"When Your Wheel Falls Off, God’s Got You Covered"

by Nancy Sebastian Meyer

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28

On a family vacation to Williamsburg, our daughter’s Jeep developed serious problems that caused us to leave it behind for servicing. Almost two weeks later, I drove my parents in their car from Pennsylvania to Virginia. They planned to stay overnight, but I headed north immediately in Becky’s Jeep. My destination, however, was not Lancaster but Washington, D.C. for a writer’s retreat.

After two full hours in fast and heavy traffic, I gladly left the major highway and followed my GPS directions—which turned out to be incorrect. Incidentally, I thought I heard a strange noise, but when I turned down the radio and fan, I didn’t detect anything amiss. Deciding to pull over and consult a map, I turned onto a side street.

As I rounded the corner, the car definitely sounded funny and I could also feel a thump, thump in the rear of the car on my side. A flat tire—oh, great. But when I got out and looked, the tire did not seem flat. Comparing it against the front wheel, however, I noticed the rear wheel was cocked, tilted out at the top. Upon further investigation, I realized all five lug nuts were missing. Laying down behind the Jeep and peering under the car, I saw a separation between the top of the wheel and the assembly to which it is supposed to be fastened.

It took only seconds for a creepy feeling to settle over me—the tire was definitely coming off of the car and could have done so at top speed on the highway in the midst of heavy traffic. Immediately behind that thought came an amazingly sweet wave of gratitude for God’s plan and provision in this situation. How much does God love me that He miraculously protected my life?

Three thoughts flew at me one after the other. If I had been driving home to Lancaster, I would still have been on the highway when the nuts worked themselves loose. The same scenario was possible had the GPS system routed me correctly to the second exit instead of the first. And because I was driving slowly as I looked for street names, I was able to feel the problem before it became a disaster.

I wonder how many times in life God keeps us from disasters of which we are completely unaware. How many times a day does He protect and provide for us? So many times we grow frustrated with a change of plans, incorrect directions, or the need to go slowly—when these are the very things He builds into our day to keep us from danger or defeat.

I ask you—and myself—when will we learn to trust God’s intervention in our lives instead of seeing it as intrusion or inconvenience? God indeed works every last detail of our days together for our good and His glory. Join me in worshipping Him with praise today. And remember, when your wheel falls off—God’s got you covered!

Copyright © 2008 - Nancy Sebastian Meyer. All rights reserved.
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