In case you forgot, here is a reminder: God’s word is non-negotiable. He does not say anything that will not come to pass. He is faithful to fulfill His word; His sovereignty mandates it. The bible is filled with endless accounts of Him saying something, whether directly or through a prophet, and it happened just as He promised. His word is incapable of coming back void because He authors and allows everything. He has His hand and eye on everything and everyone. He alone can change hearts, hardening and softening them in all of us for the sake of His word coming forth. One may argue that this may come off as a little manipulative or narcissistic, but these human conditions fall short in being able to describe the sovereign God. His holiness requires faithfulness and consistency to ensure no error in His plan. He is incapable of being unholy and unfaithful. His word is incapable of coming back void.

Three weeks ago, I decided to contact my car insurance company and reduce my monthly rates. The representative was patient as she provided me with different quotes while adjusting for deductibles and coverage. Three different options were presented to me and after about 30 minutes, I was able to make a final decision. She sent me a confirmation email that I was to select “Submit” on as a stamp of approval of my newly reduced amount. With certainty, I hit “submit”. Instantly, I hear within my soul, “You will get into a car accident.” Filled with fear and anxiety, I rebuked this voice, but it came again, “You will get in a car accident.” I was a couple of days away from a five-hour car trip to visit a friend for a week and asked God why He would declare a car accident right after reducing my quote and right before I planned a trip. My mind started to race, and I said to myself, “Maybe I won’t go on the trip.” He interjected, “You are to continue with the trip.” I took a deep breath and surrendered, “Okay Lord. I will go on the trip, but I won’t drive my cay while I am out there.” Well, I made it through four rain and thunderstorms in five hours while driving to see my friend, safely. On my first day there I learned that my friend was without a car due to a recent accident in it by her mother-in-law. On my third day there she proposed we take the kids somewhere and let me tell you, I fought. I told her I had no intention of driving during my time out there. I told her that they just came back from a long vacation so why do they need to get out so soon? I told her we had plans for the next two days to go to the park and the pool (both walking distance from their home), ultimately, I caved. We packed up my car, attached two car seats, and were off, a simple 20-minute ride. I did not tell her about the warning the Lord told me, so even as I was driving more careful than normal (I am well known as a typical “Houston driver”), she poked a little fun at me for driving so cautiously. We make it to our destination, and I thank God to myself for keeping us safe.

On our way back home, there was more traffic than anticipated. For me driving on unfamiliar roads with my best friend and three godchildren in the car, I made sure to drive particularly carefully. All four of them recently healed from a car crash they were in a few months back that resulted in multiple broken bones, and I was nervous about re-traumatizing them at my expense. Fifteen minutes from home, we are getting ready to drive on the exit ramp. In traffic of course, all of us drivers were in line to exit, and going an easy 5 miles an hour. Traffic comes to a stop, so I can come to a stop, unfortunately the car behind me did not.

Many blessings came our way: we were not in movement so there was not severe damage, everyone was safe and unharmed, and this would not affect my insurance rate. All of these were concerns I had when God told me about the crash: will anyone get hurt, how much damage to my car will this cause, will I be at fault reversing my insurance rate reduction? However, the biggest takeaway from this experience: God’s word is non-negotiable.

We tend to lean into the head-knowledge of His work being unchanging, but this experience showed and stood testament to Him working around me for the fulfillment of His word. I was at a complete stop, and I still got hit. There may be room for argument had I been moving, “Well maybe I was driving too slowly. Maybe my fear could have affected how I drove which may have led to the accident.” There is very little room for this when traffic came to a stop, as did I and not abruptly, yet I was still hit. God’s word is non-negotiable.

Is there anything He has promised you? Is there something He has told you a week ago, a few years ago, that seems improbable, or you have been waiting on? Let me tell you, there is no changing it and no stopping it. He is working on things, situations, environments, people and people’s heart around you for the perfect unfolding of His word coming to pass. He has not forgotten His word nor promise to you, but for a God who is not limited to time, He has all of it so it does require our patience and trust in Him; trust that He will do what He said He would, and allow what He said would happen. Despite me currently driving a rental, I am so grateful for this lesson, this opportunity to watch how His words never come back void. There are plenty of things I am hoping to see unfold based on His promises to me, and quite honestly, I have recognized my limited control in making them happen. Before this encounter, I struggled with faith and grew discouraged by not knowing how some things would happen if I were not around to make them happen or if I did not do certain things to help them happen. It is interesting how we believe God needs our help. He alone is God and He does not need our help because He is not helpless. He sustains Himself and gets all things done with or without us. He created the entire universe without our help; I am certain He can manage our human ways and get things done without us. But He does invite us to stand testimony of His miracles. He woos us into knowing, believing, and understanding who He is through a relationship with Him which starts with seeking Him daily. The more we grow closer to Him, we are able to recognize His voice when He speaks to us or warns us about something. Our relationship with Him allows us to see when He moves and His word comes to life before us, and we can then stand witness to His faithfulness and consistency. I want to encourage you, friend, that His word is non-negotiable. Whatever it is He has said, promised, authored and will allow through warning or prophetic message, it will come to pass and there is nothing you can do to stop it, so surrender and prepare to be amazed at the goodness and faithfulness of our Lord.