Friends,

1 Chronicles 16:24 says: Declare his glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all people.

On July 28, 2014, I was sitting in a BBQ restaurant in Houston, Texas with my parents, daughter, and sister.  At 6:26 PM I received a text message that at first I thought was a terrible joke, until I realized it wasn’t.  I saw words my heart could not absorb after I read my son’s name…badly injured, serious, airlifted, intubated.  The words hit me hollow and numb for a moment, and then left me heavy and overwhelmed with shock and grief.  Amidst my weeping,  all I could think about was getting to my child, but that was not possible until the afternoon of the next day.  My husband’s phone could not make calls because of the remote location, but for some reason he could text.  I received this picture after reading those dreaded words.

 

The next morning, July 29, I boarded a flight from Houston to Portland, OR where Carter was in The Oregon Health Science Center Trauma ICU Unit.  Upon boarding the plane, I was devastated and trying to come to grips with the reality of turning my phone off for 4 hours.  Also, I am what you would call a recovering “white knuckle flier.”  There was a time I would take Benadryl or an anxiety medication before I would fly.  It was not until a few years ago, I discovered meditating on scripture, praying and listening to worship music were my best antidotes for peaceful air travel.  Their benefits are endless; they are fast acting, and they do not have a short life expectancy or unwanted side effects like many medications do.

That morning I was an emotional mess.  Things were touch and go with Carter, and I was very upset about the length of the flight because I would be unable to get updates.  I just wanted to get to him, and a long plane flight only added agitation to my distressed soul.  As we boarded and took off, I felt such a heavy weight in my heart, and I prayed for The Lord to help me release my fears and anxieties into his care.  I specifically asked Him to put a circle of protection around the plane and for comfort and peace to endure this arduous plane ride not knowing what would await me upon landing on the other side of the country.

Moments after praying, I looked out my window.  Just below me, I saw an airplane and it frightened me.  I was so fearful that it overshadowed the beauty and perspective of what was right before my eyes.  In my inadequacy, I did not initially see the rainbow that encircled the airplane. I only saw the plane.  I did not recognize it was the shadow of the airplane I was on.  It was so clear and real that I believed it was another plane that looked as if it was on a collision course with us.

Is that not what fear does to us?  It blinds us to the beauty, miracles and reality of what is because we are too busy worrying about what might be.  I look back now, and I was like the disciples in the boat when Jesus was walking to them on water. (Matthew 14:22-33) They were afraid and could not immediately see the miracle because they were frozen by their fear.  I later realized that was me!  I was witnessing the greatest gift, which I almost missed because I was focusing on the worry of my situation instead of the wonder of my Savior.

This very special gift from The Lord is now a reminder to me that fear only causes us to abandon faith.  When we desert faith, we are minimizing our view to what the things and people of this world have to offer, and that is a minuscule and frail perspective.

Below is a picture of what I saw that July, morning.  I did not take the picture, because I was so overcome initially by fear, and then God’s faithfulness when I realized what I was seeing that I could not react to get my camera.  This is exactly what I saw just out my window below me and in front of the plane’s engine.

This extraordinary event was God’s message to me that morning: I have you right in the center of my protective hands, and you shall not be afraid.  I will keep you right here and carry you safely to your son.  This is a covenant I am making to you.  This was one of the best gifts I have ever received, and I will never forget it or cease to be amazed by God’s genuine display of love shown to me that morning.

That night I began searching the scriptures for any reference to a circle rainbow.  To my amazement, I found it in Revelation 4:3 ~ The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian.  And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. (NLT)  I am not able to adequately describe the awe I felt when I read that verse.  It reaffirmed even more The Lord’s presence with me that morning.

I am always looking for evidence of The Lord around me.  Often I see His fingerprints everywhere throughout my days; little reminders He is there.  However, it is not as frequent that I see his handprints; the incredible displays of His omnipresence.  How sweet of Him to visibly show up for me in such a glorious way in my desperate hour of need.  He is God and He is always good!