Permission granted, devastation followed

 Where are we now? 

Still in Hervey Bay ... trying to make sense of it all. Healing. 

The thief

First, truth: “The thief’s purpose is to kill steal and destroy,” said Jesus. He continued, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10 v 10, NLT.)  Another translation says: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may  have it  more  abundantly.” (NKJ.)

On 28/10/2022, at 08:45 the thief was permitted to steal and destroy, but not to kill. In the story of Biblical Job, the thief (Satan) had to ask for permission to test Job. It was granted. Similarly, we believe, permission was granted to test us … devastation followed.

En route to Brisbane, driving on the notorious Bruce Highway to pick up our shipment of boxes from Qatar, we looked ahead and easily a kilometre away we could see the traffic jam. Traffic was stationary. We switched on our hazard lights to warn the driver behind us that we were going to slow to a stop.

We stopped. He stopped.

We relaxed.

Then, the cabin exploded around us. Brain-shattering noise. I heard myself screaming. My beloved hubby shouting. I recall wondering why it wouldn’t end – it seemed to go on forever. But, I guess it was just a few seconds long.

And. Then. Silence. 

For a few seconds the world seemed to stand still.

A huge semi-articulated truck, towing 2 trailers, had rammed into us at speed from behind. Where had he come from? He was nowhere to be seen when we came to a stop!  We had only seen the Landcruiser behind us. We had already had time to switch off the hazard lights and had started to relax because the driver behind us was also stationary. We heard nothing, zilch! Then all hell broke loose. He hit the Landcruiser twice, ramming it into us, the force ramming us into the car in front.

We had bounced off the car in front.

Smoke! I panicked! A fire? My first thought was for my phone and iPad because that is where all our info is contained. Groping for my bag, Andries’ glasses, his phone, my phone and my iPad, I fell out of the Ute quicker than a flash. My glasses had flown off my face and I could only see a blur. Not because I didn’t have my glasses on … there was something wrong with my eyes. They were burning intensely. It was as if I was looking through a frosted glass pane in heavy rain. The highway had come to a standstill. I stumbled to the left margin of the road. Andries also extricated himself and was surveying the damage. He was on the opposite side in the lane blocked by the crash.

Disbelief rushes in like a wave. The first words out of my mouth were, "Yet will I praise You! Yet will I praise You!" Broken-hearted, I almost shouted at God. I would not, would not allow the enemy to destroy my faith in my God whom I know to be a good, good Father!

No, I am not super spiritual. No, I am not blowing my own bugle. I was angry. Hurt. "Why?", every cell in my body cried out. My mind was screaming at God, "why!!!!????" Faced with a choice to curse at Him or to trust Him, I chose the latter. Why? Because I know Him. I know how good, how faithful, how loving, how kind, how wonderful He is. I know Him. 

The traffic in the left lane began to move past me. Life goes on, life must go on.

My first thought was to phone my son-in-law. Others would call 000, but I needed to hear David’s voice. He would tell me what to do. But as I looked at my screen my eyes were burning, completely blurred. Something was very wrong. Somehow, through a pinhole of sight, I found his number … as he answered I remember saying ‘There’s been a terrible accident and I need you to tell me what to do.” He was so kind. So very calm, reassuring. And his precious family were with him in the car. They heard it all on speakerphone. What miserable timing! 

The kindness of people around them kicked in. They called for help, and the two older children were collected from the vehicle and counselled at school. David's parents took care of the youngest, so that they could rush to be at our side. An hour away.

Dodging the slow-moving traffic, Andries came over to me. "Are you ok?", he asked. "I couldn’t find my glasses", was all I could get out. He went over and found them on the floor of the cab. Someone said the smoke was not a fire, it was powder from the airbag's deployment. Later it was found that the powder had gone into my eyes. The airbags deploy at 25 - 55 milliseconds; before one can blink the substances within could be in the eyes. The jolt from behind had thrown me forward. Consequently, the airbag exploded in my face. Bruising and swelling were instantaneous. 

