In November 2011, I had an appointment to see my therapist in downtown Chicago. After I parked my car on Clark Street, I walked toward the traffic light but didn’t cross at the corner; instead, I stood between two parked cars and waited for the traffic to clear so I could cross the street.

The red car on my right started backing towards me slowly and I was paralyzed with fear. The driver’s rear window was covered with snow, so he didn’t see me. I couldn’t run out into the street because traffic was coming and I couldn’t jump back up on the curb. I was trapped and I thought I was going to die or be seriously injured. I couldn’t even think to yell, “STOP!”

Suddenly, the car stopped, and a man jumped out and saw me. He apologized profusely and said he had no idea I was behind his car but something made him stop. “It must’ve been the man upstairs,” he said. That’s the power of God right there. He saved my life! I wasn’t angry at the man and accepted his apology. Ever since then, I try to be careful when I’m crossing the street.

Every time I think about this story, I get emotional because it was pretty frightening and I’m grateful that God saved me. It’s also a reminder of how God is always watching over us. Sometimes when miraculous things happen, we tend to think, “I was just lucky” or “that’s just a coincidence.” No, it was God protecting us:  “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” (Psalm 91:11-12).

Perhaps this experience occurred to increase that man’s faith and mine as well. Whenever we experience something frustrating, terrifying, or troubling, we tend to think “Why me? Why am I going through this?” I’m learning that we have a story to tell others, which could help increase others’ faith in God.