Divine Protection: Right Where and When We Needed It
Proverbs 16:9 - "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps"
It wasn’t a sunny day—nor was it warm. A light rain fell steadily, just enough to require the slow, rhythmic motion of the windshield wipers.
After five weeks on the road and 9,317 miles behind us, we were just two hours from home, wrapping up another camping trip out west. As usual, we were sipping coffee, and I was reading aloud to my husband as we drove.
Then, without warning, he looked at me and calmly said, “We lost a tire.”
Now, my husband has a great sense of humor, so at first I wasn’t sure if he was serious. But as he gently tapped the brakes and began guiding the truck toward the side of the road, I quickly realized something was wrong.
And then I noticed something else.
As we slowed down and moved toward the median, there wasn’t a single vehicle around us. Not one. On a typically busy highway, in that exact moment, the road was completely clear. And right where we needed it, there was an authorized-only vehicle median.
We were able to glide safely into it.
In that moment, I was reminded again of something I’ve come to believe deeply: God knows exactly what we need—when (and where, in this case) we need it.
I often think about the 400 years of silence between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Why 400 years? Why did Jesus arrive when He did—not earlier, not later?
History gives us some clues. The Roman road system had been established, making travel easier. A common language had developed, allowing the message of Jesus to spread more effectively. The world was being prepared in ways people couldn’t yet see.
God was orchestrating every detail.
And in a much smaller, but deeply personal way, I believe He was doing the same for us that day on the highway.
We were traveling 70 miles per hour on Interstate 75—yet at the exact moment the tire failed, there was no traffic around us. To our left was a median, placed precisely where we needed it. My husband guided the truck calmly, and within moments, we were safely stopped.
Help came quickly. A kind stranger pulled over to assist, and my husband was able to contact someone who could tow us to a nearby shop.
As I sat there, taking it all in, I couldn’t help but think—this was no coincidence.
God knew exactly where we would be.
He knew exactly what we would need.
And He provided it at exactly the right moment.
There are so many situations in our daily lives where God is quietly at work, orchestrating details we may never fully see or understand.
You will never convince me that life is simply a series of coincidences. I believe in, as our pastor often says, "divine appointments."
In Proverbs 16:9 we read: "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."
The first part of the verse acknowledges something we all do—we make plans. We set goals, dream about the future, and map out the path we think our lives should take. God created us with the ability to think, choose, and plan.
But the second half of the verse offers both comfort and perspective: "the Lord establishes their steps."
While we may plan the route, God sees the entire journey.
He is actively involved in the details of our lives, guiding, redirecting, protecting, and providing in ways we often don't recognize until we look back.
That doesn't mean life will always unfold according to our plans. Sometimes the road takes unexpected turns. Sometimes the outcome isn't what we hoped for. Yet even then, God remains faithful.
The truth is that God is present in every moment.
Now, I understand that not every situation turns out this smoothly. But on this particular day, I could clearly see His hand at work, and I couldn't help but stop and praise Him.
And maybe that's the reminder for all of us:
Even when we don't see it, He is working.
Even when the road ahead feels uncertain, He is directing our steps.
Even when our plans change, His purposes remain.
And often, what looks like a coincidence is simply God quietly accomplishing His will.
