Memorial Day, 1999, my family and I were in a huge car crash. We were all thrown from our van, out onto Highway 97 in Klammath Falls, Oregon. Me and my three youngest, were thrown about fifty feet through the air, and landed on the east side of the highway. My husband Brew, was thrown out onto the west side of the highway, with the van landing on top of him, almost crushing him to death. Lily was 2 years old, Emily was 5, Nathan 11, and Eric 15, was still in the van.

We were in a storm, that appeared to those who witnessed it, to be fatal. Probably similar to when the eye wall of a hurricane hits a town and completely devastates everything in it’s path. For those out on the highway with us that day, witnessing our crash, was unbelievably terrifying. I heard from people who had nightmares for weeks. I cannot imagine seeing my babies or anyone else’s, flying through the air and being slammed against the concrete. It is too much to even think about. The accident was so huge, it seemed that there was no way this family could possibly survive.

But what they couldn’t see was this~

We were kept in the eye of the storm.

Yes, there were injuries. Yes, Brew and I had many broken bones throughout our bodies. And yet, we were kept in the Eye of the storm.

Is it possible to experience such brutal trauma and be kept in the eye of the storm at the same time? The answer is yes.

Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Psalms 23:4

He is the eye of the storm

It is a absolute miracle that my children’s injuries were so minor. Emily had to wear a sling for a few weeks, Eric had a few stitches in his finger, Lily had a minor head injury and Nathan was scraped up a bit on one side of his body. How is this possible after traveling 65 mph, crashing into another car, causing us to flip three times, forcing us to fly through the air and land on concrete? Yes, there were challenges and our armor, that Paul talks about in Ephesians 6, got a few permanent dings in it, but we were radically caught and experienced something, nothing less than the supernatural power of God, in the midst of what looked like the biggest and scariest tragedy one could face in a lifetime.

I’m writing this to encourage you about something incredible that happened during the crash. I have never been more aware of the peace of God, than in those moments. As my body was being thrashed like a rag doll, breaking through the front window of our van, embedding me with glass from head to toe, I felt the presence of Almighty God and His angelic hosts, more than what was actually happening. Once my battered body landed on the concrete, and I saw my babies laid out on the highway next to me, there was not a ounce of fear. Instead there was a fire inside me, while prayer was coming out of me. I am here to tell you, that was not me! That would not be my typical mama reaction. Those are my babies! It was the Spirit of God who dwells inside of me, the One who cannot be shaken.

That experience taught me something for the days we are in and the days to come. What cannot be shaken in you, will not be shaken in the day of trouble. Jesus in me, the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in me, completely took over in this situation. I had clarity, strength, and a whole different view, than what my natural eyes were seeing.

It was Jesus in me that rose up in the darkest hour of my soul. Before I knew if any of my family members were alive, I was strong. It was a power greater than myself! Because of Him living inside me, I had courage and knew just what to do and how to think. I wasn’t afraid.

That Holy experience was just as big of a miracle to me, as my family being kept alive and well.

Our bodies may have been tossed about, and we have the scars to prove it, but we were with Him, in the eye of the storm. The Bible says we are the apple of His eye. Psalms 17:8

What looked like to be the worst experience of my life, felt like heaven was touching earth. God’s heavenly hosts were there surrounding us and protecting us. We were kept in the eye of the storm, while being in the storm. I believe that God’s love is bigger than the day of trouble, and nearer to those who suffer, because that is exactly what He did for my family and I. Plus it is in the Bible Psalms 34:18. The Bible also says, He is no respecter of persons. He didn’t just do that for me; that is who God is.

When we look and see painful and scary things from a distance, we are only seeing the eye wall. We cannot see through the dark thick clouds and tumultuous experience. We need the eyes of faith to see and trust that God is in the storm.

Take courage! He is bigger. He is stronger. If you don’t know Jesus, ask Him right now to come and make Himself known to you. Open your heart. Or maybe you have known Him, and have become discouraged and you’ve pulled away. Go back to Him. He is waiting with open arms. Seek Him and know Him.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2