Andries was hit by something on the arm, on his leg and his body. Blood was oozing from his arm injury, but otherwise, all of us involved seemed free of serious injury. It was a miracle! Andries was astonishingly calm ... taking photos, taking details. Keeping a level head. 

That very morning we had asked our Father to place angels at the four corners of our vehicle as we left Hervey Bay. Those angels were bruised, for sure.

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10.

That was the promise we received a few months ago. Over and over again, in one way or another, that promise was spoken into our spirits. Today we know why.

The Landcruiser driver later told Andries that his car had stood on its nose at one point as it was rammed into the back of our vehicle. He had seen the semi coming at speed and had braced himself, trying to turn into the middle of the road to get away, but it was too fast. He was hit twice. The driver in front of us, in a Suzuki, said she heard nothing but suddenly saw us 'dancing' towards her in her rear-view mirror and she braced herself, but could go nowhere. It was too fast. Some say all three vehicles are write-offs. And yet … we all came away with minor injuries. A miracle!

The Ute did its job. It kept us intact.

The fire department arrived first. The police and ambulance services followed. The "firies" and "ambos", as they are known here, were astounded and said they usually carry bodies away from an accident like that. People were talking to us, checking on us. A stranger was talking me through my breathing … so kind. The folk who stopped to help were amazing. 

The truck driver – a middle-aged man – was wilfully uncooperative! He would not give his name. He would not show his licence. He would not allow himself to be breathalysed. The drivers all had to take a breath test. He refused. The police took him away. 

The Landcruiser is a foot shorter after being rammed.

Eventually we were transported to the new State hospital 20 mins away. We were observed and tested for the day. X-rayed, given CT scans and ECGs, had blood tests done, and tested for neck and chest injuries – thoroughly cared for. At sunset, we were discharged. We walked away from the hospital with our beloved children. Words failed us. (Just two weeks before the accident we received our State Medicare cards in the mail.) 

People’s kindness had overwhelmed us. David and Nadya’s care and assistance had been our biggest blessing, their lives having been put on immediate hold as they sped over to spend the day by our side, their children safely in the care of David's parents.

Back home in Gympie we went to bed and slept. Fitfully. Sore, in pain and disbelief. Just like that, no vehicle. Just like that, plans change. 

Why?

"What are you trying to teach us, God?" The big ‘why?’ hung heavily in front of us.

Why were we on that highway? Why didn’t we organise to just have our shipment transported to Gympie? Why did we try to save extra expense by doing it ourselves? The why’s and if only's had begun.

Two days later we keep reminding ourselves … we had not done anything wrong … we had followed all safety measures … we were plunged into a situation that God had allowed, for reasons that only He knows.  

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8 v 28.

On this promise we stand. Because we know Him.

Job of the Bible answered his wife when she encouraged him to curse God … 

“Should we receive good from God and not receive trouble?” Job 2 v 10

I pray that we, too, do not sin against God and question His love.

Know Jesus, Know Peace

Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay 

In the midst of chaos we want to be faithful because Jesus was faithful – He carried out the task assigned to Him for our sake, when He hung on that cross. To give us life in all its fullness. Not necessarily here on earth ... but in eternity.

The morning after the accident our children were in town for groceries. They bumped into the family from Tandur whom we had house-sat for. They were shocked to hear what had happened. We immediately received a phone call insisting that they would pick up our caravan for us and store it on their property until we could tow it. They had remembered that we were due to pick up the van in a week from now. How astounding is the kindness of people?  

This week the insurance claim goes in. This week we will arrange for the shipments to be sent. This week we have reservations to cancel and plans to change. Suddenly things take on a very different perspective.

However, our God is on His throne. He is with us. Comforting, healing, whispering into our spirits.

For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us! Rom 8 v 18, Amplified version.

We feel we have been tested as though through fire. However, we are resigned – because He is God, He does not need to provide an explanation. In future, perhaps He might. For now, healing. 

Until next time … thanks for your prayers. 

May God be with you all. xx