SOMEONE'S WATCHING OVER ME

“From six calamities he will rescue you; in seven no harm will touch you” (Job 5:19).

When God spares your life, you never want to take it for granted.  Many of you have already read about many of my experiences with the “7^th” trouble, but few  people,  know the particular details of this story that happened in September of 2009.

I was scheduled to go to a new doctor in Nashville.  I had been looking into some non-surgical procedures for a health condition and we had not carrying health insurance for a while by that time. I negotiated a deal with the doctor’s office for a cash payment so I needed to take my checkbook for the appointment.

I remember early in the day, as I was preparing to leave, that I picked up my checkbook to make sure I had transferred the money into the account to cover my first visit.  Looking back, I remember how I checked the amount, closed the checkbook and said out loud to myself, “I need to remember to take this with me.”  But instead of putting it in my pocketbook, I placed it on the shelf of my desk.  It did not even dawn on me at that moment that I had just done completely opposite of what I needed to do.  I never gave it another thought.

Shortly thereafter, I left home to take 840 to I-24 and on to Nashville.  I was listening to the radio, just singing and trying not to be anxious about my procedure.  As I was approaching the Almaville Road exit, I had a sudden strong impression to rummage through my pocketbook.  As I did, I realized that I did not have my checkbook with me!  I kept driving, while taking each item out of my pocketbook to make double sure I did not have it.  Indeed, I remembered leaving it at home on the desk. Instantly, and without a second thought, I crossed three lanes of traffic to get off the Almaville exit.  Even as I was making the exit, I wondered why I could not just go on to the appointment, tell them what a stupid thing I did and just mail them a check.  “Why am I doing this, I thought?”  After all, I was now going to be very late for my appointment.  But I still felt very compelled to go back home.

Figuring now that my actions might possibly be inspired, as I neared the end of the exit and stopped at the traffic light, I said out loud, “Lord, are you doing this?  Are you turning me around for a reason?”  Strangely, I felt a peace and experienced no more frustration over the whole matter.  I called the doctor’s office and let them know that I had left my checkbook at home and was going to get it before I came and that I would be about 45 minutes late.  The receptionist, a very nice woman, just laughed and said she’d see me when I got there.

I called home and told my daughter I was coming back and to meet me in the driveway with my checkbook.  She did and I turned around and was on my way back to 840 and I-24 again.  However, when I got to I-24, traffic was backed up as far as the entrance ramp. I thought, “Hmmm. What have we here?”  I could not see anything except but traffic, so I just crept along with the other 4 lanes.  For a long time, we were at such a standstill that we were actually getting out of our cars on the interstate and talking to one another.  It was blazing hot too.   “Anybody know what’s going on?”  “No, I can’t see anything up ahead.”  All four lanes of traffic were closed off.

Very slowly, after what seemed like forever, we started creeping along mile after mile. I called the doctor’s office to say that I was now stuck in traffic and that I did not have any idea how late I would be and that I just hoped I could make it by the last appointment of the day.  I promised her I was not trying to chicken out.  She just laughed again, told me to be careful, and that they would wait on me.

Pretty soon, I got back to the Almaville exit where I had the “suddenly” pulled off.  As we all made our way about a mile passed the exit, everyone was being flagged to get into single file on the right shoulder of the road to pass this terrible wreck that had taken up all 4 lanes and the left shoulder.  As we crept along and slowly passed the scene, I could see rescue workers, fire truck workers, and hazardous materials workers cleaning up after what was mostly gone now.  All that was left of the wreck by the time I saw it was a lot of debris and one very flat car on the back of a flatbed tow truck.  “Could that have been me Lord?”  I prayed for the injured and families of those who may have lost their lives that day.

As I finally drove on, I reflected on where the wreck was, how long it took me to get back home to pick up the checkbook, how far the traffic was backed up, and how long it took me to get back to that spot.  It became apparent to me that I actually could have been in that wreck had I not pulled off when I did.  I nervously said, “So this is why you got me off the interstate!  I turned off the radio and drove the rest of the way in silence.  Thankfully, the rest of the trip was uneventful.

I got to the office and went in for my appointment.  As it turned out, the doctor and her assistant were both believers.  We had a great time sharing our faith with one another.  They were both full of the joy of the Lord.  We shared how God had worked miraculously in each of our lives and how grateful we were for our relationship with Him. The procedure was not so pleasant, but the fellowship and connection we made that day was very encouraging.

The doctor stepped out of the exam room while I got ready to leave.  As I stepped out into the hall to go to the lobby to pay for my visit, the doctor met me in the hallway and said, “Monica, the Lord just told me that I am not to charge you today.”  I said, “Well ain’t that a blessing!”  She laughed with me for a moment and then said, “But He probably won’t say that next week!”  We laughed some more, but then it dawned on me that I DIDN’T EVEN NEED MY CHECKBOOK!  God knew all along that He was going to speak to that doctor about not charging me.  He also knew she was going to listen and obey Him.  That just confirmed even further that He spared me from that terrible accident and He began working before I ever left the house.

Unseen things are going on all around us every day.  The Kingdom of darkness is carrying out hell’s plans to kill, steal, and destroy.  Angels are fighting on our behalf, speaking messages from God to us, leading us this way or that; doing the ministry they were commissioned to carry out on behalf of the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:13-14).  Sometimes they will steer us clear of trouble.  Sometimes they, along with Jesus, will meet us at the threshold of eternity.  Some of us will come back.  Others of us will go home.  Of all the reasons why, God alone knows.

With our eyes so much on natural things, how much are we missing? How many times have we been spared that we never knew about?  I have had my share of close calls that took me to the edge of eternity and back.  I have always been very grateful for the Lord’s healing power in my life, bringing me back from the point of death.  But I am also very grateful for the times, known and unknown that He steered me clear of harm’s way like that day.

Thanks again Lord.  It’s good to know that You are protecting me in this life AND that You will meet me when this life is over.

Miracles are happening around us every day.   So take a moment every day and thank God for the ones you did not notice but happened all the same.  Always remember, someone is watching over you.  For the Lord is good, and His mercy and love endure forever! (Psalm 100:5).