I spend most of my time on another planet. Not literally of course. My mind is usually somewhere else from where I am physically; therefore, I get nudged quite often. I’m surprised my ribs don’t stay black and blue from all the elbow action they receive.

A few years ago, I received a big nudge, but it wasn’t to my ribs.

My family and I were traveling to Florida. Our daughter Sara rode in the car ahead of us with my mom and stepfather. On the outskirts of Atlanta, a question popped into my head: Did you pray for a safe trip before you left? I thought back to that hectic morning.

No, I hadn’t prayed for a safe trip.

Considering that we were in the middle of Atlanta traffic, a little prayer for safety seemed like a good idea. At times, I felt as if we were racing in NASCAR.

So, I thought a small, silent prayer for God to be with us and to keep us safe. I thanked Him for Jesus. Then I finished with “Amen.”

That’s when everything went crazy.

Bang!

The loud noise startled me so that I jumped in my seat.

“Hang on!” My husband Tim yelled as he tightened his grip on the wheel.

I held my breath and clutched my door panel.

The front left tire had exploded on a tractor trailer running next to us on my side. Large pieces of tire hurled across the interstate lanes. I looked up into the cab at the truck driver.

His face was contorted with fear and effort as he fought to keep the truck under control.

Tim and all the other cars swerved to avoid hitting the careening pieces of tire while not hitting each other.

My heart went into my throat when a huge piece of tire flew toward my mom and stepfather’s car. I then prayed for their safety. I didn’t care about mine anymore.

The piece went under their car and flew back at us.

Again Tim yelled, “Hang on!”

The piece slammed into the front of our car. Thank goodness Tim was able to keep it under control.

In a few terrifying and heart-stopping moments, the dangerous game of NASCAR tag was over.

Amazingly, none of the cars wrecked. The truck driver not only managed to control his truck, but he also pulled across two lanes of traffic to the shoulder without hitting another car.

It took me a few minutes to get my heart rate back to normal. As for Tim, he didn’t release his grip on the steering wheel for a while. It was as if his hands were frozen.

I have often wondered, “What if I hadn’t prayed when God nudged me?” What would have happened when that tire exploded? Would the outcome have been dramatically different?

I have no answer for that, but I do know we often underestimate the power of our prayers. Prayers don’t have to be long and eloquent to be effective. They just have to be sincere.

Also, our prayers can extend out past us to affect so many others. I truly believe my small prayer for safety encompassed everybody on the interstate that day.

So, say your powerful prayers whether you are driving through Atlanta traffic, going through checkout at Walmart, or eating chocolate on your couch at home. God is always listening.

“ … rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;” Romans 12:12 (NKJV).