His car spun into a full turn and was now directly in front of us. We were going to hit him broadside. I yelled out, “Lord, don’t let us hit him!” No sooner did the words come out of my mouth than his car immediately did another spin which sent him to the cement divider in the middle of the highway. His car hit the divider and abruptly came to a full stop. His head was no longer bobbling. 

Sometimes being in a car driving in a heavy rain storm, or driving on a dark rural road at night, or just a normal day driving home from work can be a fearful experience. Calamity can happen without warning. Is God there? Do we travel alone in our car? Do we close the car door, start the engine and leave God behind?

The Heavy Rain Storm

My husband, Joe, and I were ready to leave the hotel in Naples, Florida. Our whole family was there to watch our granddaughter, Emily, compete in a Triathlon. It was grand fun watching and cheering for all the athletes. No sooner did we pack the car, start the motor and head north on I-75 that a huge rain storm burst through the sunny clouds. We didn’t think it would last long so we hit the road into the driving rain. We were less than a mile away from the hotel when a car also going north was coming up fast to pass us. For whatever reason he hit his brakes.

You should never speed and hit your brakes on a wet road. His car immediately started hydroplaning away from us and spinning out of control while we fearfully watched. It was like watching a movie on a big screen instead of it happening to us in real life. As his car continued to spin and slide we could see the driver’s head bobbing up and down like a store bought “Bobble Head.”

His car spun into a full turn and was now directly in front of us. We were going to hit him broadside. I yelled out, “Lord, don’t let us hit him!” No sooner did the words come out of my mouth than his car immediately did another spin which sent him to the cement divider in the middle of the highway. His car hit the divider and abruptly came to a full stop. His head was no longer bobbling.  We couldn’t stop because of the traffic but did call 911 and reported the accident and gave them directions to the scene. God kept us from hitting the out of control, hydroplaning car. God was in control!

“In Him we live, and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

The Dark Night

Driving at night on Krome Avenue in Miami-Dade County is always a time to be a cautious driver. It’s close to the Everglades, so there are no city lights. It is a dark rural two lane road.  As we were heading south on Krome a huge semi was in the north bound lane and coming towards us. We weren’t driving fast and we weren’t afraid of the semi. Truck drivers know the road. Suddenly, we went from calm to alarm when we saw a car come from around the back of the semi. He came out to pass the truck but now was heading directly at us. I yelled to Joe, “He’s coming straight at us!” Joe’s choices were to turn to the left directly into the semi head on…a deadly choice.  Or he could try to drive our car off the road and onto the soft shoulder. The fast oncoming car took the decision out of Joe’s hands by zooming off the road and onto the grassy shoulder.  We looked back after passing him. Thankfully he came to a skidding, undamaged stop. There was no need to call 911 on this potentially fatal accident. God took care of us by not letting Joe move out of our lane.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed…” (Joshua 1:9).

The Drive Home from Work

I was driving home from my job at Westminster Christian School in Miami. It was the same route that I drove every day.  I was approaching a familiar, not busy, neighborhood crossroads. I had a green light. Suddenly I saw a car on my left ignoring her red light and driving through the intersection. That was amazing. Here I am going straight and here she is going straight. We are on a collision course. But, then, a strange thing happened. I found myself turning my steering wheel to the right and driving on the same road she was on. Our cars were side by side.  I am not a NASCAR driver; I knew that the turning of the steering wheel was not consciously done by me. For a few seconds I drove beside the other driver. We looked at each other in disbelief and then I slowed down and she drove on. I turned around and headed for home. The whole incident was a puzzle.  Who kept me from hitting that obviously preoccupied woman? God! It was God who made me turn the steering wheel! He was with me and not waving goodbye in the school parking lot.

“It is the Lord who goes before you; He will not leave you or forsake you…” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

Miriam Gautier is a member of Treasure Coast Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Stuart, Fla.