God is great;
God is good;
Let us thank Him.

There is great truth in that simple prayer. Sometimes the greatest truths are the simplest truths, aren’t they? My problem is not necessarily understanding the complex truths of God, but of living the simple truths of God. In His mercy, God sometimes gives us occasions to practice the platitudes we profess.

My wife and I had such an opportunity this week. We were in a car accident, known to the rescue crews as an “MVA,” motor vehicle accident. Not our fault, mind you. He just pulled out in front of us and we hit him. Hard. “T-bone,” they say. I didn’t even have time to brake. It’s true that life comes at you fast. Good thing God is in control!

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
To His feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing:
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King.

God is great. We learned that God’s timing is perfect. Had the accident occurred a week earlier, Becky would have been in the middle of IBC’s registration week. Had the accident occurred the next week, I would have had to miss many academy classes. But this week was Reveille Week. No classes. We were able to use a couple days to take care of the seemingly endless details, errands, phone calls, doctor visits . . . Wow.

We learned that God’s protection is so constant that we presume upon it. We forget how fast 40 mph is. Only a generation ago, even cross-country travel was 40-50 mph. There were no interstate highways. And a generation before that, travel moved at horse speed. When we hit the other car, we felt the full force of a 40 mph impact. I can’t even imagine 65 mph. And God has been protecting us all these years.

Praise Him for His grace and favor
To our fathers in distress.
Praise Him still the same as ever,
Slow to chide and quick to bless.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Glorious in His faithfulness

God is good. We learned that God provides in His way and His time. Becky and I had been worrying and praying (unfortunately, more one than the other!) for another vehicle, as ours had reached “a certain age.” We had begun asking around whom we should be asking. But God already had a plan.

We learned that God answers prayer in His way. Becky had been praying that she would have opportunities to serve her husband. Silly girl. As I have been sitting on the couch with my sprained ankle elevated and iced, she has had . . .ahem. . .abundant opportunities to serve her invalid husband. Isn’t God good? Heh-heh.

We learned that God often provides through his people: “shall men give unto [you].” What a great spiritual family we have at Tri-City! Folks gave encouragement, stayed with us in the emergency room (that bizarre time warp!), assured us of prayers, offered to loan us vehicles, made us meals, and listened to us tell our story ad naseum. Someone even told us they were taking up a collection to buy me a crash helmet! Just because this is the second time in two weeks I have had stitches in my head . . .

Father-like He tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame He knows.
In His hands he gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Widely yet His mercy flows.

Let us thank Him.We learned that praising God, even thanking Him, for what seems to be an “accident” isn’t hard to do. When we stop to consider God’s protection, provision, and perfect timing, we thank Him.

Angels in the heights adore Him;
Ye behold Him face to face;
Saints triumphant bow before Him,
Gathered in from ev’ry race.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace.

“Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven” by Henry F. Lyte, 1834

David Stertzbach II, B.A.
Music Pastor