We read in Psalms, “The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth, and even for evermore”. This is God’s promise, that He preserves us under all circumstances.
Recently, I found myself in considerable danger on the Hersham Bypass. My husband and I had just left a VW garage, where his car had been serviced, and we were driving home in convoy. It was dark, we were in the middle of the rush-hour traffic, and I was driving along at 40mph. Suddenly, from one moment to another, the car lost power, and at the same time, one of my tyres blew out. As the car slowed down, I somehow managed to dial my husband’s mobile number, and miraculously, he answered, something he never does when he’s driving. I shouted to him to come and help me, and although he was some way ahead of me on the By-pass, he managed to turn round, and was with me within 5 minutes.
In the meantime, the engine was making a terrible noise, smoke was pouring out of the bonnet, and I knew I had to stop along the side of the road. Cars were thundering past me, and I have to admit, I was fearful for my safety. I became aware that there was a cycle lane at the side of the road, so I pulled in, with my lights flashing. I got out of the car, and within minutes, my husband was reassuringly by my side.
It was then that we realised the extent of God’s loving protection and provision...not only had I been guided to park in the cycle lane, but it also turned out to be a bus lane, so passing cars were kept at some distance from us. I then became aware that we had parked right in front of someone’s drive, so I made my way to the house and rang the bell. A lady appeared at the front door, and within seconds, she had assessed the situation, introduced herself as Debbie, and offered us a cup of tea! By now, the car battery was dead, so we couldn’t move the car off the road and up on to the pavement. With that, Debbie disappeared into the house and came out with her two strapping sons, who proceeded to help my husband push the car into their drive! At that moment, I just felt the presence of divine Love, watching over us and keeping us safe. I recalled a verse from Psalms, “The Lord shall preserve thee from all danger”. On that dark night in Hersham, I felt very much preserved and cared for.
As we were about to head home, with my car safely parked in Debbie’s drive, she ran inside and came out with the telephone number of a local roadside recovery company which she had used recently, and which she could thoroughly recommend. As we said goodbye, Debbie gave us both a big hug, and said she’d keep an eye on my little car tucked away in the corner of their drive!
The next day, we rang the recovery company, and they agreed to meet my husband at Debbie’s house, so that he could accompany them with the car to the garage. While he was waiting for the truck on that bitterly cold morning, Debbie lovingly invited him into her home and they sat and chatted for half-an-hour over tea and biscuits!
Needless to say, our hearts overflowed with gratitude for the way God had cared for every single detail throughout this very challenging time. I could have ended up parking anywhere along the length of that ByPass, but divine Love guided me right to Debbie’s house, to the most loving and caring of families. Good Samaritans are alive and well in the 21st century!
Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health, “Trials are proofs of God’s care”. A Christian Science practitioner once shed some light for me on this statement when she said, “Trials are proofs of God’s care, because they turn us to Him, and THERE we find His care”.
For this “pearl of great price”, Christian Science, I am forever grateful.
Photo by Evelin Horvath on Unsplash