Dear Church, God saved me from a flash flood in 2018.

In 2018, I was preaching and leading worship throughout different churches in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. One Sunday morning, in Paraguay, we got in the car to head over to the church. The pastor and his wife were in the front, the pastor’s son, and me in the back—all was good and well until it started to rain. I didn’t think much of it because, well… it was just rain. However, this was not just rain. In a matter of minutes, the street began to flood. I was amazed and took my phone out to record what was going on because in the moment, I didn’t perceive danger—I was just astonished at what was happening. Suddenly, the car stopped. The pastor put the emergency brake on and said, “Everyone start praying.”

I stopped recording and looked up, and through the windshield, I saw a wave of water coming towards us. We were on a dirt road going uphill, with no guardrails, on our way to church in a 1980’s Toyota Corolla. I felt gut-wrenching panic—even remembering this story today, I feel like that doesn’t do it justice to fully express how I felt. When the water finally got to us, our car became an aluminum boat. Water was rushing past us—garbage cans, bikes, tree branches were all being washed downhill and off the cliff. It was just a matter of time before the emergency brakes on that 80’s Corolla would give in, and we’d be next.

When the pastor said, “Pray,” in my head I thought, “NO WAY.” I was paralyzed by fear. I couldn’t move. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I had so many questions going on in my mind—God why would You lead me here to die? I don’t want to die in a different country. I want to hear my parents’ voice one last time. Then, I felt God meet me right there—Daughter, what are you going to preach about today? God… seriously? I’m about to die and You’re asking me my sermon title? Well, after some wrestling, I remembered what I had prepped to speak to the church about that morning: Mark 4, when Jesus calms the storm. The wind and waves still know my name. 

After a few minutes, which seemed like an eternity, I got myself together and began praying with the family. The praying did not change the situation, but it changed me—not the prayer, but the One I was praying to. I felt peace. More time passed and the rain stopped. The pastor shouted, “Amen! It’s time to go to church!” And he proceeded to reach towards the emergency brake to let it go, meanwhile we were still in a river of water! I closed my eyes, and to my bewilderment—the car drove upward…. through the water, up the hill until we made it to dry land.  

We broke out in laughter and singing as we kept driving to church. When we got there, there was a group of about 7 people waiting for us. “Are you ok? The Lord told us to meet to pray for you this morning.”

I preached that morning about how Jesus has the authority and ability to calm the storm, even today. And this my friends, continues to be a lesson the Lord teaches me and reminds me of time after time. The storm may come, but He is Lord over all things, and He is our firm foundation in Shifting Sands. I called the pastor a few months later to thank him for his hospitality during my stay and asked about the car. He told me the car had never been better! Not a drop of water made it inside or touched any of the mechanical parts. He said it was running better than when he got it. Oh, how I laughed and thanked the Lord. I believe that I am alive to be a witness of His faithfulness, and I believe the same is true for you. 

“I am confident of this; I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:14. For me, that whole experience led me to a deeper level of trusting in God which essentially expresses itself in the way I worship.

How have you been a witness of the Lord’s faithfulness in your life?

Love,

Audrey