"The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore".
Psalm 121:7-8 (KJV)
Driving during rush hour with a loud clunking noise from beneath your car is unsettling. One night, I encountered this myself. Panic took over. I faced a long trip ahead, and it was already nighttime. As the loud, unusual noise emanated from the front left wheel, I anxiously concluded it must be a puncture.
Earlier that day, I visited an elderly woman from church and was driving home, which was about an hour away. I took the A10 toward the M25, believing it would help me reach home more safely, quickly, and efficiently. While listening to some old gospel songs, my calm was abruptly broken by a loud, clunking sound from the front-left wheel. My anxiety spiked, and my heart started pounding, and I started praying. There were many reasons for this.
Firstly, the heavy darkness on that cold winter night set a grim tone. Secondly, I would have had to wait a long time for the AA (Automobile Association) breakdown service to arrive and help. Thirdly, it would have cost me a lot of money. Fourthly, breaking down in the middle of the road can be quite embarrassing. Although I see such incidents almost daily and know they happen often, I didn’t want to appear as a burden. For me, it would have been very uncomfortable.
As I went on, the noise increased and sounded quite serious. I exited the busy A10 onto a quieter side street to check the issue but didn't see anything obviously wrong.
Reluctantly, I rejoined the A10 heading toward the motorway, but after a few meters, the clanging persisted. I pulled into a gas station and inspected under the car. If it had been a puncture, the tire would have deflated, but the wheels appeared unchanged. No sign of a puncture was visible.
I kept praying, and a still small voice spoke to my mind, cautioning me that driving home was too dangerous. I chose to call my mechanic, even though his shop was quite a distance away, towards the motorway. The issue was that his shop closed at 5:30 PM, and it was now about 7 PM. Nevertheless, I felt compelled to call. To my surprise, he answered, which was unusual since he usually only responds to messages.
He told me, “Drive slowly, bring it to me now, and I’ll take a look.” Relieved, I drove carefully, the clanging noise blending with my prayers. Though delayed and curious why he was still at the shop so late, I was grateful he was.
A few yards away from the mechanic’s shop, road works caused a blockage, stopping me. I had to turn back and take a lengthy detour to arrive at the same location from the opposite side.
When I arrived, the mechanic mentioned he usually closes at 5:30 and rarely stays late. He had spontaneously decided to stay and finish some tasks, so I was fortunate to catch him at that hour.
He carefully examined the car and discovered a large bolt lodged in the tire. He concluded that if I had driven onto the highway at 70 mph, I might have experienced a blowout, which could have been catastrophic. That evening, I took the train home, grateful to God for the warning. I felt immensely blessed. A mighty God in heaven took the time to help and protect me from harm and accidents. The following morning, the mechanic called to inform me that the tire was completely flat. “You were fortunate,” he said.
Call to Action
I took the opportunity to remind the mechanic of God's Providences. He is truly a God who protects, guards, and keeps us safe. I praise Him for His traveling mercies.
"The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."
Psalm121:7-8 (KJV)
God promises to shield us from harm, safeguard our lives, and oversee our daily routines now and forever, regardless of our location. Trust in His promises and seek His guidance through prayer during difficult times. He continually watches over our daily activities, personal journeys, and interactions, reassuring us that His protective grace is everlasting, spanning our entire lives and extending into eternity.
