He Bindeth the Floods from Overflowing

Sunday night witnessed the worst car journey I have ever taken. I had been preaching at Kirkby Stephen up in Cumbria. Rain had been heavy all afternoon, and continued to pour as I spoke. By the time I left around 7.40pm, many of the roads around that town and neighbouring Sedbergh, through which I would also pass, were submerged. Most road floods last a few dozen yards, but one through which I drove must have measured over a hundred. It was deep, too, and I passed a car which had already succumbed to the muddy waters. I had no option but to keep going; the moment one stops accelerating and emitting fumes, the water enters the engine through the exhaust pipe and all is lost. Many times on those roads did I pray aloud to God that He would see me through safely. I can’t afford a new car and I was keen to go home to a dry bed. En route to the village of Barbon, the water from the fells was literally cascading over the top of drystone walls in a series of powerful waterfalls, right onto the road and across the other side.

One of the dangers of driving through floods is not anticipating them. In the dark, they are barely perceived until one is about to enter. Hit them too quickly, and the car could be damaged or flipped; much of the time, however,  I was slowing down, mistaking a darker stretch of road or newer patch of tarmac for a pool of water which didn’t exist. For most of the journey, I drove down the road’s middle, so the camber would aid my passage. I don’t think I have ever been so glad to get home and dive into bed, after kneeling down and giving thanks to God at 10pm. Interestingly, I'd had a dream the night before in which I was in a fatal car crash, skidding in water and colliding at speed into some trees. Well whatever the prophetic insight of dreams, the prayer-answering power of God overruled. I’m also aware that Salem folk back home prayed for me during their online meeting, for which I am grateful.

The highways and byways of Britain are dangerous at the best of times. For the year up to June 2019, there were 157,630 ‘casualties of all severities’, including 27,820 people killed or ‘seriously injured’. Our roads may be some of the safest in the world, but the figures speak for themselves. I drive most days, yet even when there are no floods, I flirt with danger. I do not usually pray ahead of regular trips or commutes, yet I wonder if the gracious God of heaven keeps me safe even when I’m too careless to request it.

“Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.'" Isaiah 12:1 (NKJV)

Image by Yves Bernardi from Pixabay