The Still Small Voice
Welcome to the first post on my new blog! In recent months, I have felt nudged on more than one occasion to share what the Lord is doing and has done in my life. Through the past almost three years, I have experienced the long-term sickness and death of my dear husband Gerry, the tragic death of a precious grandson Garrett, the very serious illnesses of two dear family members—my brother Ron and my sister-in-law Gail, and most recently a traumatic automobile accident. Through these tragedies, the Lord has been present to comfort, encourage, and direct me.
Today I bear witness to the truth of His Word, “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.” ( Lam. 3:22-26 NLT}
On October 23, 2017, 12:50 p.m. I was waiting to pull out of a parking lot. A large truck was trying to pull into the lot where I sat. Thinking I’d give him more room, I pulled forward—failing to see a car coming around him. That split-second decision almost cost me my life as the oncoming vehicle barreled into my car just behind my seat.
I knew from the moment of impact that my neck was injured. People arrived wanting to help me out of the car, but I remained glued to my seat. An internal voice kept saying, “Don’t move!” Don’t move!” “Don’t move!” As my own voice screamed and cried, “Help me, Jesus!” Help me!” the still small voice whispered, “Don’t move!” and I obeyed.
Paramedics arrived, carefully stabilized my neck, and loaded me in the ambulance. A CT scan at Rowan Medical Center revealed a fractured C-2 vertebra. As the diagnosis was delivered by the emergency room doctor, I knew it was serious when my daughter-in-law, Kandee, who is a nurse, turned white and softly whispered “Don’t move, Mama! Don’t move!”
I would learn later that a broken C-2 is called a hangman’s fracture because it is the bone that breaks when a person is hanged. It was also the source of permanent paralysis for Superman actor Christopher Reeves and countless other accident victims.
The ER doctor announced that I would need to be moved to a trauma center better equipped to care for spinal injuries. As I was being strapped to a back board and loaded in the ambulance, I was keenly aware of the “still small voice” from the moments after the accident whispering, “Don’t move!”
The ER staff told me more than once how “smart I was” to sit still in the car, but I knew that my first instinct at the time of impact was to jump out and get away. Rather, that “still small voice”—the Holy Spirit, I believe—was warning me, “Don’t move.” Psalm 46:10 (NKJV) echoed in my head, “Be still and know that I am God.”
As I lay strapped down on a hospital bed in the ER at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, staring at the bright lights overhead and listening to voices all around me, I realized just how helpless I was. The Lord had spared me, but His reasons were unclear. Considering all the other tragedies I had recently encountered, I had some choices to make. How would I respond to yet another challenge? Would I continue to rely on the King of the Universe to carry me when I literally could not even sit up? Or would I give in to despair?
In contemplating my dilemma, I was reminded of Elijah’s encounter with God (1 Kings 19:11-12 NKJV) when the Lord spoke to him in “a still small voice.” Elijah was hiding out in a cave, convinced the Lord had deserted him. He was scared and depressed. I could certainly identify! The Lord ministered to Elijah. He cared for him in his time of need.
I, too, had heard the still small voice. I would obey. I was confident that the Lord would provide for me as well. In retrospect, I realize the Lord has a sense of humor, for I had no choice! He had me where He wanted me to be! Still—an unfamiliar place for a workaholic Martha-type personality! (Luke 10:38-42)
What about you? Have you ever heard a “still small voice” that saved you from disaster? If so, I would love to hear from you as we get to know each other and celebrate the daily miracles all around us.
I hope you will join me again as I share further details of God’s faithfulness! “Come and see what God has done, what awesome miracles He performs for people!” (Psalm 66:5 NLT)