In 1996 my girlfriend, and I, were walking through the central heart of Manchester City Centre. We had noticed a very heavy police presence, and police helicopters flying overhead but we had no clue what was shortly coming!

There was a sudden crack, and a thunderous noise - with a shockwave I’ve never been able to verbalise. People were screaming and glass panels, many times larger than a person, were falling dangerously close. One strike from any one of those panes would have killed you outright.

Jo and I were standing underneath those panels as they fell to the ground.

All in all we got off fairly lightly – I only had to deal with a pounding, excruciating headache that never abated, for several weeks. I was told I got off lighter than many other people.

The initial blast sent me into shock. Meanwhile, my cool as a cucumber girlfriend, found us a way out of Central Manchester – a City she did not know. Her shock, and tears, would come later.

We had survived the largest, ever, British mainland bomb in history. I went on to marry that woman and she is now my wife, Jo. Told you she was a ‘good ‘un’.

You can never know how you’ll behave at high altitudes, or when a bomb goes off!

Our vastly different responses to a shock have been repeated many times over the years, although we’ve only had to survive one bomb blast so far.

About a week ago we found out we were going to face a sizable loss to our income. The timing couldn’t have been worse: I reacted with panic, and Jo didn’t seem to notice. Again, her shock would come out later.

As a family we’ve been living by faith for quite a good number of years. What I mean by that is that we don’t go out of way to ensure we have enough money but, by doing what God has asked us – and serving Him with [my] time, we are utterly dependent upon Him for all that we need. 

But that situation has passed. We’ve had two gifts, and we can now get through the month.

Situations change and I’ve always said that living one day at a time is too much because life can change in a second!

So, when panic mounts upon you, try and stand still long enough to let God rescue you.

If you’re facing a bear, or even a charging cow, running away can be the most dangerous thing you can do. Standing still can save your life. And that works for our lives as Christians too.

So, don’t be in too much of a rush to help God fix your situation – give Him the right to intervene in His timing. And, don’t be too hard on yourself on not reacting well. Just give it to God and move on.

Just a thought… 

Andy B

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