Miraculous Answer to Prayer in Los Angeles Fires
Brian Anderson in front of his house in Altadena, California after the fire.
I have an incredible story to share with you—a testament to God's sovereign power and his gracious love and mercy in answering prayer.
One of our Pathway Learning board members, Larry Anderson, recently shared with me the story of his son Brian and his family, who live in Altadena, California, where devastating fires have been raging. When winds reached 100 mph, Brian and his family fled their 115-year-old home for safety. Then the fires came.
Larry said, "They asked us all to pray, and we did!" When Brian was able to return to his neighborhood, what he found was truly remarkable. Out of all the homes in his neighborhood, only Brian’s house and one other house remained standing. In Brian's own words: "The fire went all the way up to my yard, up to the house and stopped. God is miraculous!"
His latest report is also astonishing—the other house has since burned to the ground, leaving Brian’s house as the only one remaining in the entire neighborhood. We stand amazed at God’s goodness and are reminded that he hears and answers our prayers. As Larry shared, "This is proof that God does hear prayers, and for a reason only God knows, the prayers were answered."
This extraordinary story also reminds us of the profound mystery of God’s providence. Why does God answer some prayers with deliverance while others, prayed with equal sincerity and faith, result in loss? How do we reconcile the joy of God’s protection in one situation with the grief of devastation in another?
These questions draw us into the depths of God’s wisdom, where we are called to trust his purposes even when they remain beyond our understanding.
The Bible assures us that God is both sovereign and compassionate. He governs all things in his perfect wisdom, working all circumstances—whether joy or sorrow—for his glory and the ultimate good of his people. (Rom. 8:28) At the same time, he grieves with us in our suffering and does not afflict "from his heart" (Lam. 3:31–33).
Brian’s deliverance is a reason for praise, while the losses experienced by others invite us to weep, pray, and extend God’s comfort to those in need. (Rom. 12:15)
In times like these, we can find hope in the cross of Christ, where God brought the greatest good from the greatest suffering. The cross reminds us that God’s love and sovereignty are never at odds, and his purposes, though often hidden, are always good. Whether in deliverance or loss, we are called to trust in him, knowing that his plans are higher than ours and that all things will ultimately work for his glory and our eternal good. (Isa. 55:8–9; 2 Cor. 4:17–18)
There are many hymns, rooted in Scripture, that can help us embrace the mystery and goodness of God in situations like Brian’s story. This anonymous poem based on the ancient text of Job 13:15 reflects both our agony and hope in suffering:
Though He slay me, I will hope in Him;
For in His hands, my life begins.
His wisdom shapes the path I tread;
His purposes will not be fled.
One of my favorite hymns by William Cowper is a profound meditation on God’s sovereign purposes and the mystery of his providence. Some of its most famous lines include:
God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Cowper’s words encourage us to trust in God’s sovereign wisdom and love, even when his ways are hidden from our understanding:
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.
The famous hymn, "Be Still My Soul" captures the tension between sorrow and trust in God’s providence:
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
It reinforces the call to trust God’s mysterious plan, particularly in hardship:
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Brian’s story demonstrates the miraculous power of God and the effectiveness of prayer while also pointing to the profound mystery of God’s providence. The miraculous preservation of Brian’s home is a reason for thanksgiving, while the suffering of others calls for compassion, support, and prayer.
While it can be difficult to understand why some prayers are answered with "yes" and others with "no," the Bible encourages us to trust in God’s sovereignty, wisdom, and goodness. Prayer can draw us into his purposes, helping us learn how to trust his answers, even when we don’t understand them.
Please join me in prayer for Brian and his family as well as for all those who are suffering unimaginable loss.
For the King!
Steve
Steven L. Childers, President
