her car.
Ann, isn’t that amazing! I can’t believe we watched it fall!
Oh my!!! The photos show His protection. Wow!! I am so thankful you all are safe. Yes, I believe God protects us even at times we don’t realize.
I do too, Melissa. Hope all is well with you.
Wow, Debbie! That’s protection. We have a similar story. My daughter and I were coming home one day in a bad storm. We pulled up our long driveway to the house and barely missed the worst storm damage we’ve ever had. There was a microburst and it twisted very large trees off at the trunks! Our drive was filled with downed trees – just moments after we had passed through. We were under His protection for sure that day! Thanks for sharing this powerful story!
Wow, Leslie! When God allows us to see His protection, it’s staggering. Thanks so much for sharing your story!
There isn’t room to tell you all the stories I know like this. My mother once drove us home as I prayed hail would not break our windshield, I wanted her to stop but she said no. It was the end of a tornado, so many awnings and metal buildings were blown away, and where did I want her to stop, under a church awning? My neighbor’s car also caught fire in the middle of the night, I’m not sure if they ever found the cause, four hours later if her gas tank had blown she would have been on the road with her daughter, it was mechanical, not arson. Psalm 91 in action. Yay, angels. The cars you can replace not the people. Giving thanks with you, He is good.
Rebecca, I got goose bumps reading your stories. He is good indeed!
Praise God!
Blessings,
Jennifer
Thank you, Jennifer. Thank you for praising Him with us!
Yay for angels! Praise God! And you do. Thank you for sharing this miracle!
Jackie, we are praising God! Thankful for the times He allows us to see His work. Blessings to you!