Preservation Power

One night, as my younger sister was driving home from a long trip, it began to rain. But this was no ordinary rain; this rain would cause a flash flood.

My sister had been driving on the back roads and, at this point, was only ten minutes from home when the car came to a halt and water rushed in.

This young black woman found herself stuck in an area filled with neighbors who were not typically known for being kind to those of darker hues.

She was alone, with no cell service, in a thunderstorm, and no help in sight—or so she thought. A man who lived in one of the surrounding houses came out to help. He tied a rope around a tree and then to himself in an attempt to rescue her.

Though a valiant effort, it did not work. My sister, unable to swim and short in stature, became increasingly scared. She had no idea how she would make it.

Thankfully, the man did not give up. He carefully guided her and told her what to do to keep the car from being swept away. He then encouraged her to open the sunroof and climb onto the roof of the vehicle. This instruction was critical, as the pressure of the water had prevented my sister from opening any door. In hindsight, had she waited even two more minutes, the car would have died before she could open the sunroof, leaving her trapped inside. Now on the roof with rain, thunder, and lightning all around her and still out of contact with family, my sister saw another car coming toward her. Fortunately, the waters prevented a collision.

And thankfully, the kind stranger who had been so helpful already did not leave the drivers. In fact, he was instrumental in helping search and rescue to locate them. As I listened to the story, I marveled at God’s power to preserve.

My sister could have drowned, been struck by lightning, been killed in a collision, or been harmed by a person with ill intentions. But God sent a resourceful stranger right on time! It is easy to wonder where God is in our difficult circumstances.

But God truly is our Helper. When you find yourself feeling scared or helpless, I encourage you to reflect on Psalm 121 as a reminder of God’s preservation power.

Jesseñia Robinson