Wake-up calls are rarely pleasant when we’re going through them. Still, tragedy often changes our perspective, which can lead to some of the most meaningful seasons of our lives if we remain attentive. What if what you are experiencing is guiding you toward God’s purpose for your life?
Since my life-changing accident in 2013, which I see as a wake-up call after spending many years sleepwalking through life without considering what God wanted for me, I started reflecting on how many lives might have been affected by tragedies and near-death experiences. If my year of losing loved ones and enduring multiple personal injuries changed my life, then how much more could larger events impact others?
As terrible as 9/11 was, I wonder how many new, life-changing perspectives emerged among those who escaped. Not to glorify the tragedy in any way, but to thank God for bringing good out of it (Romans 8:28, ESV). Many, like me, probably reevaluated their priorities and found a renewed sense of purpose and gratitude that can only be credited to God. As a result, many individuals often start a divine relationship for the first time in their lives, transforming everything—from how they see daily life and the breath in their lungs to how they evaluate their choices and the consequences that follow.
In Christianity, Romans 8:28 is often understood as a powerful promise that assures believers that God is working in all circumstances for their ultimate good. However, it’s crucial to understand this verse within its broader context and avoid misinterpretations.
Ultimate Good: The “good” mentioned in the verse doesn’t necessarily refer to immediate comfort or material wealth. Instead, it mainly relates to spiritual growth, becoming more like Christ, and ultimately, salvation and glorification. Difficult circumstances are seen as opportunities for God to strengthen faith and develop a Christlike character.
Comprehensive Promise: “All things” in this verse are generally understood to include every circumstance, even pain and suffering. This doesn’t mean God causes bad things, but rather that He can use even negative situations for the eventual good of believers and the advancement of His purposes.
Focus on God’s Glory: Ultimately, this verse also points to God’s glory. By working all things together for the good of believers, God reveals and magnifies His power and love.
Things Romans 8:28 does NOT mean:
It does not guarantee a trouble-free life (John 16:33)
It does not mean that all bad things will be reversed or have happy endings in this life.
It does not justify suffering or suggest that believers should not grieve or seek help in difficult times.
It does not promise that believers will always get what they want or desire.
Essentially, Romans 8:28 gives believers reassurance and hope during life’s challenges. It encourages them to trust that God is working, even when they can’t see it, to bring about a greater good in their lives and for His overall plan. This good emphasizes their spiritual growth and eternal destiny, not just earthly comfort.
After going through the fire, I experienced a miraculous wake-up call of epic proportions that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Still, the outcome is worth it. I continue to be in awe of an amazing God who loves us despite our sin. He did not wait for me to clean myself up – there is not enough soap in the world for that. Just like a waterlily, a beautiful bloom that emerges from the mud,God’s love and Son Shine helped me grow in grace.
As challenging as that year of tragedy was, I emerged with renewed passion for my purpose in life, according to God’s plan, not mine. I was submerged in the life-giving waters of baptism for the second time in my life; not that the first one didn’t count, but this one was an adult decision that brought genuine freedom, broken chains, and joyous surrender to the One who rescued me.
My story isn’t over, and neither is yours. If God can use someone like me, I know He can use you too.
“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:14, New International Version, Emphasis added)
I come from a family of storytellers. Dad was a fantastic narrator. Whether from the head of the table, the pulpit, or his comfy recliner, he had invigorating stories whenever we gathered. It comes as no surprise that his children inherited the storytelling gene. My brother, JD, tells stories every day through his job as a fantastic editorial cartoonist and speaker. Check out his page and subscribe to his weekly blog, Crowe Jam.
Likewise, my sister, Donna, uses her talent to paint vivid pictures with words; she also has a fabulous blog called The Old Soul Medicine Crow. As for me, you, my readers, are my outlet for my meager attempt to share my stories and messages. Nevertheless, I give God all the glory and am grateful for the opportunity to communicate through my writing and photography. It brings me joy.
