Psalm 34:4-7 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
This passage is very special to me because, on Nov 26, 2006 I hit a patch of black ice, lost complete control of my vehicle, knowing I was in big trouble as I was heading for the ditch at 100kph, I called out to the Lord, before I even hit the ditch He covered me, I remember nothing from that moment on… Later I discovered my vehicle went end over end, rolled 6 times or more and landed on my tires, between a fence post and sign post... I ended up in the back seat as the back of my drivers seat broke and I slid through the seat-belt backwards, if my back seat had not flipped into the upright position through the accident, I would have gone through the back-window head first... When I became aware of my reality, I was sitting in the back seat with my legs between the two front seats, most of the glass was broken all around me but in my immediate surroundings there was not one piece of glass… I had absolutely no cuts on me whatsoever. The angel of the Lord encamped around me of that I have no doubt…
As I sat making sense of what just happened, I felt pain in my upper thighs, like a rug burn type of pain, the rest of me I felt ok…. I looked around me and saw my vehicle crumpled and broken… I became scared and looked out the window that was broken out and I started yelling for help and waving out the window as I saw cars and trucks pass me, but it was far to slippery for them to stop…. Finally, one truck was able to stop, a lady came down into the ditch and asked me if I was ok, I said I think so… she proceeded to call 911, I asked her to call my friend and neighbor Dawn, gave her the number and she did so, told me Dawn was on her way too.
My friend Dawn was there almost immediately, she told me that the lady who called said I was on the 580 Highway but didn’t say whether it was East or West, so Dawn prayed that God would show her where I was, as she pulled up to the highway, she saw many people at our church so she drove over and said “Monika’s been in and accident” one of the people said Oh that’s who’s car that was… so they knew exactly where I was… they all headed over. Imagine, in the scariest time of my life, my church family is with me right away! Dawn told me that they were all there (started picking up the things that were thrown out of my vehicle) As I look over my shoulder I saw my pastor standing on the hill where I had first gone into the ditch (200 feet away) and I knew he was praying…
It was such a blessing and comfort to know that. Only God can arrange the things that happened that day!
The paramedics showed up and had to cut me out of the vehicle, so they covered me with a blanket to break out another window and cut the vehicle so that I could get out. As I was under the blanket, I heard one of the paramedics speaking and I recognised his voice, I said “Tyler is that you” he said yes! Tyler was one of my former students, another blessing.
Finally, they uncovered me and asked me if I could move enough to get out, I figured I could as I felt I had rug burn on both the tops of my legs (seatbelt burn!) I wiggled myself to the front seat, and tried to stand up but was unable to, the pain was shooting, and I just couldn’t so they got a gurney and lifted me to the ambulance. The paramedic in the vehicle with me, was a man who’s son came to my studio for lessons as well, it’s an amazing thing when you live in a small town! A little embarrassing when they have to cut your pants off however!
I asked them to please not call my family as I didn’t want to worry anyone (especially my mom) until I knew what we were dealing with.
As I got to the hospital and they began to take me for x-rays the Dr. said my family was here. I thought “Oh no…” and as they wheeled me past them, it was actually my two pastors and their wives! They are family for sure! <3 After all the x-rays the Dr. said to me that my femur was broken, but lengthwise not across, so I would not get a cast but need to stay off my leg for 6 weeks… I was of course worried as I had dogs, cats and a horse and had no idea how I would manage to look after them. They took me to a room where I was given pain meds that made me very ill. Many people came to see me over the next few days… so many that the nurses said they should put bleacher seats in the room! LOL
Saturday night my brother came to see me as I had finally called to tell them.
Sunday morning another Dr. came in my room and said, “I think your femur is broken, but looks like it’s on the inside of the bone…” still the same results, off my leg for 6 weeks.
Monday morning my Dr. came in and said he didn’t think my bone was broken, but we would find out later that morning once the radiologist looked at the x-rays.
My friends Paul and Sandy came in to visit shortly after that and Paul said he had a word from the Lord for me… he read to me Psalm 34, it was incredible… That is where I discovered the Angel of the Lord surrounded me!
Psalm 34:6-22
This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.
Right after Paul read this, he hadn’t even closed the Bible, when the nurse came in and said “You’re bone’s not broken!” I replied, “I know, because the Bible told me so!” What a miracle! I was so happy until they made me walk… lol
I am so thankful to all who were there for me during those days, those who looked after my ‘kids’, those who blessed me in so many ways. Mostly for God’s amazing love and goodness toward me…
There are so many more blessings to share about this journey… the week prior to my accident was a very difficult one. I had word that my mom went in for surgery and I was very worried about her, so I booked a flight to go see her the Tuesday following my accident which of course I had to postpone, but because I was in the hospital I was able to call her everyday and be an encouragement to her because we were both dealing with a hospital stay! The same week, I had just got word that a friend of mine who I’d spent many hours on the phone with sharing Jesus with him, and encouraging him, as his wife had left him… he had passed because of heart failure. I was so devastated that week. Grieving, worried (over my mom) and feeling pretty down in general. The night before the accident I was singing at our church banquet and although there was depression, it lifted my spirits and I was so blessed to bless others! I was excited to fly home to see my mom…
So after all this, I of course didn’t understand why God had allowed this to happen anyway, and then read Psalm 35 realizing finally that it was a spiritual attack… my enemy is not of flesh and blood but of the power of darkness!
Psalm 35
A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O Lord, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help. Also draw out the spear, and stop those who pursue me. Say to my soul, "I am your salvation." Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor Who seek after my life; Let those be turned back and brought to confusion Who plot my hurt. Let them be like chaff before the wind, and let the angel of the Lord chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of the Lord pursue them. For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit, Which they have dug without cause for my life. Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly, and let his net that he has hidden catch himself; Into that very destruction let him fall. And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation. All my bones shall say, "Lord, who is like You, Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?" Fierce witnesses rise up; They ask me things that I do not know. They reward me evil for good, To the sorrow of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart.
I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother. But in my adversity they rejoiced and gathered together; Attackers gathered against me, And I did not know it; They tore at me and did not cease; with ungodly mockers at feasts They gnashed at me with their teeth. Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their destructions, my precious life from the lions. I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people. Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies; Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause. For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful matters Against the quiet ones in the land. They also opened their mouth wide against me, and said, "Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it." This You have seen, O Lord; Do not keep silence. O Lord, do not be far from me. Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication, To my cause, my God and my Lord. Vindicate me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness; And let them not rejoice over me. Let them not say in their hearts, "Ah, so we would have it!" Let them not say, "We have swallowed him up." Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion Who rejoice at my hurt; Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor Who exalt themselves against me. Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, "Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant." And my tongue shall speak of Your Righteousness and of Your praise all the day long.
I am ever grateful to God who delivered me from so much more than this, I hope this testimony brings you hope to know that the Lord is for us, we just need to trust in Him! God bless you all.