“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” – Hebrews 13:2
Today I have a very interesting story to relay to you. It is one in which the events seemed most natural to me, but upon reflecting later, my family and I were amazed at the intervention of what we know to be an angel sent by the loving protective Hand of God.
God’s Protective Hand
Ten years prior to this event, our family had moved to south central Mississippi from New Orleans, built a home and established what we hoped to be a permanent residence. But ten years later, the job market became so bleak that my husband returned to the commercial construction field in New Orleans. For three months he lived in an apartment part-time returning home every weekend. I was saved at that time but as a “babe in Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1) I had not yet learned to take everything to the Lord first. Still, as you will see in this story, God’s Protective Hand was there to care for me.
One week, I drove down to New Orleans with two of our 4 children. My husband had given me specific instructions on how to find the apartment complex, but I ended up in the wrong area. Carefully following what I thought were his instructions, I drove around and around to no avail. Becoming more and more anxious. I finally decided to stop and ask someone and found a small grocery store. “No.”, no one was familiar with the name of the apartment complex. (I realized later there were dozens of them all over the area.) The second place I asked gave me the same response. I felt frustrated and helpless. (Remember 33 years ago we did not have cell phones.)
By this time, I had been driving around for 45 minutes, with a fussy baby unwilling to be comforted by the helpful effort of her five year old brother. I knew now it was useless to search anymore. Gathering my then frayed nerves together, I organized a plan in my mind. First, I needed to find a telephone; next I would call information and get the phone number of the apartment complex; (at this time, my husband did not have a telephone hooked up in his apartment) then I would call the apartment complex office, tell them where I was and ask them how to get to their place. In my upset state the procedure seemed long and complicated, but I could come up with no other solution.
Searching for a pay telephone, I finally came across a large driveway area, next to a building. There, hanging on the wall was a pay phone that was being used by a lady. I pulled up close because of the children. When the lady got off the phone, I hopefully asked her if she knew where the apartment was, explaining that I was lost. She replied kindly, but negatively, and as she walked on down the driveway I proceeded to pick up the telephone. Still looking in the direction of the lady, I saw a man appear from behind the surrounding shrubbery, walking down the sidewalk. In one hand he was carrying a canned soft drink, but the other hand was up waving back and forth, as if to draw attention, while he said, “Anybody need some help? Anybody need some help?” In my anxious state of mind, I concluded that it was obvious to this man that the situation looked like someone was in need of help. Of course, that was not the case because there was no physical evidence of a problem. I was eager to respond to his offer of help when, to my relief, I saw the lady speaking to him and pointing in my direction. He came up the driveway and asked me if I needed some help. I said “yes” and told him I was lost and gave him the name of the apartment complex I was searching for. “Yes” he knew where the place was. I might add that the place was quite a distance from where we were and yet, and with his finger he drew out the directions on the hood of the car in a simple easily understandable manner. With great relief I comprehended what he said and thanked him for his help and went straight to my destination where my husband was anxiously waiting in the parking lot.
At the time, this event seemed a natural occurrence—I needed some help and someone offered to help. But as I began to relay the story with tears of relief, my husband said in amazement, “No one walks down the street asking if anyone needs help. That must have been an angel, sent from the Lord!” Shocked, I realized how right he was. Oh, how I praise the Lord for His wonderful protective care.
As a footnote: I hesitated to print this incident, since there is a trend in our society that leans toward worshiping angels. In no way, do I want to give any praise other than to my Heavenly Father and His dear Son, Jesus Christ, my Lord.
In speaking of angels, God’s Word says:
“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Hebrews 1:14
Latest posts by Gail Slawson (see all)
- God’s Protective Hand - August 1, 2016
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- Hannah, Full of Grace - March 16, 2016
Our angels are everywhere. God sends us angels both people we know and total strangers to protect us, help us, assist us and somehow cheer us up.
God knows what we need and He sends instruments to provide for those needs. 🙂
Thank you, Lux! It’s so comforting to know how much God cares. Since then I have had two (bleeders) hemorrhegic strokes, and God has been with me through them both. How could I not trust Him?