My storytelling helped me get more than one job. When I interviewed for my second job, I was asked to share an experience that stood out to me from the job I was leaving, as a dispatcher for a trucking company. This story was the first thing that came to mind: Zach, our local driver, picked up the loads and returned them to the lot until it was time for delivery. On this occasion, he picked up at a company in a neighboring county that used inmates to load trucks. As he was returning, I received a phone call from my contact at the facility informing me they were missing an inmate.
The voice on the other end surprised me. “We suspect he may be stowed away in your trailer.”
His nonchalant statement did not match my urgency for the situation, as he calmly assured me he was not armed or considered dangerous. Still, he was a fugitive trying to escape, and I didn’t know what he might do.
This was many years ago, telling my age, there were no cell phones to reach Zach to let him know he may be hauling an escapee. He didn’t even have a CB in his truck. What was I to do but call the state police and have them on standby? They asked for a truck description and searched for the inmate inside the trailer when it arrived. They did not find a stowaway. Still, this incident is not easily forgotten. This memorable tale was a hit with my soon-to-be new supervisor.
My subsequent employment required storytelling. I worked as a reporter and photographer for my hometown newspaper, earning my column, Angela’s Anecdotes, where I mostly shared family stories. I aim to use photography and words to portray images that pull the reader into the scene, although I sometimes fall short. I admire my siblings for their God-given gifts and natural abilities, but my lack doesn’t deter me from sharing a good anecdote. It’s in my genes, after all.
Growing up, our neighbor, Mr. Hall, was a grand storyteller. We would sit and listen to him for hours. On one occasion, in the 70s, when voice recorders were our new fascination, Mom decided to record one of Mr. Hall’s boyhood memories about stealing and eating watermelon from someone else’s patch. When he was finished, she asked him to listen to it as she played it back on our new recorder.
I will never forget his astonished response, “That feller on the radio has had the same experiences I have!” That is one priceless memory.
Jesus was a storyteller. He used parables to teach his disciples many excellent lessons that we can apply to our lives today. One significant lesson Jesus taught His disciples, whom He sent out to share the Good News about the Gospel, was to pray for workers for the harvest (Luke 10:2, NLT). In this parable, the harvest is the people who need to hear the Gospel and be gathered in God’s presence (Is. 27:12). The laborers or workers are those Jesus implores to tell others about Salvation by grace through Christ. We are to be laborers for the harvest and pray for others to share the Good News.
Sharing the story of Christ can be challenging. Still, as Christ’s followers, we always have a story to tell about our rescue. Our stories constantly intertwine with Jesus’ story. Sometimes, sharing the Good News is as simple as sharing our story. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Jesus modeled a life of trust and dependence on our heavenly Father (Luke 11:1-13). We can also place our faith in God and depend on the Holy Spirit to give us the right words. We need to be willing to try. God will do the rest and place people who need to hear our story in our paths. Praying for that opportunity and showing God you are willing doesn’t hurt. Likewise, pray for others willing to do the same thing.
Another great parable that stood out to me while reading the book of Luke is when Jesus explains the cost of following Him. “But Jesus told him, ‘Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God’” (Luke 9:62, Emphasis added). In this parable, the NLT Study Bible explains that “the ancient farmer guided a plow with their left hand and his oxen with his right. Looking away would turn the plow out of his path. For a believer, looking back meant placing earthly concerns ahead of God.”
Whenever we neglect to share the Good News as Jesus commanded (Matt. 28:19-20) because of fear, doubt, or whatever reason we concoct, we let our earthly concerns take priority over God. Whenever fear or doubt creeps in, the enemy keeps us from sharing Jesus’ story. After the seventy-two disciples Jesus sent out returned from their Gospel expedition, they were astonished those demons obeyed them when they used Jesus’ name (Luke 10:17). Jesus told them not to rejoice in their spiritual power but instead in the greatness of God, who freely gives salvation (V20).
