God Saved My Life, Twice

Two months ago, on Sunday morning, August 3, 2025, I survived a terrible car crash. I was blindsided, t-boned on my passenger side while proceeding through a green light. I didn’t see it coming and had almost made it through the notoriously busy intersection, when something (the Holy Spirit) told me, at the last second, that I was going to get hit. My minivan was sent airborne, flipped and rolled over, and landed upright on it’s wheels. Memories of that still don’t seem real. Thank God, I was driving alone and my children weren’t with me. That fact lives in my mind with so much gratitude. I felt the impact, metal colliding, and then the whole van was in the air, almost weightless and quiet, doing an unexpected barrel-roll. All I could say was, “Oh, my God.” Side airbags deployed, something I had never experienced, then the thud of the vehicle somehow righting itself and coming to rest on the road. It happened so fast, yet it felt like it was in slow motion. Glass was cracking and shattering all around me. Anything that had been in the backseat or beside me was now thrown up front or on the floorboards. I’ve never been so thankful for my seat belt. And for airbags. I can attest to the incredible safety of driving a 2019 Toyota Sienna. But more than any vehicle safety rating, is the fact that God had me in His hands the entire time. I cannot adequately describe what felt like I was in a protective bubble as I was hit and flipped through the air. There were angels protecting me that day and I thank God for saving my life. During bedtime prayers with our kids, I regularly pray, “Lord, surround us with your angels of protection.” My intention is always to ask God to protect my children through the night and everywhere they go. I had no idea that prayer would come to fruition for myself. 

I sat frozen in the drivers seat, in absolute shock at what had just happened. I didn’t even know what to do. My van automatically called 911 and I heard a voice confirming my location and asking if I was alright. I didn’t know the van could do that. Again, thankful. A couple of people peeked their heads through the broken windows and asked if I was OK. I’m thankful for kind people who care enough to stop. Soon I heard the sound of sirens heading my direction and police and first responders arrived. While I was sitting there waiting, in shock, not wanting to move, I kept looking down to see if I was bleeding anywhere. No blood, not a single cut or scrape, no broken bones. In the weeks that followed I experienced bruising and soreness on my left arm, pretty bad whiplash in my neck, some back pain and headaches. But miraculously, I walked away without a scratch. The only explanation is God’s protection.     

God saved my life from that crash and allowed me to return home to my husband and children. This could have ended much differently. It’s not lost on me that many people do not survive rollover accidents. Or they sustain life-altering injury. There’s around a 35% survival rate. God was so merciful to me! The officers and first responders could not believe that I was “OK”. One officer explained that the seat belt saved my life, along with the side airbags, and the fact that my windows were rolled up, and I didn't get ejected. I like driving with the windows down and the sunroof open when the weather is beautiful, but that day, they were all closed. Another example of God’s protection. It also was a side impact, not a front impact, therefore the steering wheel airbag didn’t deploy, which saved my face and head from additional injury. Again, God’s protection. I did end up seeing a doctor and getting a CT scan at the hospital to rule out a concussion. Praise the Lord, the scan was clear and there was no serious long-term injury. All glory to God.     

Amazingly, I was able to attend a meeting that was on my calendar that same night and I got to hold my friend’s new baby (I got a ride). The next morning I drove my kids to VBS in our truck. Looking back, that seems a bit crazy. I got back behind the wheel, 24 hours later, and God was with me, being my source of comfort and peace, calming my nerves and fears, even when I was still freaking out a bit inside. I’ve never second-guessed myself and other drivers so much. Busy intersections still make me more cautious. Another miracle, is the fact that one vehicle struck me and no other vehicles were involved - on both sides of the road. The other driver came to a stop on the other side of the median. There wasn’t heavy traffic, but there were still vehicles heading in all directions. I let church know that I wasn’t going to be there because I was in an accident and people started praying for me. A couple of friends on their way to church passed by the accident and asked if it was me. I definitely felt those prayers.

