Are you sure?
This bookmark will be removed from all folders and any saved notes will be permanently removed.
We felt God’s protection
I was recently reminded of a time when my son and daughter and a couple of their friends were on a sailing trip. They were sailing to the Channel Islands off the coast of California. They had decided to sail through the night. Conditions were perfect with a full moon, clear skies, and calm weather.
Wherever they were in that big ocean, God was right there with them.
There was no cell service so I couldn’t reach them, but right before I went to sleep this passage from Psalm 139 came very strongly to my thought: “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me” (verses 9, 10). I’ve learned to pay attention when an angel message comes like this. So I texted the message to my daughter and went to sleep knowing that wherever they were in that big ocean, God was right there with them. God was truly All, and He was keeping them safe.
The next morning they called and said they had decided to turn back because the wind had suddenly come up and pushed their little sailboat into the shipping lanes, where a huge oncoming ship was heading for them. They were led to make a maneuver that caused their main sail to rip, but they were able to turn around and get out of those lanes.
They shared that they successfully accomplished a change in course, and they were sure that my prayers had helped guide their actions. Although they decided to turn back that night, a few weeks later they sailed successfully to the Channel Islands, where they experienced one of their best trips ever. I am so grateful for God’s care and direction.
From Hanna Mehring (Patti’s daughter):
My friends and I set out and decided to sail through the night in order to maximize our time at the Channel Islands. Immediately after leaving the harbor, the winds began to pick up. We raised our sails and set course. We all were relishing the night sky, as the winds gradually increased, the stars began to show, and a whale breached nearby in the moonlight. We were making great time.
As we neared the Islands, we noticed a light in the distance and what appeared to be a ship heading our way. We had to make a move, so we attempted to tack (switch the sails over), but the winds were not allowing us to do so. We tried over and over until the wind finally took the sail where we wanted it. Immediately after, the sail ripped straight down the middle.
I became fearful. I had never been in a situation like this, and all my senses were telling me to be scared.
I always pray before trips, simply acknowledging God’s presence at sea and knowing He is protecting and directing all of us. One of my favorite verses from the Bible that I often turn to is “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10). I returned to these thoughts, and my fears eased. Our friend pulled a maneuver that got us out of harm’s way, and we all decided it was smart to head back home.
As we came into cell service, I checked my phone to see a text from my mother that read, “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” This wasn’t something my mother always did (text me spiritual ideas), which was proof to me that the one Mind, God, communicates to His children. My brother and I agreed that our mother’s prayers and God’s guidance led us out of a bad situation. We’d felt God’s protection and will always remember this.