God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.”
William Cowper (1731-1800).

 

The majority of us know the song but I don’t know how many have experienced the wonders of God that manifest in strange ways. I have countless encounters which affirm that and I will be sharing them on this platform. This story is a most recent experience that rocked my life and that of everyone who witnessed the events. It demonstrated that despite changing times and life events, God still works wonders in mysterious ways. I hope you will be both encouraged and enabled by this story, to look beyond your circumstances, and trust the God from whom all good proceeds. Names used here are assumed for the security of those involved.

 

Years back, I walked into a Honda shop with Brad. I had seen a car I liked and I needed an extra eye to check it out. Satisfied that the car met expectations, we dropped the check and left to await the delivery of this new baby. When the delivery was postponed twice, weeks after full payment had been confirmed, I returned to Honda shop with Ben and wouldn’t leave until they handed it over. That night, I insisted they take out all the fancy stuffs that announced its newness and drove that baby home.

 

It never really went far, the speedometer confirmed that year after year. Nevertheless, it became my private Church where I consulted with the Lord on the daily but brief ride to work and back. I live about five minutes from the office and enjoy walking back and forth on my two wheel drive. However, when weathers refused to oblige and other conditions wouldn’t cooperate, which was often, the car never disappointed. It was a trusted companion.

 

Then came December 25, 2014, the day that a majority spends a good portion of what has been saved up in the year on gifts that appreciate family and friends, and to relax and celebrate. That morning arose, bright and beautiful, beckoning all to forget the regrets of days gone by, the worries of those to come, and relish the festivities of the moment. I would not be left out.

 

Thankfulness cheered me out of bed that magnificent Thursday morning. Buoyed on wings of gratitude, I left the bedroom, admiring sparkling lights and luring gifts that lay silently waiting, watching beneath the Christmas tree. Some of the contents were mysteries, holding their breath as they stared in hope of final unraveling. I knew there were chocolates there and was ready to pay the post-Christmas price of working the extra weights. What do you do when life is good? Savor it and that was exactly the frequency at which I was operating that blissful morning.

 

Activities were lined up for the day. Special guests would be here soon so I strolled into the kitchen to do the expedient. Despite a slight snag on the coconut oil, cooking turned out a delightful exercise. By noon, meals were ready. Sated, everyone retired to their fancies and I chose to chill with a book pending the arrival of guests. Someone asked to borrow my car to go bail some folks who were stranded at a work site without food. I gladly donated what I could to that cause as well as my car key and he left.

 

Guests arrived and celebrations unleashed. We lost track of time until we heard someone pounding on the door. It sounded crazy but I assumed a friend was playing a fast one on me so I went to get the door myself. The gentleman who borrowed my car stormed in and before the guests, collapsed on the floor in such a scary fashion. Alarmed, we all swarmed him wondering what was amiss. My mind went to the car, my car. I looked outside. That faithful thing was not sitting at its usual spot: instantly, I knew.

 

Unable to talk for a while, we all stewed in our curiosity as we tried to revive and get him to say something coherent. When he eventually did talk, it was confirmation of earlier premonition: the car was totaled. It wasn’t returning as it left.

 

That is not even the mystery. As the story unfolded, sounding strange, seeming ugly, God’s everlasting fingerprints were plastered all over that wreck. The car had somersaulted thrice, flew over a lady standing on that side of the road, right past a wide culvert, and stood on its fours, by the wall of a huge facility. Let’s explore the possibilities;

• That road is a busy one with people involved in all kinds of activities, milling about at all times of the day. But on that day, there was only one close enough to be impacted.
• The car could have sent that innocent lady to an untimely grave. Instead, it flew above her head and she had time to escape as the car continued its somersaulting.
• It could have entered the culvert and crushed itself along with the sole occupant but no, it flew right across it and continued.
• It could have broken the fence of that facility and possibly smashed into other cars parked on the opposite side of the wall but no, it did not cross the fence.
• It could have stopped overturned, making it worse for the occupant and even more difficult to reach him but it stood upright in its shattered state.

 

And the most outstanding of it all, the young man scrambled out of a car, whose body and engine was totally wrecked, without a scratch!

