Devotions with Pastor Donny Woodbridge

Deliverance in Dunkirk

The Lord rules over the floodwaters.
The Lord reigns as king forever.
The Lord gives his people strength.
The Lord blesses them with peace.
Psalm 29:10-11

The Dunkirk evacuation in World War II – also known as the Miracle of Dunkirk – was completed, saving over 300,000 troops. During May 1940, large numbers of British, Belgian and French allied troops became trapped by Nazi troops in mainland Europe. The decision was made to evacuate the allied troops, and the French seaport Dunkirk was determined to be the optimal place to attempt the rescue. A covert operation, codenamed Operation Dynamo, was set in motion, but officials estimated that only a small number of the total troops – around 30,000 - would be able to be rescued.

Ahead of the unfolding operation, King George VI called the people of Great Britain for a National Day of Prayer to take place across the nation, on Sunday May 26th, 1940. News coverage of the National Day of Prayer stated, “It is well for us to show the world that we still believe in divine guidance and in the laws of Christianity; may we find inspiration and faith from this solemn day.”

That very day, the evacuation began. Hundreds of boats set out across the English Channel in a rescue attempt, vulnerable to attack - but unseasonal storms meant the Nazi air force were grounded and unable to fly. Additionally, Hitler had ordered his ground forces to halt, and they didn’t move for three days. This combination of events meant that the evacuations were able to take place largely uninterrupted for three days, leading to over 338,000 men being rescued – ten times the expected number!

The British prime minister Winston Churchill called it a miracle of deliverance.The miracle of Dunkirk, however, was not defined as a miracle by everyone. There were plenty who said it was just a series of coincidences that helped to save more lives. But as Archbishop William Temple said, “When I pray coincidences happen; when I don’t, they don’t.”

We are beginning a series at Wanamaker entitled Honest Prayers. John Wesley once said, “God does nothing except in response to believing prayer.” I would like to have the perspective on prayer that he and Archbishop Temple did. If I am honest about my prayers, I am not quite there yet. If I am honest about my prayers, I would like to get there. So I come to you God today just as I am and I ask you to take me where you want me to go. God, today, remind me that You can do immeasurably more than all I can ask or imagine. I think of the situations in my faith community, town, or even my nation where there are challenges and battles to overcome. Who might God be calling me to intercede in prayer with? Lord, I invite You to show me what to pray, how to pray, and who I can pray with.
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Pastor Donny