A little back story. Leading up to that Sunday morning, I had been following the Forrest Frank and The Figs collaboration on their new song, “Lemonade”, which has been on repeat ever since being released that Friday. It instantly became a new favorite (me and everybody else). My mind kept replaying the part that says, “He comforts in the sorrow, He’s giving in the loss, He stole the shame I carried and wore it on the cross, Providing me a future and manna for today, Life tried to give me lemons but my Jesus makin’ lemonade”. How good is that? Moments before the crash, I listened to that song four times in a row. Talk about life throwing me some serious lemons. 

On Saturday, the night before, a friend sent me a clip of a Pastor discussing Satan’s desire to destroy God’s design for marriage, family, and children. My response was, “The enemy just wants to steal, kill and destroy. God’s way is better.” That Sunday morning, as I was getting ready to serve in the 3 year old room at church, I learned there was going to be a volunteer appreciation breakfast, so I decided I'd arrive at church 15 minutes earlier than I normally would. I left the house 15 minutes early. Why? Why didn’t I just leave at my usual time and stop at the breakfast afterward? I don’t know. I don’t know why that morning, of all mornings, I was driving down the road exactly when I was, just in time to be hit out of nowhere in a crash that could have ended my life. I may never know the answer to that, but God does. I do know that we have an enemy. Satan is real, and his goal is to steal, kill, and destroy. “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” John 10:10a. I sincerely felt that Satan was trying to take me out. He wanted to steal, kill, and destroy my life. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

A couple weeks prior, I finished an excellent book, “Your Story Has a Villain: Identify Spiritual Warfare and Learn How to Defeat the Enemy” by Jonathan Pokluda. Maybe it was coincidence, maybe it was preparation. I highly recommend reading it. We have an unseen enemy who is heavily at work in our world. His evil and destruction is on display daily. But the good new is, Jesus has already defeated Satan. The second part of John 10:10 says, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Jesus offers true life, the enemy only offers death.

God saved my life long before this car accident. I’m so thankful that He is my Hope, my Rock, my Redeemer, my Savior. Even in the midst of having to pick up the physical, emotional, and material pieces. I did not feel like myself for a while after the crash, physically and emotionally. Replaying the scene, over and over in my mind, dealing with DMV paperwork, insurance and medical claims, and facing the total loss of our main family vehicle (it was a really nice van) made me sad and angry all over again. I had to lean on the Lord and trust that He was going to take care of me and work everything out, minute by minute, day by day. He is always faithful. I don’t mean to oversimplify any of this, but all I could do was pray and trust His plan and His timing. And He did work it out, thank you, Jesus. We have a new-to-us van that I’m so happy with, a 2019 Honda Odyssey that I actually like better. Our insurance agents were wonderful and made the process less stressful. Most importantly, this near-death experience made me see and appreciate all that God has given me even more. I’m here for a reason and God’s plan for me isn’t over. Praise the Lord!    

We started singing a new song at church, shortly after the accident.”Always on Time” by Elevation Worship, which reminds me of Isaiah 42:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” The song says, “There’s never been a day, never been a minute, never been a moment that You weren’t in it. There’s never been a time that You didn’t see me through, God, so I worship you.” I have personally experienced the hand of God walking with me in every situation throughout my life. Both the beautiful and the hard times.    

If you’re reading this, chances are you know I love Jesus. There’s nothing more important to me than making sure YOU know Jesus loves you and He died for you. Do you know Him? Is He part of your story? Have you asked Him to forgive your sins and be your Savior? If not, what’s stopping you? Don’t wait. You have no idea what today may bring. I'm proof of that. “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”" John 14:6. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. Know Him today.         

I love you all. Please reach out if I can help you learn more about Jesus or pray for you. God is good. All the time.

My Jesus Story

I was challenged by my D-Group (my women's discipleship group that meets once a week and we study the Bible, pray and encourage one another in our relationship with Christ) to write my testimony and share it with someone. I've always struggled with sharing my testimony, especially out loud and in person, and I'm still intimidated by the word "testimony". It's always felt so big to me, like it needs to be a monumental story of epic proportions. I've known God as long as I can remember, and my story may seem simple. But, I've taken another stab at writing it down, in a condensed "elevator speech" approach, and I'm calling it "My Jesus Story" because it's all about Him, not me. 

Maybe someone needs to hear this today. Here goes. 