 

Christmas celebrations were halted but only for a while. John went with him to check out the site and to get a van to recover the wreck. A cool ride that cruised out a few hours ago was towed back a hopeless wreck to the astonishment of witnesses. As we stood around that car, I was stirred to commend this baby that has blessed me every day through the years that it served me; this baby that in spite of what fate served, did not take a life in its demise; this baby that has served me faithfully and released me from sorrow; this baby that spared me another loss at such a time as this. How would I have told the stories of the possibilities that lined the path of that calamity?

 

I was shocked but more sober than sad as I contemplated all that could have happened if not for God. In the next couple of days, I had to make adjustments. I engaged my dual legged drive and life progressed.

 

The other mystery around these events is that this happened in the thick of God’s call to work the website. It was a time of intense work for all of us involved and the last thing I needed was a disruption. I recognized that disaster as a distraction and joy stealer so in my adjustments, I refused to shift my focus on that call or to give up my joy. I figured, “I bought that car, I can buy another one – who has ever bought a life?” What can we give in exchange for a life? Despite the disturbing pictures painted by that calamity, I saw the miracles highlighted above the losses and I knew enough to focus on what God would have me do at that time so He could deal with the rest. And He did deal with the rest.

 

I had access to another car and driver that could take me around but as earlier stated, I saw God’s hand in the whole thing. I wasn’t sure how long I would be without a car so I needed to accept the present and make relevant adjustments right away. If God would have me at this time and stage in my life without a car, it’s no big deal. I would rather rock my two wheels with Him than cruise four without Him.

 

I knew I was done with the car. I hoped someone would come buy the scrap and I’ll take whatever was offered. I didn’t want to put my money into something that I figured my time was up with. I could read the handwriting on the wall and it made no sense to spend on it. However, the young man and a kind neighbor convinced me it could be worked. The Lord said to go ahead and pay what it would cost to work it and to pass it on to the young man. That was how I started spending on something I’d supposedly lost, without a thought about a replacement that I needed. I just knew that on the mountain, God will provide the lamb for sacrifice.

 

Those who saw the car marveled that someone emerged out of it alive, much more without harm. Meanwhile nobody heard a word from me about the incident. In due time, I eventually told about three friends who needed to know. During the second week of January 2015, the Lord asked me to go to the Licensing Office and make inquiries on change of ownership. I asked if I could postpone the visit to the License Office to the next week. He said nothing so I knew I had better go get those facts immediately.

 

In the course of inquiries, I observed that the officer attending to me was referring to my new car. I wanted to clarify that I was transferring ownership to someone else and not the other way round but the Holy Spirit hushed me so I held my peace. I took notes for my supposedly “new car” according to the officer and thereafter asked what the process would be if I was transferring to another. With both information noted, I went back to work. On my way, I asked the Lord what He was up to. Not a word so I let it be.

 

By Saturday, the walk for that week and the haze and dusts had me feeling unwell and I couldn’t make it to church that Sunday. I confessed, “Lord, I really need a car.” “What type would you like,” He asked. I’m not into cars so I have no clue as to which is which. However, I knew I wanted a proper four wheel ride, roomy enough to meet my future needs. I just couldn’t figure out which type or what name.

 

January 13, 2015, Monday morning, James sent an email, informing me of a family repatriating back, who wanted to sell their car. I checked out the attached photo and wasn’t impressed. Besides, I didn’t have the physical cash to pay for the car right away so I concluded I’d let it pass without discouraging his willingness to help.

 

A few minutes later, he sends me an Instant Message to stop by so he could show me stuffs about the car. I decided it was best to go over and nicely wean him off it but when he passed on his research and findings on the car, words failed me. I was so deeply touched that he went out of his way, actually went so far to read up, make notes and raise crucial questions on the car. I didn’t have the heart to make nothing of that, to brush it off and walk away, so I suggested on my way out, “You know what, you call and talk to the seller and let me know what you find.”

 

He has a similar car and is in better position to probe the status of the advertised vehicle. He wanted me to make the call but I was unwilling. He had all the questions written out along with his findings but I wasn’t comfortable calling for something I didn’t like or want. Besides, I felt that I wouldn’t be able to deduce much from whatever feedback the owner who is also the seller would provide because I didn’t know much about the car.

 

He eventually accepted to make the call, on the condition that I will sit in on it. I agreed. In a couple of minutes, the call was made. The owner was unable to answer key questions so we agreed to come by around 3pm to check out the car. The location was close by.

 

In spite of the eloquent features documented in the mail, and based on my observation of the attached picture, I was thinking, “I really don’t like that car.” I told James, “Even if it costs a dime, if I don’t like it, I’m not touching it,” to which he responded, “Just see it first.”

