God Sent in the S.W.A.T. Team

“A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)

            Although I’ve always known that God is with me, I admit that at times, I worry.

            Well… maybe it would be more accurate to say, “I tend to be a worrier.”

            Even more, it would not be inaccurate to say, “I’m a world class worrier.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read Philippians 4: 6-7.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

            After taking hold of His peace, I’ve been known to let it slip right through my fingers and start fretting, first about one thing, then another. When that happens, I imagine God looking down from the heavenlies, shaking His head and sighing, “Oh, my dear child, there you go again!”

            God is patient, and I’ve given Him a lot of opportunity to prove it, but He doesn’t keep a record no matter how many times I slide back into the same old same old (1 Corinthians 13:4-5).

            Throughout my life, God’s given me plenty of proof that He’ll always show up when I need Him, because He always has.

            When I recall one particular time He showed up in an especially big way, I still chuckle.

            It was around five o’clock rush hour during the peak of “the season” in southwest Florida. I was moving swiftly, traveling west into the late afternoon sun in bumper-to-bumper traffic when without any warning whatsoever, my car suddenly stopped right in the middle of the road.

            I was afraid to get out but just as afraid to stay in my car. Listening to cars whizzing past on both sides, I covered my head with both hands and braced for the inevitable impact that never came (Oh, how often in my life have I done that!)

            To my surprise, the car behind me did not plough into me. Instead, the driver got out and bravely walked to my window.

            “Ma’am?” he said, “Can I help you?” I borrowed his phone and called my daughter; then, he made a call himself.

            Within minutes, a man dressed all in black pulled his vehicle off the road near me. Stepping out, he took charge. I was out of harm’s way, my car off the road and towed to be repaired in short order. When the man in black turned to walk away, I laughed when I saw the four letters emblazoned on his back, and I’ll never forget that day…

            The day God sent in the S.W.A.T. team.  Barbara Youngs