Praise God for Angels

A Story of Thanks and Praise

The windshield wipers could hardly keep up with the torrential downpour as the New Jersey commuter traffic gradually narrowed from eight lanes to five. Visibility was low, and dark clouds loomed above my new Subaru.

This past spring, the rains continued well into June, and it poured every day of my Jersey Shore vacation. However, despite the weather, I still had a great visit with friends and family. We enjoyed ice cream at my favorite place, Day’s Ice Cream Parlor, and attended a mega United Methodist service at The Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove.

Day’s Ice Cream Parlor, Ocean Grove, NJ

I left Ocean Grove in the teeming rain with 58mph winds. Slowly, I crept as the road became flooded and increasingly dangerous. Suddenly, a car pulled in front of me, causing me to crash into its bumper.

Sharp pains in my chest made it difficult to breathe. Injured, but alive, I feared I could have hurt the other driver upon impact. I drew a sigh of relief when through the windshield, I caught a glance of the driver. She was a gray-haired lady talking and gesturing to a female passenger. I signaled for us to pull over to the shoulder. Stepping out into the muddy roadside, they were apparently fine, and we all waited for help to arrive.

The police tried to encourage me to go to the hospital just to be sure, but I was confident that nothing was broken. After the police left the scene, I got back into my damaged, yet thankfully running, new car and headed for a twelve-hour drive to my Buffalo home.

As I drove about ten miles along the New Jersey Garden State Parkway, I prayed, “Thank you, Jesus, for sending Your angels to protect us.” Just then, tears of relief burst from my eyes like the rain coming down. My heart was truly filled with gratitude that the accident wasn’t worse.

As I drove on, my hands on the steering wheel began to tighten and ache. Then my neck and shoulders became sore too. I knew then, the impact of the accident had affected me worse than I had imagined.

The rain continued to tap on the roof of the car as the wipers swished the rain back and forth. Then I listened closely. The swishing sound seemed to be coming from my neck and not the windshield. Trying not to panic, I swallowed hard and struggled to take a deep breath.

My heart pounded in my chest as I grew more anxious. I wondered if I had made a mistake by not going to the hospital. I was all alone on the road and could be in serious physical danger.

I thought to myself, “If I can at least make it halfway home, to Albany, I can get help.”

With each labored breath, I quoted Philippians 4:13 out loud. I said it over and over, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Adding to that, I said, “Lord, I am “Jersey Strong,” as they say (my mother was from Jersey).

While repeating it over and over, I heard a voice in my head say, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” I then felt a strong urge to turn on Sirius radio. The voice of Pastor Joel Osteen encouraged me with the same words I had been quoting. For the entire drive, I listened to him to help keep my thoughts positive. Suddenly, a peace came over me, and I was able to continue my five hundred mile drive without fear.

Margie left, with friend on right at Day’s Ice Cream Parlor

Nearing Albany, I felt like Moses when the waters parted, and the Israelites walked on dry land. The rain had finally stopped, and the warm sunshine brought tears to my eyes once again.

Finally, reaching Buffalo, I drove to Immediate Care, arriving just twenty minutes before closing. They told me I had bruised my sternum from the seat belt locking up, which was why I struggled to breathe. They also explained that “swishing” sound was indeed coming from my neck as fluid was moving around from the blow, which caused whiplash. I was sore but thankful that it wasn’t worse.

When my car was assessed for the bumper damages, I learned that I had been only a half-inch away from triggering the airbag, meaning my car would not have been drivable. I know the angels surrounded me and my car on the day of the accident. I count my blessings and praise God for His amazing grace.

Nearing Albany, I felt like Moses when the waters parted, and the Israelites walked on dry land. The rain had finally stopped, and the warm sunshine brought tears to my eyes once again.

Finally, reaching Buffalo, I drove to Immediate Care, arriving just twenty minutes before closing. They told me I had bruised my sternum from the seat belt locking up, which was why I struggled to breathe. They also explained that “swishing” sound was indeed coming from my neck as fluid was moving around from the blow, which caused whiplash. I was sore but thankful that it wasn’t worse.

When my car was assessed for the bumper damages, I learned that I had been only a half-inch away from triggering the airbag, meaning my car would not have been drivable. I know the angels surrounded me and my car on the day of the accident. I count my blessings and praise God for His amazing grace.

Praise God for angels unaware... as children, some of you were taught to pray, “Three little angels round my bed; one at the foot; two at the head; one to watch; one to pray; and one to keep all evil away.”

That day mine were, one in the front seat, two in the back seat! Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Story told to author, Lori Jagow, by Margie Weber.