Likewise, we can use our spiritual weapons to keep the enemy at bay, step out in faith, and share our story of salvation with others so they can enjoy God’s presence and accept His gift of salvation if they choose. At least by sharing, they can hear the Good News and hopefully receive the opportunity. This is when we pray for the Holy Spirit’s help to stir their mind because it is not of us but of God to transform a person’s heart. Sometimes, we plant a seed that someone else will water – a blooming flower needs both. It is God who gives the growth (I Cor. 3:6).
As many of you know, my story has many twists and turns (literally), including an eye-opening car crash on a curvy mountain road that woke me up from my self-induced stupor and a lifetime of people-pleasing and co-dependency that nearly strangled the life out of me before I realized God is in control – not me – as I tried to believe through my poor choices. He spared my life for a reason, and I knew then that I needed to pay attention to what God wanted. He rescued me from a miserable existence and life of abuse to empower me with a voice to say no and taught me how to set boundaries that lead to life – not death. God gave me a story to tell that I undoubtedly cannot ignore His existence, nor the fact that I would not be here today without Him. My relationship with God is the most essential thing in my life. When I finally figured that out, all my other relationships were better, and everything started to fall into place.
When I first began sharing my story with women’s groups to teach the red flags of abuse and empower them with the knowledge that breaks generational cycles – I had one group leader tell me I could not talk about God. They didn’t understand that I could not tell my story without talking about God. He is my story! He rescued me! That is my story! I will never leave Him out of it for anyone. Still, there are ways to share our stories without blatantly preaching to others about their need for salvation – which turns most people off. However, it is undeniably woven throughout my story in the miraculous ways God turned my life around and what I am doing today that I have no justification for claiming the glory for. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen (Gal. 1:5).
What’s your story? Can you use it to share the Good News with others? I pray you become a laborer if you aren’t already. The harvest is plenty and ripe for the picking. I hope you glean something from this message and share it with someone who may need to hear it.
“Yet the time will come when the Lord will gather them together like handpicked grain” (Is. 27:12, Emphasis added).
“These were his instructions to them: The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So, pray for the Lord who is in charge of the harvest, ask him to send more workers into his fields” (Luke 10:2, emphasis added).
Today, I celebrate ten years since the tragic car accident that took my oldest sister’s life and changed mine forever. You may think my use of the word ‘celebrate’ is strange, considering it was a tragedy, but it was a much-needed wake-up call for this girl. This was not the only thing that happened that year, as some may recall.
Here’s a recap: I went into 2013 with a broken heart from leaving an abusive relationship; I fell and broke my right arm and underwent fifteen weeks of physical therapy; the accident happened one day after my last day of PT. I broke my left arm in multiple places, my back (more PT and surgeries), and my sister died 11 days after the crash. We lost Mom at the end of that year to cancer and Dad six days later, bringing my year full circle. You may also recall that we lost our oldest brother just two years before, only one day after Mom’s cancer diagnosis.
I don’t wish my year on anyone, but God used it to bring me to Himself, and true to His character, has brought good out of it a hundred-fold. I often think about other tragedies I hear about in the news and wonder how many lives God changed through them. We only hear the bad portions, but God can use them for good like He did mine. I am amazed at the changes in myself since He rescued me from my old life. I have said it before, and I will repeat it – I am in awe of my heavenly Father every day. God gave me a new perspective on everything that day. I realized I was not in control; God spared my life for a reason, and I knew I better start paying attention.
I see it as a rescue, and I thank God for that almost every day. The first time I heard Lauren Daigle’s song, “Rescue” I sobbed. The lyrics resonate entirely with me, and I still cry every time I listen to them because I know what Christ Jesus rescued me from.
God continues using my past abuse to help me relate to other women through the ministry He gifted me. I am not only learning and growing through my classes at Liberty University but have experienced much healing since I began this journey.
Looking back at how 2013 happened, without June 2nd, I wouldn’t have September 15th, which will also mark my tenth anniversary of being baptized and set free from bondage. You see, I finally released control only after the accident and asked God what He wanted for the first time—the weight I was carrying lifted immediately and transferred to His capable hands. This is why I can call it a celebration.
“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” (Is. 41:10, New Living Translation, emphasis added).
Faith Walk Ministries, Inc. 