I was driving home from work, in the rain, on a four lane interstate highway outside Houston, Texas when I came upon a surreal scene and immediately slammed on my brakes. Fortunately I was able to stop and the car behind me was able to stop but the car behind him did not. Suddenly, I was involved in a thirty five car pile up.

The surreal scene was a picture of intertwined cars on the roadway; damaged cars spun around in the median and totaled cars along the side of the road. Many people were injured and the emergency personnel quickly arrived. My car was not badly damaged and as the highway patrol routed me around the wreckage I saw people who were limp and bloody being taken out of their vehicles.

I cannot remember for sure but I believe the accident occurred on the three day weekend of July 4th. I am sure many of the drivers and passengers had exciting plans for the weekend but now those plans were changed. Many lives were altered in an instant and the tomorrows for those involved might never be what were envisioned just a few seconds before the accident.

Most of the people involved in the accident probably knew that a Friday evening in the rain at the start of a three day weekend was one of the most dangerous times to be on the highway. Yet because of the freedom we enjoy in this country the government normally does not force us to stay home or to travel at a safer time.

As we exercise our freedom, many of us rely on God to protect us as He did me during this accident. This relying on God we might call faith, faith in Jesus Christ that he will give us a more fulfilled life on this earth. I believe part of that more fulfilled life for us as Americans is the freedom we enjoy. As we know, this freedom is always under attack by those who would like to destroy us.

So I ask you to pray with me during this month of July as we celebrate our freedom that God will keep our country safe and strong as He promises in the Bible.

“…if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, ESV)

I also pray that the Lord keeps you safe as you may travel during this July 4th weekend.