A Close Call

As I was driving to church this past Sunday I did not have much on my mind. I was driving, simple as that. About ten minutes into my commute I found myself having very much on my mind. The vehicle in the lane next to me decided they were going to switch lanes. No blinker, just a car that was going to drive right into me. In that split second I had to react. I hit my brakes and veered onto the shoulder. Unfortunately, the shoulder was snowy and I was pulled into it. I then hit the guard rail and spun back around into the road. As I pulled over to inspect the damage to my car, I was greeted by two other cars who pulled over after seeing this happen. They volunteered to be my witnesses for the police, that which I am thankful for.

A few thoughts keep returning to me after the accident: How did I maneuver my car away from hitting the guard rail a second time? How come the accident went by in slow motion as I experienced it? I know that I am lucky. The expressway is a busy road and there should have been more traffic behind me. I could have been involved in a head on crash. I felt protected. I did not feel the need to panic. It was as if I wasn't driving anymore, someone else was. It's possible that my brain has blocked part of the memory because it was scary, but I don't think that happened. The protection that I felt was from God. I had never been in an accident before. I had every reason to be beyond freaked out. I had every reason to panic, but I didn't. It was as if I knew before it was over that everything was going to be okay. I ended up driving my car home directly afterwards. I was going 75mph, there is no way that I should have been able to do this. God was there. He was protecting me. He was getting the car under control. I was given a feeling of peace.

Psalm 116:5-7
The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.