A Pair of Miraculous Storm Stories
Whether it is wildfires, earthquakes, or flooding—which struck my home state of West Virginia just over a month ago—news coverage of disasters largely concerns the loss of life, property, and security for victims. As well it should.
Yet, behind the headlines are stories that are heartening and remind us we are not alone in this world.
For illustrative purposes only.
I heard the first Aug. 7 on a local newscast. A man in central West Virginia credited God with giving him the energy to reach into surging flood waters and pull his wife and daughter to safety.
It happened in Upshur County, about three hours north of where I live.
Resident Jon McDaniels said at first he didn’t appreciate the seriousness of the raging water, which he compared to whitewater rapids. He put his son in his truck and described how—in 30 seconds—water shot up from the running board to running into the floorboard, a 10-inch differential.
Then he jumped back into the water to save his wife and daughter. Though only five feet away, his wife had stumbled on some gravel in their flower bed and started to taper downstream.
“Out of nowhere, the good Lord gave me the strength to jump back into that water, (wrap) my arms around my daughter and wife, and pull them out of that water and throw them . . . into that truck,” McDaniels said.
He told of being barely able to stand up; there is no way he could have pulled his loved ones out of the water by himself.
Then, in a gesture that I saw on the WSAZ broadcast, but which wasn’t reflected in the station’s website story, McDaniels pointed to heaven and said, “There’s one answer.”
Surviving a Tornado
McDaniels’ gesture caught my attention. So this account a few days later in AG News, the Assemblies of God website that I write for regularly.
Headlined “Safe in God’s Grip,” it told of eastern Wisconsin realtor Nancy Warner surviving the battering of an F3 tornado the last week of July.
It happened after Warner had picked up donations for the food pantry operated by Fox Valley Church (which I wrote about in June) and was on her way to lunch.
As she drove, suddenly debris began flying, followed by torrential rain. Debris soon littered the road. After following a pick-up truck in front of her, she looked for a place to turn off and get to safety.
For illustrative purposes only.
“Suddenly a powerful impact struck the front passenger side of the car, setting off the side airbag,” wrote news editor Dan Van Veen. He reported how Warner said, “Something hit me in the head—I wasn’t sure if it was the airbag or some object.”
Debris then began to hit all over the SUV, which deployed three more airbags. Something big smashed the top of the vehicle and dented the windshield on the driver’s side.
As Van Veen describes it, fearing for her life, Warner called out to God. Even though she prayed in earnest, she felt a tornado lift her vehicle off the ground.
The article told how Warner recalled, “I just shouted out, ‘No, Lord, I don’t want to die!’ And it came down.’”
Three times that happened, until the tornado spun her SUV around—and left, leaving Warner slightly injured but glad to be alive.
For confirmation, look at the photos of the battered vehicle that appear with the story. Or, watch her testimony on Facebook.
Divine Protection
Relating such stories takes caution. The Bible doesn’t guarantee everyone in a storm will be rescued, or that Christ’s followers will never suffer injury or loss.
And yet, these two storm stories demonstrate the truth of Isaiah 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Jon McDaniels and Nancy Warner know those words are true.
