Blogs

Guardian Angel to the Rescue
Sunday, September 16, 2018 by Barbara E. Haley

 

What an exciting week I’ve had!

On Wednesday I joined two of my grandchildren for lunch to celebrate Grandparents’ Day. I love times when I get to visit with the kids one-on-one. 

Then . . .

On the way home I experienced a mighty miracle of God in my life. I was heading south on the interstate when I noticed a traffic jam ahead. I slowed to a stop, then heard an incredibly loud squeal. I looked in my rearview mirror and saw a truck approaching. The driver swerved, trying to avoid hitting my car. 

What I felt was surreal. It was as if a pillow of peace surrounded me. I just braced my hand on the steering wheel and leaned back into the headrest and waited for the impact. No panic. No fear. I can’t fathom how I could have been so unconcerned. 

Within seconds the truck hit me, the driver going 70 mph before he braked. 

When it was over, only my right arm hurt. I felt no neck pain. No leg pain. No pain at all from the seatbelt restraining me. X-rays confirmed that no bones were broken or out of place. Doctors cautioned that body pain would increase and not peak until at least Sunday. 

Wrong. I experienced muscle soreness for a couple of days but am fine again today. I really believe my guardian angel took most of the hit for me, and I’m so thankful for God’s protection. 

Psalm 91:9-12 says: 

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

God is good and faithful to all His promises.

I know some of you might read this and shake your head. You or someone you love trusted the Lord to be his or her refuge, but tragedy followed an accident. Or an illness. Disaster did come your way. So, if God is faithful to His promises, how do we reconcile the promise with the result?

I don’t honestly know, but I’ve stood in your shoes. 

 

When I was ten, the State Police called to say my older sister had been involved in an automobile accident. My dad sent me to the car to get his atlas. I prayed earnestly that my sister wouldn’t die. I reminded God of Matthew 7:7, a verse I’d recently memorized. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” 

I knew God would answer my prayer. But as I re-entered the house, I heard my mother scream and saw her faint. My siblings said Gail had died. 

I didn’t believe them. God had promised: “Ask and it shall be given unto you.” 

But in reality, she was gone. Some said my sister received her ultimate healing. Just words to me, as a ten-year-old. An adult’s acceptable explanation for God’s broken promise. 

Years later, I reexamined the experience as an adult—with a Christian therapist. Somewhere, in my past, I had accepted a teaching that God always heals if we have enough faith. But as I examined that belief, I had to reject it. For you see, I had never, in my entire life, had as much faith in God’s promise as I had the day my sister died. 

And yet, God said no. Not because I didn’t have enough faith. But because, in His divine sovereignty, He deemed it right. 

Today, I readily pray for protection, provision, and healing. I pray in faith, believing that God, in His infinite wisdom and unfathomable love, will answer. I ask . . . and I keep on asking . . . until the answer I’ve requested is received or denied. For God sometimes says no. Either way, my faith is secure because it rests not in the answer to my prayer but in my precious Lord and Savior.

So . . . how do we reconcile God’s promises
with unexpected, unwanted results?  

Honestly, I don’t know. I believe this is one of the mysteries of God we are not meant to understand. That the answer is far beyond what we can possibly comprehend. Like explaining a combustion engine to a five-year-old (or to me). 

But in a faith-filled response, we can draw closer and closer to God, and as we do, we will come to know and understand  His heart more every day. Then, when we can’t understand His hand, we can, and will, trust His heart. 

 

Share This Blog:


Comments

Dee lundgren From Langhorne PA At 9/17/2018 2:14:28 PM

Glad you are okay. Thanks for sharing

Reply by: Barbara Haley

You're welcome, Dee. I really, really enjoyed your interview with Patricia Durgin. Proud of you for pushing forward with your writing!

 

 


Previous Posts

Why I Write . . .
Barbara E. Haley
4/24/2023

A New Morning Awaits!
Barbara E. Haley
3/5/2023

A Peek at my Biz 3 Book
Barbara E. Haley
3/1/2023

When Bad Things Happen to Good People ...
Barbara E. Haley
2/20/2023

"Love is ..."
Barbara E. Haley
2/13/2023

Read Between the Lines
Barbara E. Haley
2/5/2023

Just because . . .
Barbara E. Haley
1/29/2023

When Bad Things Happen to Good People
Barbara E. Haley
1/23/2023

Ever Been Visited by a VIP?
Barbara E. Haley
1/15/2023

God-Moments
Barbara E. Haley
6/8/2019

When Life Happens!
Barbara Haley
1/23/2019

Great Deals for Christmas!
Barb Haley
11/24/2018

Guardian Angel to the Rescue
Barbara E. Haley
9/16/2018

Biz On the Go Now Available!
Barb Haley
6/10/2018

Nothing Compares!
Barb Haley
4/5/2018

STUCK in your Comfort Zone?
Barb Haley
2/5/2018

There's a Song in the Air!
Barbara E. Haley
12/15/2017

When you think you're finished, and then . . . God!
Barb Haley
8/6/2017

Those Branches HAD to Go!
Barb
5/30/2017

Eight Years Later ...
Barb
1/9/2017

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Barb
12/16/2016

O Holy Night
Barb
12/15/2016

A White Christmas
Barb
12/13/2016

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!
Barb
12/12/2016

We Three Kings
Barb
12/11/2016

Birthday of a King
Barb
12/10/2016

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Barb
12/9/2016

Hallelujah Chorus
Barb
12/8/2016

Joy to the World
Barb
12/7/2016

Do You Hear What I Hear?
Barb
12/6/2016

O Little Town of Bethlehem
Barb
12/5/2016

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Barb
12/4/2016

Angels From the Realms of Glory
Barb
12/3/2016

Silent Night
Barb
12/2/2016

A Closer Look at the Christmas Carols
Barb
12/1/2016

When Prayers Take a LONG TIME to be Answered
Barb Haley
10/19/2016

Anybody Up for a Bit of Transformation?
Barb Haley
9/24/2016

Diving in the Wind
Barb
8/16/2016

Because I Can!
Barb
7/12/2016

Baby Steps
Barb
6/30/2016

No Help From Me
Barb
6/12/2016

Day One: Do I Need a Blindfold, Lord?
Barb
6/10/2016

Depression? I'd Kick It if I Could
Barb
6/9/2016

God Has Our Backs
Barb
2/8/2016

The Winner Is...
Barb
11/30/2015

Sample sections from A Second Wind
Barb
11/28/2015

Has Anyone Heard From the Lord Lately?
Barb
9/13/2015

The Emotional Strain of Chronic Pain
Barb
9/8/2015

Why does God test us?
Barb
1/29/2015

Inciting Incident-What?s That?
Barb
9/1/2014

Act One?the Ordinary World
Barb
8/24/2014

Tell Me the Story of Jesus
Barb
8/14/2014

Story or Plot?
Barb
8/8/2014

True Light
Barb
4/15/2014

Words of Love Last Forever!
Barb
7/19/2012

Alzheimer's-Not the Only Way to Let Go
Barb
7/9/2012

The Hunger Games
Barb
6/26/2012

What Would God Say?
Barb
6/13/2012

Keeping It All Inside
Barb
6/3/2012

The Rest of the Story
Barb
5/29/2012

Trust and Obey
Barb
5/25/2012

Hidden Dirt
Barb
5/22/2012

One Layer at a Time
Barb
5/17/2012

Welcome!
Barb
5/15/2012