 

We set out around 3pm, taking Jack along, who had also done his own research on the car within the few minutes that he was alerted. The car looked so much better in real life than it did in picture. One amazing aspect of this deal is that the owner would not be leaving until June, yet they decided to sell the car in January. We checked it out thoroughly and drove it around. When we returned from our test drive, the owner asked three times, “Do you like the car Glory?” No response.

 

I was wondering, “How am I going to pay when I don’t have the money right now?” He stepped away to attend to someone who just drove in. James was speaking so I turned from my thoughts towards him, “We can ask May to raise them a US check and mail it in the next couple of days prior to her return, if he agrees to sell to you.” At that point, I knew God was in this – I hadn’t said a word about not having the cash to pay, and now I like what I didn’t initially care about.

 

As we were pondering the options, the owner returned to say that another buyer, who was scheduled to come around 2pm just arrived and would want to check out the car. Once again he asked, “Do you like the car Glory?” I said, “Yes.” And I wanted to negotiate the price but he wouldn’t. He turned and told the newly arrived party that I wanted the car and the other guy said he came with cash. The owner turns back at us and James proposed the check and a down payment.

 

The owner said he wanted me to have the car and accepted the offer. He told the other guy the deal was done. It was a narrow miss. If the guy who came with cash had made it at his appointed time, it would have been too late for me. Same would also have been the case if we had delayed. Unknown to us, the owner’s driver by the side was cheering Jack to convince me to take it. He had taken such good care of the car and would rather have me get it than the other guy. In fact, he volunteered to be my driver and to help with the change of papers.

 

If you recall God’s leading the previous Friday, it will dawn that I already had all the details of what would be required to change the papers. Like a dream, I slept and woke up and my car was gone. Like another dream, I wake up and I have a great car. I walked into each of the days oblivious of what God had reserved for me. The car was everything I desired and much more.

 

Truly with God, nothing is impossible! God’s grace glowed through thick clouds of calamity, preserving my focus on the call of the moment. Friends have asked, “You mean you were going through all of that and it never showed?” In fact, a friend mentioned that he had to go through the articles I developed during that period on the SoarwithGlory website to see if he could get a hint of what had happened and found not a clue. I have been asked, “How can you take such a loss and live like nothing happened?” The only response I have is that God’s grace abounds when we need it. To those who think they can’t handle such, my thought is, if calamity comes to you, God will make sufficient grace available. It will be left to you to tap into it and make the most of it, or you can allow assaulting disasters to crumble your world.

 

On that slippery slope of darkness, God’s glory descended, closer than threatening doom, enabling me to see specks of miracles, arrayed here and there, by an indisputable disaster. And in that state, I observed that God transforms our setbacks into headways when we rest our trust in Him.

 

God spared me all the losses that worry, sorrow, and distraction would have caused. I don’t recall grieving that loss even one day and today;

• I celebrate God’s grace that abounded toward me to stay focused on SoarwithGlory until it was birthed,
• I celebrate the fact that God saved me multiple losses and disasters that would have significantly impacted innocent lives,
• I celebrate that the young man has gone through medical tests and not a scratch was found on him,
• I celebrate that he now has his own car,
• I celebrate that God sustained me while I cruised my two wheel and now I have a proper four wheel,
• I celebrate family and friends who hedged me in during the period like Ur and Aaron, holding up my hands while I birthed God’s purpose for my generation,
• I celebrate men and women who allowed God to use them, even when I had not the slightest inkling, to nudge me in the direction of His will,
• And I celebrate everyone who prays and encourages me in this ministry: you shall not lose your reward.

 

The day after I picked up the car, my Abba sent a love note through a morning shower. There had been not a single drop throughout the period of my two wheel ride around town but that morning, I heard the sound of rain. When I stepped out, the car had been bathed from above. It wasn’t a heavy rain but it was enough to have ruined even a brief walk. I could hear Abba declaring through the drizzling drops, “I got your back My Glory. I got you.” And with a smile that eternally responds, “I know Dad,” I showered upon Him who bequeaths blessings that no one and nothing can ever steal, smiles from the bottom of thankfulness that nothing can ever shroud. For this same God is our God. And He is our Guide. And He is willing to continue with us and for us, both now and forever. Amen.

 

 

Glory!