The Lawn Mower That Wouldn't Start

It was my plan to mow lawns a few days ago. And as usual I covered myself with Avon Skin-so-Soft, (this is not a commercial) an oil that is incredibly effective at repelling insects; especially Missouri chiggers, the microscopic demons straight from the pit of hell. They live in grass and swarm over me every time I set foot on our lawns. The itch from their bite lasts for days and sometimes weeks.

My husband had just mowed some of the steeper areas. Then he refilled the mower's gas tank. When it was my turn the mower wouldn't start. It made noise (I'm not mechanical, so bear with me) and it smelled like gas as if I'd flooded it. So I let it rest about an hour and tried again. No luck. Let it rest, try again. My husband tried. Nothing. We've had trouble with this mower but this is the first time we absolutely could not start it.

Since I was covered in bug repellant I decided to wander around on our property. I walked to a tree that I had been trying unsuccessfully to identify. (I'm big into that sort of thing) I gathered more leaves and studied the bark, then I walked down a trail that I had mowed a couple of weeks ago. It led to a big lawn covered with walnut trees, a lawn I planned to mow that day. Right smack in front of me, partially hidden by bushes was the BIGGEST hornets nest I had ever seen! The size of a basketball! The bottom of it was about a foot from the ground and within a few inches of where I planned to mow.

I got binoculars and studied them from a distance, then Googled them. Bald-faced hornets!!! Some of the most aggressive hornets on the planet with extremely painful stings! One hornet can sting repeatedly and will do it enthusiasticly if it means protecting his nest. And his buddies will happily join in.

The exterminator, that we wisely called, told me that a local lady tried to take out one of these nests with a couple of cans of wasp spray. She was stung 800 times and ended up in the hospital. He also told me that our nest was one of the biggest he's ever seen and probably had 800-1000 hornets. Also, it's mating season and they're especially protective (aka aggressive) during this time. If I had mowed close to their nest I would have been swarmed with hundreds of angry hornets just doing their job. I was one lucky lady.

Was it luck? Or was it divine intervention?

Why wouldn't the mower start? The next day it did and I mowed for a couple of hours. Why did I walk up to investigate that particular tree? Then walk toward the nest at the only angle that it could be seen from?

Does God intervene in the lives of His children? Probably most of you would answer that question the same way I would, "Duh! Of course, He does!"

Please don’t check out because you see a long list of Bible verses ahead. Read and absorb God’s truth. Then read more of my thoughts about both good and bad things happening to God’s people.

"The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand." (Psalm 37:23‭-‬24)

"The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." (Psalm 121:7‭-‬8)

"You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance." (Psalm 32:7)

"O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me." (Psalm 139:1‭-‬5)

"Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalms 139:16)

In this instance of the lawnmower, God most likely intervened to protect me from harm. But what about the countless times that He allows harm to come to His people?

Do you realize the Bible is full of accounts of that very thing? Of God’s people encountering a variety of calamities. And throughout all their experiences it becomes very evident that God was at work. He was at work in deep ways that were difficult for them to see.

He is at work in our lives as well because He loves us and is in the process of forming us. Transforming us. Conforming us. The Master Potter is doing His work; creating masterpieces.

Both good things and seemingly bad things happen to God's people as He allows. And because He allows things, we are told to rejoice. To give thanks. And to trust.

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him." (Nahum 1:7)

"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." (Isaiah 43:2)

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)