God’s Protection

By Danny Woodall

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought,

but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Romans 8:26 (ESV)

 

The Sunday night service was over. All of my friends had left. Mom was praying at the altar. The church grew empty and dark while my dad and the rest of our family sat on the front pew. After a few more anxious minutes, my mom finished praying. As a ten-year-old boy, I couldn’t understand. I hadn’t had any fights the past week, no notes from the teacher, and no broken windows. What could she be praying about?

By the time we got home, I was convinced of my innocence and full of curiosity. “What were you praying for?”  I asked Mom.

“I really don’t know,” she replied.

I wondered, How could you not know what you were praying for? My prayers were simple: Help me make a good grade. Keep me out of trouble. Watch over my dog.

A few days later, she was in a car wreck and broke her leg. Then I was more confused.

The next night I must have had a puzzled look on my face. While sitting in a wheelchair, my mom explained that the Holy Spirit knew what would happen during the week. “My prayers helped me survive the car wreck.”

To me, it would’ve been easier for God to have stopped the cars from colliding. But, I’m not God. Now I know that God sometimes stops trouble. Sometimes He goes with us through troubles. It’s good to know that God has everything under control and we can trust Him in everything we do.

Danny Woodall lives in Port Neches, TX. He and his wife have three children. He has a monthly column in the Christian Online Magazine, and has written for LifeWay’s Essential Connections and Bible Express magazines. This past year he contributed to Daily Devotions for Writers. He and his wife, Arlene, work with the fourth grade Sunday school class.