Rescue can sound like a romantic wonderful word (Cinderella, Snow White), and rescue is often just what we need, but we’re often not thinking how scary the rescue can be or how scary it is that we need to be rescued.  In 2008, I had one of the most frightening experiences of my life. It came to mind daily for years. Now I think of it occasionally, always when I’m on Brentwood Boulevard near Manchester, or when I’m driving in heavy rain.

I’ve left dates on my original journal entries below so you can see how God keeps teaching me over time. The comments in parentheses are current additions.

I am not naturally brave, not a risk taker by choice. Being frightened is not a thrill for me. I don’t like rollercoasters or even scary movies. But I am extremely grateful for what God has taught me in scary situations. Everything He has ever taught me (scary situation or otherwise) has been such an awesome blessing of His mercy and grace. I am amazed and filled with gratitude for these things.

September 12, 2008

Mal. 3:11 – And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field.  NKJV

September 17, 2008

Sometimes when a verse or passage grabs my attention, I think I know why. Sometimes, I have no idea. Sometimes I find out rather quickly; sometimes it takes years. I try always to make note of it. Little did I know how much or how soon I would need the above verse – but I knew God was bringing it to my attention.

Then September 14, on my way to church, I drove into water that turned out to be a flashflood.  The car right in front of me made it through but my car died – and the water kept getting higher and higher and started getting into the car – then it was up to the seat level – then I floated out of sight (just as the firemen got there) – then they had to find me –  and then they had to decide how they were going to get to me – and by then it was up to the level of the windows.  Long hour+!

 
One pallet of beams hit my car while I was still in it.  A couple of people who were stranded in their business yelled at me to get back in my car (I was sitting in the window).  They probably saved my life because the beams hit the front of my car and then hit right where I had been sitting.  The rest of the damage from the lumberyard happened after I was out.

 
The water was so swift that the fireman was swept past me – so he had to make his way over to the edge, come back up so that he was across from me and try again.  Because of the force of the water, he couldn’t get to my car. I had to jump into the water – the rushing, dirty, deep water.  Then, as we were both being swept along, he had to grab me.  It was such a relief when he did!  I had his entire hand print on my arm for weeks. I was grateful every time I saw it!!
  

Today I went back to the passage and saw the verse above . . .  see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it ^{Mal. 3:10 NIV}.

 I had never really been able to imagine blessings pouring out with such swiftness and with such power! But now I had a picture. Unstoppable. Uncontainable. This is a way bigger promise than I had ever realized.

(One of the things I’ve learned is that when you get to the promises go slow. Think about every word and just how much you’re living it out or how much more there is to believe and receive. They are often so familiar, and we do believe them with our mind, so it’s easy to miss their enormity, their power, and their blessing.)

 September 18, 2008  God kept me miraculously calm during the event and brought me to a place of understanding that I was in a win-win situation. If He saved my life, that was a win. If He took me to be with Him, that was a win. But afterwards, all the what-ifs and all the frightful memories threatened my peace. Have you noticed the enemies of pre-fear, mid-fear, after-fear? These are verses that God used to comfort and encourage me during days of the battle with after-fear:

9/15 – You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you. ^{Isa. 26:3}

9/16 – God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind. ^{2 Tim 1:7}

9/17 – Don’t worry about anything – pray and petition about everything – make your requests with thanksgiving.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  ^{Phil 4: 6-7}

I am replacing the fearful what-if thoughts with gratitude thoughts – but it’s many times a day and night.

September 21, 2008      The battle with fear has subsided.

October 6, 2008

Several insights have come from this experience.  I got into danger doing everyday normal things – just doing what I always do – what the people in front of me did.  I had no idea I was driving into a flood – on Brentwood Boulevard!  So many people in the world are heading into eternal death and don’t have any idea – they are just operating in the world the way the world operates.  (They were eating and drinking until the day Noah entered the ark^{! Matt. 24:37-39, 42; Luke 17:26-33}.)  They could even be operating on the wisdom of this age!!  There needs to be a clear and persistent warning – even if the voice of truth is not easily recognized or heard.

I also more clearly understood what it means for someone to die to rescue me.  I did not want that to happen.  But in the spiritual, it has happened – and to not live my life to the fullest for Him is tragic.  And I certainly see my tendency in that direction. 

How grateful we should be every day for his guidance and protection – and for the experiences He does allow that have the potential to change the rest of our days.

I certainly realized as I was sitting in my car window, with the water getting higher and higher and the firemen having difficulty getting to me, that I could die.  I was not afraid that I was not ready. To die is gain – but I wanted to live. 

I do realize now that every day is a gift with a purpose, and I can’t count on having all the time in the world to accomplish that purpose.  I realize now, by experience, and not just intellectually, that life is brief and uncertain – and a wonderful gift. (And now I have a better understanding that not only can life be over at any time, but also that no matter how long it is, it goes by quickly and is not to be wasted. To die is gain, but until then life is to be lived fully, dependently, joyfully – even in suffering.)

