My family had just moved from Michigan to California. Now that we were settled, we planned to visit the major state parks in California. One happy day, we went to Sequoia National Park, where there are massive redwood trees. Sequoia trees are the largest trees in the world, being very wide as well as reaching up to around 300 feet tall! Although I was only 10 years old, I set off to explore the vast forest alone. That wasn’t very safe ... as a matter of fact, it was dangerous! But that thought didn’t occur to me then! I did feel very tiny as I walked through that huge forest, collecting a few of the largest pinecones I’d ever seen! The blue jays that flew overhead were especially large, and their distinct calls were the only sounds I heard in the extreme quiet of the mountain forest. I had fun trying to follow them as I walked, looking up into the clearest, bluest sky I’d ever seen, enjoying the spicy smell of the pine trees.
After I had wandered this way for a while, I noticed it was getting dark. I had a piece of chalk with me and I had marked the trees as I hiked, so that I could return safely to our cabin. But as I started to retrace my steps, something unexpected happened. It started to rain! The rain came down harder and harder, and it quickly erased all my chalk markings off the trees! I was now completely lost, it was getting dark, and I knew that there were bears in these woods.
Thankfully, I knew the Lord Jesus. So, I got down on my knees and asked Him to please help me. When I was done praying, I heard the sound of water. I knew that if I followed a stream, it would eventually take me to a town. I started walking toward the sound of the water, and after about an hour, I found the stream. It was really dark now, and I was scared! Every sound I heard made me think there was a bear stepping on sticks and pinecones, heading my way. Again, I knelt down by a bush and asked the Lord Jesus to please continue guiding me to a town and to please keep me safe. Then I remembered the Bible verse, “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He [knows] them that trust in Him” (Nahum 1:77The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. (Nahum 1:7)).
I walked and walked. I was starting to get hungry. I was also very concerned because I had not seen anyone fishing or hiking, or even lights from a town in the distance. It was very dark in the forest by this time, and I could hardly see where I was walking. Stumbling along the bank of the stream, I started to hum songs I had learned in Sunday school: “Christian walk carefully” and “Safe am I ... in the hollow of His hand.” I kept walking, stopping only to get a few sips of water from the rushing stream. I got my shoes soaking wet getting the drink, so now I made a sloshing sound as I walked. I was afraid the sound could be heard far away by bears! I continued humming, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so,” as I tramped along the river stream, trusting and praying I’d make it out of this mess I’d gotten myself into!
As I looked ahead, I saw a light, and it was moving — it had to be someone holding a flashlight! I started to yell while I ran toward the light! After about 15 minutes of running as fast as I could over the rough terrain and often falling down, I came to a forest ranger! He was out looking for me! He had been told two things — that there was a young girl missing who had started out hiking many hours ago, and that five bears had been seen in the general area. Oh, was I glad to see the forest ranger and his jeep — and his flashlight! It turned out it would have been another three miles before I got to a small roadside store, and it was already closed for the night anyway. I was so thankful that the Lord had sent a forest ranger to take me back to safety — and that He had kept me from falling into the rushing stream when I stopped for drinks, from the bears, and from so many other dangers I didn’t even think about.
I was soon reunited with my family, fed and safe in our warm cabin. Before I went to sleep, I pulled the sheet over my head and thanked my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, for keeping me safe. But most of all I thanked Him for saving me from my sins, because this allowed me to trust in Him in my trouble.
I had been saved when I was six years old and had learned the verse, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). It was that simple. I didn’t have to work or do anything else to be saved. I only had to believe that the Lord Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for my sins, and I would be saved and one day go to heaven to be with Him. From that day on I also had the Lord Jesus with me always, to help me, as the Bible promises. Psalm 50:1515And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psalm 50:15) says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” And children, as this verse says, it’s so important to thank the Lord Jesus when He brings you through a danger and answers your prayers! I hope you have taken my faithful Savior as your Savior and now walk with Him each day.
Messages of God’s Love 7/4/2021