What started out as a phone call from the mechanic ended up becoming an unexpected miracle story that I would like to share with you today.
A Fix
About a month ago, my dad took our family car to the mechanic for some serious repairs.
After several days of our car being fixed and repaired, the mechanic gave my dad a call.
And the mechanic’s call would bear some shocking news for my dad and all of us as a family.
A Shock Under The Hood
“Hello, Paul?”
“Yes?” Dad said into his cell phone.
“Paul, this is Mario*, your car mechanic.”
“Hey, Mario!” Dad replied. “How’s the car doing so far?”
“Paul, I just wanna say that you and your family are EXTREMELY LUCKY. How in the world were you able to drive this car for SO LONG?!”
“What do you mean?”
“Because I just discovered that there’s an ENGINE LEAK in your car!”
“So, that means…?” Dad blinked, not knowing exactly what that meant.
“So,” Mario began to explain. “That means that your car SHOULD HAVE EXPLODED while you were driving it! Engine leaks like the one I found in your car typically result in fatal car explosions! Honestly, Paul, you are surely one lucky man!”
A Lesson Behind The Story…
As I reflect over this little story of God amazingly protecting my family from what was SUPPOSED to happen as a result of the car’s engine leak (aka the car exploding), I’m reminded of the rich truths found in Psalm 91.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
(Psalm 91:1-6)
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
What also comes to mind is this deeply powerful statement from one of my favorite Christian books called Thoughts From The Mount Of Blessing.
The Father’s presence encircled Christ, and nothing befell Him but that which infinite love permitted for the blessing of the world. Here was His source of comfort, and it is for us. He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ abides in Christ. The blow that is aimed at him falls upon the Saviour, who surrounds him with His presence. Whatever comes to him comes from Christ. He has no need to resist evil, for Christ is his defense. Nothing can touch him except by our Lord’s permission, and “all things” that are permitted “work together for good to them that love God.” Romans 8:28.
(Thoughts From The Mount Of Blessing pg. 71)
When we allow Christ to be our Refuge and Defense, we have NOTHING to fear nor worry about.
Because in the same way the Lord protected my family from being victims of a car explosion, so God will protect us from any explosion of trouble.
But during times where God DOES allow trouble to explode upon our lives, we do not need to become fearful either.
Why?
Because through it all, God is there to be our refuge of comfort. Our “shelter in the time of storm,” as the hymn says.
It’s like how the psalmist put it:
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
(Psalm 57:1)
A Prayer
Dear reader, would you like to make God your Refuge and Defense? Would you like to hide under the shadow of His wings today?
If so, then I wanna encourage you to just pray:
I wanna conclude this blog post with two things.
One is a Bible promise you may claim along with the above prayer.
God is our refuge and strength,
(Psalm 46:1-2)
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Secondly, I’d like to conclude this blog post with one of my favorite hymns. It’s the hymn He Hideth My Soul. As you listen to this hymn, may God soften your heart to allow Him to be your shielding, sheltering Rock today.
Amen! Maranatha!
*Not his real name