December 15, 2008

Since the dinner with the firemen and the meeting where they received their national award for my rescue, I’ve had additional thoughts about being rescued.  In my mind, I was prepared for a fireman to come to the car and carry me to safety. I had my Bible wrapped and ready. I was ready. It was not to happen like that at all. And I was to take nothing at all with me, not my shoes, not my raincoat, not my purse, or my Bible! Trying to hang onto things inhibits rescue, sometimes even good things.

Knowing we are in a situation that requires rescue is scary, often accompanied by feelings of this just can’t be! Being rescued is scary and requires more of us than we ever imagined. It often requires leaving everything behind – and that’s the easy part. We need to do what we would never do if there was any other way! Being rescued requires a great deal of the one doing the rescuing. (Did the last two sentences make you think of Jesus?)

I was helpless to save myself.  I had to trust God and the one He sent to rescue me enough to jump into the water – not trusting myself at all.  So, like our salvation and entire walk with God, but we don’t as easily recognize how helpless we are!  So many times, we might wish God had another plan that didn’t involve fear or risk – but sometimes we just need to jump in and trust Him with the outcome – with our very life and death.  Jesus was obedient – even unto death.  My God loves me, and He is trustworthy.  With these extra days granted, may I be obedient – even unto my death – even if that death is a death I’m not ready for or a death that is not the way I hoped it would be.

God wants to extract from my life mindless and meaningless activities because he recognizes a branch that can bear more fruit. (I seem to keep fighting Him on this one! It’s time for progress here.)

February 3, 2013

I was thrilled this week seeing what God is inviting us to; seeing that we are in Him and He is in us like a flood of water.  The living water comes from Him and flows all over us and around us and through us to bring life to us and to others.  And that, or course, reminded me of this flood experience and that God spared my life for fruit. Sometimes when we see passages like Ezk. 47:1-12, we’re genuinely thrilled with anticipation about what God will say and do next; genuinely thrilled at being in the depths of His Spirit and His love.  But often, when the moment comes to jump in, it’s SCARY.  We thought there would be another way.  We would prefer another way. We need to jump because it’s our only chance at life, real life, Spirit-filled, bondage breaking, heart enlarging, abundant life.

February 26, 2022

On February 18, I had 3 incidents that could easily have drastically changed my life or ended it. I fell on the ice, flew straight back and bumped myself here and there, including my head. Later in the afternoon, I was on highway 40 and the dump truck in front of me lost a piece of metal that came flying at my car. It landed safely in front of me, but my automatic braking system was taking no chances. Those brakes slammed on with great force, and I was powerless. No one hit me!! I had a sore neck and shoulders and a sore stomach; I think from the seatbelt. Then I proceeded to 270 and was nearing 55 when two cars in front of me slammed on their brakes. I followed suit, and there was an 18-wheeler behind me. Not sure how close he got, but it looked like less than a car length. He was enormous in my rearview mirror. He was as shook up as I was because even after I started moving again, he sat there for a long time. I couldn’t wait to get home and get in bed with my pillows and weighted blanket!

As I contemplated this over the next few days, it seemed to me that three incidents in one day just defied the odds. Three in a week or a month would be a lot. Not sure all God wanted me to learn from this, but I think this was at least part of it. I had lost my two people I belonged to, my 24-7 people. I had been keenly aware of being alone in the house, of the need for caution when I went out because no one inside would be watching for me to come back in. God seemed to be saying, I’ve got you. Your life is clearly not in your hands, but in my hands. You can let go of the concern. It’s not on you. I’m taking care of you. You’re here because I want you here. When your time comes, I will take you home. And just because there isn’t another body in the house, you are most definitely not alone.

He reminded me that He went before me and was the guard behind me! ^{Isa. 52:12}  He reminded me that He was my refuge.

Refuge – a safe place that is stronger and sturdier than the storms that come against it or the enemies that assail it. The refuge takes the blows.
Trust in Him at ALL times, . . . pour out your hearts to him, FOR God is our refuge.  ^{Ps. 62:8}
I think I have often believed He was my refuge without seeing how adequate that refuge was!

God gives us gift upon gift and blessing upon blessing. ^{John 1:16 AMP} God gives us family and friends as treasured gifts, but He is our great reward. Our rescuer. Our rear guard, Our refuge.

I love the song, Oceans, but not because it’s easy, but because of the big scary prayer:

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders (borders can represent home, safety, security, familiarity)

Let me walk upon the waters (waters, really!)

Wherever You would call me (wherever?)

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander (not planned by me – ever)

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior

Often, our faith is made stronger and we experience the presence of Jesus on paths we wouldn’t choose.

Transformation and big scary prayers and scary times are connected. And while I really like safe – I don’t want to miss all God has for me.

God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. 2 Cor. 9:8 CSB

Go slow, notice every word, Speak Amen – so be it.