“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11.

The phone rang, and I woke up startled. “Where am I?…” Gradually, I started to remember. I was in a small hotel room in southern Austria. I had been on a tour with a college music group. My colleagues had left for the airport at dawn, and I was supposed to take the train to southern France, where I would attend a summer course at an Adventist college. Despite being excited about the opportunity, at that moment, I felt very alone and very scared. I was thousands of miles from home in a foreign country without knowing how to speak the local language. I prayed to God and asked for His presence throughout the day and during the journey I was about to make.

It was five in the morning; the front desk had called me, as the taxi that would take me to the train station would soon arrive. I packed my things and went downstairs. Soon the taxi arrived. The driver didn't speak English, which was the language I used to communicate. I showed him my train ticket, and he started driving. Along the way, a thousand thoughts raced through my mind: “What if he takes me somewhere else? What if he tries to rob me?” Soon God calmed me and reminded me that I had asked for His company. At the time, I confess I didn't clearly perceive His voice; it was more a feeling of calm that came to my heart.

               Upon arriving at the station, I immediately saw the service counters open, but since I still had about an hour and a half until the train departed, I decided to walk around and explore the place. The station was very large, with several platforms and many stationary trains. I walked back and forth, and when there was about half an hour left, I went back to the counter to find out which platform my train was on. All the counters were closed. “How strange,” I thought. “Now that the trains are about to start departing, the counter is closed.” It was 6:30 AM; I waited, and the counters didn't open. I walked a bit more; there weren't many people in the station, and I couldn't find anyone in uniform to ask for information. I looked at my watch: 6:45. I started to panic, and I prayed, “Lord, please help me. If I don't get on the right train, it's going to be a total mess.”

               I looked at the display board in front of the trains; there were city names written, but none was the name of the city I needed to go to. Now I was truly desperate. I went back to the counters; they were still closed. I was quite shy, but I tried to ask for help, but no one could assist me. I didn't understand any German, nor could I figure out from looking at the ticket which platform I should go to.

               That's when a backpacker approached me. A young woman with worn-out clothes, sun-kissed skin, light eyes, curly hair, and a huge backpack on her back with everything imaginable hanging from it. She was very typical of the backpackers I had seen during the trip. She smiled and started speaking in German. I told her I didn't speak German and asked if she spoke English; she said no. I showed her my ticket and told her I needed to find the train. She sensed my desperation, quickly went to look at the trains, and waved me over. We walked to the middle of the long platform; she opened one of the train doors and called a conductor who looked at my ticket and asked for my bags. The train was already powered on; I knew I was late, and by their expressions, the train was about to depart. I handed the conductor my two bags and turned to thank the backpacker…

There was no one beside me!... That's right, no one! I looked to both sides of the platform. It was long; it was impossible for her to have run off and disappeared from sight. The conductor called me inside, and before I reached my seat, the train started to move. I quickly sat by the window and looked out, searching for my helper. I looked everywhere as the train pulled away, but I didn't see her anywhere. A thousand and one thoughts raced through my mind: “Did she get on another train?” But the train next to it was off, and no one seemed to be on it. “Is she on this train?” When I had the chance, I walked through the carriages, but I didn't find her. I spent the first few hours of the journey utterly amazed by what had happened.

               Well, time passed, and that event remained very vivid in my mind. Every time I remember that young woman, a question always comes to my mind: “Was she an angel?” Honestly, I don't know if she was an angel, but I do know one thing: it was an act of God's providence. I had asked for His company, and He was with me.

               I've often asked myself, “Why did God allow me to go through that experience?” At the time this happened, I considered myself a young Christian; I was very active in church, but I didn't have a personal relationship with God. God was usually part of my life in moments like that, of desperation. When I didn't know what else to do, I remembered Him.

               During the weeks I spent in France, I was often tempted to stray from God's path. I faced almost all types of temptations common to a young woman. But that experience at the train station gave me a greater sense of God's presence by my side. I felt I was special to Him. I felt that He cared for me and loved me very much, and I didn't have the courage to hurt Him by doing things I knew were contrary to His will. Surely God knew I would face temptations and used that incident to strengthen my faith.

               God loves us! He shows His love for us by giving us life, health, and everything we need. He shows His love for us by offering us salvation in Jesus Christ. He shows His love for us by sending the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us at all times (if we allow Him to), and as if that weren't enough, He shows His love by giving an exclusive angel to each of us. An angel who has been with us from the first moments of life and every moment until now. And if we need more, He sends additional angels every time we call out.

As Ellen White says: “We shall not understand what we owe to the care and interposition of angels until we see the providences of God in the light of eternity. Heavenly beings have taken an active part in the affairs of men. They have appeared in garments that shone as the lightning; they have come as men, in the aspect of travelers. They have accepted hospitality in human homes, acted as guides to travelers in the darkness of night. They have thwarted the designs of the spoiler and turned aside the blows of the destroyer.” Education, pp. 304, 305.

               One day, I want to meet my angel. I want him to tell me about the times he saved my life, helped me face difficulties. I want to thank him for being my friend at all times, even when I was unaware of his presence. What about you?

               Have you noticed God's special providences in your life? Have you felt the presence of your angel in a special way? Always remember that he is by your side, taking care of you and carrying out the commands of our benevolent Father.

God bless you!

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