Covered in Prayer

 

Last Wednesday afternoon, I was inside the house when my husband, Al, came in through the front door and called me.

 “Quick,” he said, “Come outside if you want to see a car upside on our neighbor’s lawn!”

That surprised me—normally when coming home he uses the side door. And did I hear him correctly? A car upside down?

In Al’s own words:

 “Judy and I live in the small village of Beverly Hills, one of several northwest of Detroit. It is normally a quiet neighborhood and a desirable place to raise families, as well as live during years of retirement. Our street is a connector between two highly traveled roads and is sometimes used by police and fire, of course with sirens.

The official speed limit is 25 mph, yet it seems that the average speed is between 35 and 40. Many residents use the sidewalks to walk dogs as well as with spouses and/ or children. At least 4 times a week, large groups of bicyclists zip by, all closely grouped, obviously part of organized cycling groups.

In the 7 ½ years we have lived here, I have always felt safe riding my bike around the village, using our street as part of a route which makes a 3 ½ mile loop. In fact, my biggest concern is if I should lose my balance and fall off!

        So last week I had just pulled into my driveway and was getting out of the car when I heard a screech of brakes and then a VERY loud crash. Looking out onto Beverly Road, at the intersection of another side street almost directly across the street from our house, I saw a car which was out on the middle of the corner house’s lawn turned entirely upside down!

 Quickly I pulled out my cell phone and called 911, connecting in a few seconds.

Starting to describe the accident and location, I also heard sirens in the distance. Within minutes, two village police cars arrived, soon to be joined by an ambulance and firetruck.

        Apparently there were two cars behind me, the first traveling at the speed limit (of all things!) The driver of the second car seemingly lost patience, crossed the double yellow lines and sped around the first car, approaching 50 mph. It seems that right at that intersection, he decided to make a last second left turn. That was when he hit a large maple tree and wound up on the lawn.

There was a family of four, with two children (one in a stroller) standing on the corner getting ready to cross. It was a miracle that they had not started crossing, as they most certainly would have been hit and seriously hurt or killed. How close I had been to being involved also!”

 Now I’ll resume the story! A group of neighbors quickly congregated on the sidewalk, many alarmed when they heard the crash. The owner of the house was not home at the time. When I saw him the next day, I asked him how he found out about it.

 “I was at work,” he answered, “when I began receiving text messages with pictures of a car upside down on my front lawn!” By the time he got home, the only evidence of the crash was etched on the trunk of the maple tree.
            “If the tree hadn’t been there, the car might have ended up in my house!” he said in awe.

And the driver of the car? According to one neighbor, the driver was able to get out of the car and didn’t seem to be injured. However, he was taken to a nearby hospital in the ambulance; his demolished car was towed away a short time later.

It isn’t often that we see the direct results of a general prayer, i.e.) one that asks God to watch over our loved ones, family, neighbors… But in that case, it was plain to see that He had heard and had answered our prayers for protection over the neighborhood. Praise God that Al, the driver of the car behind Al, the young man who crashed into the tree, and the family out for an afternoon stroll were all okay—shaken, but alive!

Prayers in the name of Jesus are powerful! Keep praying, dear friends!

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” 1John 5: 14 NIV