Although I grew up in a Christian home, raised by two Christian parents, and I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t expected to attend church, my relationship with God has been a lifelong journey. For almost 35 years, I’ve been growing and learning who God is. Strong roots took hold in me very early. I remember being just a little girl, praying in our kitchen with my mom, asking Jesus into my heart. I knew that Jesus loved me and that I loved Him and I wanted to follow him. I loved Sunday school and the church that my Dad pastored. But, life isn’t very complicated when you’re 5 or even 9 years old. I remember being baptized in Lake Ontario during a summer church picnic. I knew that I loved God, I chose to follow him and I wanted to be baptized. I was blessed to attend a Christian elementary and middle school, and then a Christian high school and college. It felt safe, and real, and I was surrounded by Christian friends, pastors, teachers and godly examples. I knew the truths of the Bible, right from wrong, and I sincerely desired to please God with my life. I went on youth retreats and even short term missions trips and tried to obey God by following the rules.

There came a point, however, in my teenage and college years, that I started wanting the approval and acceptance of friends and boys, more than I desired clinging to the straight and narrow. I wanted to test the waters and see what I might be missing. I was selfish and more focused on what I wanted, primarily in the area of dating and seeking attention from guys. Always on a mission to find “the one”. In high school, I made non-Christian friends at my first job. And when I turned 21, I experienced going out to bars, clubs and parties with friends. At times, I drank too much alcohol, acted in ways that weren’t the real me and I made regrets. I stayed in relationships that I knew I never should have started. All the while, trying to maintain my “good girl” appearance, compartmentalizing my life, lying to my family and myself. There came a point when it felt like I was living a double life. The girl that my family and church knew and expected me to be, and the girl who was looking for love, approval and fulfillment in the wrong things.

2003 was one of the worst years of my life at the time. It was the year I knew I needed to make changes and decide who I was really going to be. I had to decide if I was going to continue choosing sin and selfishness or if I was going to choose Jesus - for myself. Not because I was expected to, or because of the way I was raised, but because deep down in my heart I knew I needed Jesus more than anyone or anything. I wanted Him to be the leader of my life. I wanted to know God more - really know Him, not just the Bible stories I grew up with. I wanted the peace of God and joy in my heart again. I wanted to become who God wanted me to be, not who I wanted to be or who I thought I needed to be. I wanted my faith to be real.

As I took steps back to God, He loved me unconditionally and was so gracious and merciful. I began to see how deceitful my heart was and that I’d only caused myself pain by turning my back on God in certain areas of my life. I couldn’t see that the entire time, I was so loved and cherished by my Heavenly Father. It was something I knew in my mind, but the depth of that truth hadn’t fully made it’s way to my heart yet. I didn’t need to go searching. He was right there the whole time, loving me, teaching me, and drawing me to Him.

2003 was also the year that I met my husband (although I didn’t know it at the time). Just one example of God’s many gifts to me. When I look back at who I was during that difficult time, part of me longs to go back and do it over again so differently. I’d save my self the pain of having to learn things the hard way. I think about potential situations that God kept me from and circumstances that could have gone much differently, were it not for God’s hand on my life. God is so faithful! I am unworthy of His love. That’s what’s so beautiful about God’s grace. Even my rebellious heart and the mistakes I made were paid for when Jesus died for me. He loved me before I was even born and sacrificed His life to save me. Thank you, Jesus!

I feel like such a different person today than I was back then. I know that I am a daughter of God, loved and accepted, not because of anything I did, or ever could do, but because of Who God is. I don’t have to live up to a set of rules or try to be good enough. Jesus is enough. He is the reason I’m here today. Every day I learn more about who He is and I’m humbled by the way He loves me and cares for me. I am far from perfect, and there are many times I still have to remind myself that I am His.

I’m so thankful for Jesus, His blood that rescued me, and for the security of knowing I will spend eternity with Him in Heaven when my life is over. He changed my life. There have been difficult days, and there will be more hard times, but I know that I can face them all because of Jesus. I’m not alone and He has a purpose and a plan, for everything.

Today, I’m a wife and a mom and I’m learning more than ever what it means to be a follower of Jesus. My faith has grown so much since I asked Jesus into my heart when I was a little girl. The same Jesus has been there all along, every step of my journey, and I know He will be there for all the days to come. He is my everything.