True Hope and a Future

Because I know that God is in control of all things, I don’t believe in coincidence; I believe in “God Incidents.” I’m beginning to think that God is preparing to use me mightily because this is the second time in less than a week that I’ve literally come within inches of my life. Just four days ago I came very close to being killed by a car, and last night a tree fell as close to me as one could get without actually breaking through my house.

I knew storms were predicted to pass through last night, so before going to bed I went through the usual routine of “battening down the hatches;” closing windows, unplugging devices, etc. It was around 1:30 a.m. when a big bang and the pelting of rain on my window woke me up. Since the house was already secure I didn’t get up, but quietly prayed for protection as my dog Daisy guarded me from underneath my bed.

More rumbling and cracks came on either side of one really large crack of lightning; I was sure something nearby was struck. That brought to my half-awake mind what my mother-in-law recently told me about a friend of hers whose mobile home caught on fire after a lightning strike. With my daughter’s wedding less than three weeks away, my first thought was, “I need to save Cassie’s wedding dress!”

Though still in my sleep-induced stupor, I began to formulate a plan. The rain wouldn’t be much better for the dress than fire, so I devised to rush upstairs, grab the dress, put it in the van and drive out of the garage, thereby saving the dress and the van. I guess I know now what I would take with me if I only had time to grab one thing. Oops, sorry Daisy. I’m sure I was assuming that you’d be running behind me.

“I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,” ~ Psalm 16:8-9

God did grant me rest, and it wasn’t long before I was again sleeping soundly. Our power was on when I awoke, so I didn’t give the storm a second thought. At least not until I was up and heard Bob whistle from the bedroom. I went in, stood beside him and gazed at the scene outside my window. A tall tree in the woods surrounding our house had broken off and the very tips of the branches hit the outside of the house in the exact spot where I had been sleeping inside.


If the tree had broken off any lower or the wind been any stronger, it would have fallen right on top of me.

“Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” ~ Psalm 20:6-7


I went outside to survey the damage, but outside of this one tree there was none. It did look as though one of our hosta plants had been crushed by a branch, but as I investigated more closely I saw that in that very spot the branch was curved, my hosta plant snuggled safely below it.




Many people have no idea that there are thousands of varieties of hosta, each with its own name and characteristics. The name of this fortunate hosta - “Blue Umbrellas.” God not only protects, but I believe He has a sense of humor as well!

Father, your love and protection never cease to amaze me! Thank you for literally keeping me safe in the midst of the storm, for not allowing the tree to break off any lower or blow any further. Who but you could put a bend in a branch so even a plant would be protected rather than crushed? Thank you, Lord, for your control over EVERYTHING!

Snuggled safely in your arms,

Lisa