Wow! I am somewhat speechless. I am about to write this entry, so I guess I am not exactly without words, but when I have tried to pray, it feels like ‘thank you’ is not enough, and I am just in awe.
Anyone who knows me well is aware of how much I love the camper that God has blessed me with. It is my little house on wheels, and it offers me the peace and serenity I need, especially being in the ministry that I am.
Just this morning, I went to grab a reusable water bottle that I had stored underneath my sink. There were a couple of water bottles there, sitting on the wheel well. When I pulled the plastic water bottle out, to my shock, it was partially melted! I immediately got my flashlight out to see that there had been a small fire underneath the sink! I knew exactly what it was from, and I was instantly overcome with gratitude for God’s protection.
Eight months ago, I had been traveling to Sturgis, SD, for the large motorcycle rally there. The goal was to support anti-trafficking efforts there. About 30 minutes from my destination, my tire blew out. It was my fault; the tire pressure had been low, but I didn’t stop. I was hoping to get to a nearby gas station where I could fill it and then proceed to my destination. Well, I didn’t make it that far! The bigger problem was that I was on a very busy 2-lane highway with more motorcycles zipping past me than I had ever seen. Among them, semi-trucks with limited space to move, and, yes, you guessed it, the blown tire was on the driver’s side, making it a dangerous situation. After removing the tire and attempting to place the spare on the axle, I realized I didn’t have enough clearance and wasn’t strong enough to extend my little scissor jack with the weight of my camper on it. Thankfully, God provided a motorcycle angel to help me. He and his wife were also on their way to Sturgis and got a flat tire as well. He was able to crank up the jack high enough to get the new tire on, and I was on my way.
Through that event, what I hadn’t realized was that the tire had shredded with such force that it ripped off one of my water drain valves and somehow generated so much heat that it nearly started a fire inside my camper. I have placed pictures below of the water bottle, a box of dusting cloths that burned, and the wheel well itself, where the linoleum protecting the wheel well from debris had also burned. Look at the chemicals that I had stored in that area! How the dusting cloths and the rest of my camper didn’t go up in flames is a miracle. What providential protection that day!
I believe that there are so many times in life that God protects us and we have no idea. It was certainly a humbling experience to be reminded of His care today in such a tangible way. Some may look at my life and see me as strong and courageous for doing the work I do, but I can only testify to God’s goodness and his hand of protection over my life. I know I can trust Him. And, even as Daniel 3:16-18 records, even if God’s will is not to remove us from the fire, we can be assured that He will be right beside us. He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), and for that I am eternally grateful.
Please say a prayer of thanksgiving for the way that God protected me that day and how he continues to remind me of His presence. Consider the ways he has protected you and your family and respond with praise! He is our good, good Father!
How things were originally positioned 
The outside of the wheel well after the tire and valve have been replaced.