Sometimes God teaches us something even in scary circumstances.
The Christmas holiday season was drawing to a close and it was time for my brother John and his family to head home. He and his wife Tara packed up the little ones and prepared for the journey back to Kansas from Indiana. As is their custom, they pray for safety on the road as they prepare to leave. This time the oldest child, John Jr. asked to say the prayer. He asked that the family be kept safe as they made their way home.
One by one, the six children were loaded into the family van and their journey westward began. Gradually, evidence of winter began being seen on the roads and vehicles along the way. We had so little snow in our part of Indiana one could almost forget the season. Nevertheless, their trip was going well. It was a typical winter drive home.
Without warning a chunk of ice flew off a semi trailer up ahead! The massive piece crashed into van’s hood on the passenger side denting it, cracking the windshield and puncturing a small hole in it as well as leaving a dent in the roof. Pulling over as quickly and safely as possible, John looked over his family. They were shaken, but not injured.
John Jr. was even more upset. “You should have said the prayer, Daddy. God didn’t hear me ask Him to keep us safe.”
John hugged his son and replied, “No, He heard you. While the accident was scary, we were not hurt. He heard you. Your prayer was answered.”
We may not always have such an immediate answer to prayer, but on that day a little boy learned the power of prayer and God’s amazing protective grace.
