How do you explain how one walks away without a scratch from an accident that should have been fatal? Or moves to the left or right a moment before a crane breaks and drops a heavy object on the exact spot we were standing. When trying to describe the strange "something" that happens many will explain it away as mere coincidence. But, is it? Is it fate? Is it luck?

Or is it divine intervention from a higher power?

Lisa Attinger of Chesaning, Michigan writes, "I feel I have been touched by an angel. One Friday afternoon I was on my way to work when I hit some black ice and soft ground. My car started to slide, lost traction and went flying through the air as if doing a cartwheel, landing on the driver's side." Within minutes rescue and medical teams of about twenty-five were cutting her out of the car. And although she assured them she was okay, they strapped her onto a stretcher and rushed her to the nearest hospital.

But she didn't have a scratch on her. They released her unharmed from the hospital and two hours later she was enjoying dinner with friends who joined her in praising the Lord. Lisa said that she could sense the presence of the Lord and his angels throughout the whole ordeal. Says Lisa, "Let this be a message to everyone that it is important to believe in God and his angels. My husband and I are standing on Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Can you relate to Lisa's experience? Has there been a time in your life when suddenly, out of the blue, "something" kept you from an accident that was so close that when you close your eyes you relive the possibility and shudder at what might have occurred if only "something" hadn't happened?

Like the "Something" in my friend, Maggie's experience. She was driving along a four lane highway, following a safe, legal distance behind an eighteen wheel tractor-trailer flatbed laden with a couple of commercial sized backhoe machines and several other smaller pieces of construction equipment. The big yellow and white machines were strapped to the bed of the truck with huge metal straps and there was no apparent problem. But suddenly Maggie felt an overwhelming urgency to pass the truck. She was already moving along at sixty-five miles per hour and did not want to speed up but she said to her three youngsters and the baby who were in the car with her, "Kids, I think I need to pass this truck. Hold on!"

"Mom, you're speeding!" the oldest child exclaimed as she whizzed past the big truck. Maggie was dismayed but felt an urgency to get around the truck. "I'm sorry, Jakey! I've just got to get around this truck." She passed the truck and started to slow down to normal speed when suddenly she heard a huge crashing noise. The kids turned around to look backward through the SUV's windows. "The truck is falling apart!" one of them exclaimed in horrified awe. Maggie looked in the rearview mirror as cold chills ran through her body. The truck's cargo was flying everywhere on the road behind them, tons of metal and steel hitting the pavement as the driver fought for control.

"Thank you God!" Maggie whispered in awe. She told me later, still trembling from the near-miss experience, "I know God had his angels all around us on the trip up here today."

For Lisa and Maggie and thousands of other people who have similar stories about miraculous "near misses", the "something" that protects them, or warns them of impending danger is the awesome presence of a mighty God. He still sends his angels when we call up to him. He still speaks to our hearts even in today's chaotic world. And, when we put our trust in him we are assured that he will keep us safe from harm.

"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in [their] hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone." (Ps 91:11,12)