When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. [ . . . ]
Your right hand saves me, O Lord. // Psalm 138:3, 7
A few years ago, I headed out on a day trip with my two youngest children. We decided to meet my sister, my brother, and their families at a state park a few hours away. An added bonus would be seeing one of my older boys, whose college town was close to the park.
About fifteen minutes before our arrival, as we sped along the two-lane state road, a car crossed the road ahead of us just as a semi-truck barreled down the on-coming lane. The car barely made it across the lanes as the truck swerved to avoid missing it. In a flash, the truck was in our lane and I was whipping our SUV into the grass to get out of the way, just as the semi corrected itself and continued on its way.
It was all so fast—what happened, what could have happened. It kept going through my mind, and I put the car in park there on the side of the road to catch my breath. God protected us. His mighty hand saved us. Henry, Isabel, and I said “thank You” to God over and over.
We always pray for protection as we pull out of the driveway each day and on that memorable day, the Lord answered our prayers in undeniable fashion. On that day, I saw His hand at work; perhaps I even saw angels pushing the truck back into its own lane.
When we got to the park and met up with family, I told them (several times) how we had been protected. God saved us. Thank You, Jesus, for Your goodness!
And while that day stands out in its answered, split second prayers, I know God is at work in my life—in all of our lives—constantly. Sometimes we are able to clearly see His mighty hand at work. Sometimes we must choose to see it. If we can get in the habit of always finding Him with us, we can walk through our days knowing God answers our prayers. He is indeed rich in mercy and eager to save!
Rachel Balducci has a Masters degree from the Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia and teaches at Augusta University. She and her husband Paul have five sons and one daughter and are part of an intentional Christian community in Augusta, Georgia. Rachel is the author of several books and is the co-host of The Gist of CatholicTV. Find out more about her here.
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