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Psalm 111:10a – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (ESV)
Recently, I had to bring my mother-in-law, Dora, to our home from 150 miles up the motorways of England. Due to strikes, the trains were presently unpredictable so car transport was the only possible way.
At the start, to be on the safe side, I always say a quick prayer for an uneventful trip. My wife, Caroline, says that I overthink everything, and I don't mind that aspersion because it means that I endeavour with God's help to be rarely caught out by life's little curveballs.
This particular Saturday, with very few lorries on the way, I had an exceptional journey north, so I managed to arrive to collect Dora for the return visit an hour earlier than I had expected. She was not yet packed because I was early, so I went for my usual walk in the local park to clear my head, to rest my eyes, and to reflect upon life and God.
Sadly, after the long journey, and in my tiredness, I had completely neglected to consider what I was wearing on my feet. My smooth driving shoes were totally inappropriate for walking down a wet, muddy track to a stream.
After I had slid violently down the path for the third time, I decided that now would be a good time to get off the mud, but too late. I jerked sideways and slipped. This triggered my fight-or-flight response, and adrenaline flooded my brain cells.
The effect was that my mind speeded up to react. It was as if time had slowed down! In the expanded time before impacting the path, I accepted my fate and reflected upon the pain that the fall was about to impart. This was followed by the thought of driving 150 miles with muddy clothes and the mess that it would make of the car seat from when I fell, splat!
As I waited for the impact, I didn't fall. Suddenly, I stopped. It was as if something were holding me up! It was as if Jesus had said, "It's okay — I gotcha!"
I was so grateful that I did not have to drive home all covered in mud. It was with a very real sense of relief that I understood that God was with me in that expanded moment. He had heard my cry for help. Many of God's unseen and unasked-for actions are hidden in the noise of doing everyday life, such as shaving an hour off my journey north, which I had accepted without a thought!
Let us give praise for receiving His kingdom, for all the times when God has helped us but has been with us out of sight, for the times when we asked for His help to save us, and more so for the times when we did not and He did!
Prayer: Lord, You hold us in the palm of Your hands. We marvel at Your faithfulness toward us sinners who stray and take You for granted. We say thank You, Jesus. Amen.
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Thanks for the good word, Rod.
Thank you, that meant a lot to me!
Thanks, Rod. That’s an amazing story. It shows how God cares for us, even in the little things — like muddy shoes in the car.
Rod – God has been in that “gotcha” mode times without number for me.
How grateful I am that daily, this septuagenarian is saved (pun intended).
Hey Rod. Thanks for the story and message. I have never been caught by God, but I have felt His presence on several occasions and once felt His hand on my shoulder. I looked but there was no one there. Thank God for these moments of touch that rekindle our faith and keep it strong. All the best to you and yours. Hope your shoes cleaned up well.
Dear Rod,
I love the title and how you used it in your devotional. It is so true that many times God saves us, and we don’t realize it or acknowledge it.
Thanks for the great reminder for us to be grateful for all God does for us and to be more aware of the many times God helps us without our asking. Blessings.
Good morning, Roderick,
I enjoyed this so much because it brought so many like memories back to me. When you talked about shaving an hour off, that way God had you in a place to see how He is with you. Had you not, Dora packed, you would have left but God set it up so that you could see again God turning a negative into a positive. I love when He does this!! God bless.
Rod: thanks for your sharing the muddy trail experience. Wow, caught! I wasn’t so fortunate. Easter Sunday our church has a sunrise service, out-of-doors, at sunrise, in Ottawa Canada. Often there’s a large snow pile blocking the shortest path between the parking lot and the hill where we hold the service, and this year was no exception. After parking I went on ahead as we’d brought a young mother and her one-year-old, and they had to get him in the stroller for the trek in.
When I got to the snow pile, I examined my options and chose to go to the right around it. This was during the period between “civil twilight” and sunrise, and what I saw ahead looked more like ice than puddle. Unfortunately, it was the reverse, and slippery underneath to boot, and I lost my footing and did a face plant in the puddle, guitar slung on my back and all. It took me a minute or so to collect my thoughts, and our crew was still at the van, so I managed to get up and continue, soaked here and there, mostly my gloves dripping wet. I had some dry alternative mitts in my guitar case and someone provided a tissue to wipe my glasses, so the service proceeded as planned from that point on and the sunrise was most excellent.
When we returned to the church, my wife remarked that my face was covered in debris from the fall. It took some effort to get it off but I was successful and surprised there were no scratches underneath. The covering was pretty extensive though, and it’s a wonder I didn’t notice it earlier. So I guess the Lord intervened in the aftermath of the fall for me.
Blessings on you!
(ON Canada)
Give thanks daily for God’s direction and protection.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Praise God you didn’t fall! Blessings.