Trusting God in the Unexpected

Analise Norton was excited to travel to England for the first time and see some historic and famous places. She asked her parents, Kari and Gary Norton, to come with her on a weeklong trip for which their itinerary was “jam packed.”

They landed in London on Kari’s birthday in April 2024. Even after the long flight, Analise was in a hurry because she had planned a surprise visit to Kew Gardens for her mom’s birthday. After a long wait, their driver arrived – but as they pulled out of Gatwick Airport, Gary noticed him struggling with the transmission.

“I was about ready to say, ‘Are we gonna have to push or something?’ … That was the last thing I remember.”

The next thing they knew, they were being asked if they could get out on their own. A large truck had smashed into the rear corner of the car. Kari and Gary, though dazed, could get out of the car. Analise had to be cut out and was airlifted to a hospital.

Kari’s glasses were lost, adding to her confusion during the next few days. She says it was a good thing she was initially unable to see Analise’s injuries, which included a fractured vertebra, brain hemorrhage, fractured pelvis and damaged teeth. By God’s grace, Kari was still able to text their other daughters in Spokane, Arielle Roberson and Mikaela Dursma, from the ambulance.

Mikaela asked the Faith family to pray, and the word spread quickly to sister churches around the world. “Pray that they would continue to be gracious and show Christ,” Mikaela wrote to prayer partners two days after the crash. “Also pray that they would rest in the Lord’s sovereignty as they’re being faced with more and more unknowns.”

And God answered those prayers. Kari says even from the beginning, God protected them spiritually. “There wasn’t fear or ‘What’s to come?’ There was peace.” Friends sent them encouraging Scriptures and reminded them of God’s care for them.

Looking back, the Nortons are filled with thanksgiving for the countless ways He walked them through a crisis thousands of miles away from home.

• Within hours, a familiar face showed up at the hospital: Michael Dionne, Faith’s global partner at GraceLife church in London, arrived to comfort and pray with them. He also helped communicate updates to Spokane as all three of the Nortons received medical attention.
• During their time in London, GraceLife’s entire congregation ministered to the Nortons in countless ways, including finding them meals, toiletries and clothes to fill in for their lost luggage. They also served them by praying, driving, providing companionship, finding replacement glasses for Kari, and the list goes on.
• Nick and Ella were one GraceLife couple who ministered to the Nortons. They arranged with the U.S. Embassy for an emergency appointment for Analise when she was released from the hospital. They volunteered to go to where the car was impounded and retrieve Analise’s bag that contained her passport. And despite the car being so mangled and the five days that had passed, the bag was still in the car and still contained her passport and money.
• A GraceLife member named Inutu Aidoo, whom Michael Dionne spoke about in his update to Faith Bible Church on June 1, was at the hospital at the same time as the Nortons, receiving care for her own health issues. She stopped to spend precious time with them that made a big impact; they’ll never forget her example of serving during her suffering. Inutu went to be with Jesus almost exactly a year later. Analise says, “I wanted to go back and give her a hug, and now that will be in heaven.”
• Their travel agent, Faith members’ Roy and Elizabeth Anderson’s daughter Rachel Golike, was able to get many of their planned tourist activities refunded and booked their lodgings throughout their stay.

Along with these provisions, there was still discomfort and uncertainty. Remembering the intense pain during her five-day hospital stay and afterward, Analise understates, “I just wanted to get home. The trip wasn’t what I was expecting.”

Just before the trip, however, she had read Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy and studied how to lament. Now, her own lament was simple: “God, this sucks, but I know You’re good.”

The Nortons spent over two weeks in London before Analise was cleared to fly home. She was very sick on the flight, and they spent a night in Denver before being able to return to Spokane. But God provided first-class seats, companions to help them during travel, and favor with the airlines to change their trip and provide a hotel.

The Nortons continue to trust God as they wait for the legal settlement over responsibility for the collision, which will also have an impact on their medical bills. Kari still deals with vertigo, Gary’s arm has lost some range of motion, and Analise continues to suffer headaches.

Even back home, she had to trust God with the unexpected.

“When I saw the doctor (in the U.S.), I was expecting them to give me clear answers, and they didn’t. I had to wait a long time … I was like, I just want to get back to my life, because I was super independent, and now I have to be dependent on people. It was really humbling, and I have a hard time asking for help, but when I did ask for help, they were all gracious and helpful.”

What the Nortons do know is the all-knowing God has a good purpose for the rest of their lives.

“We have seen the goodness of God,” Kari says. “We could have been immediately in our Savior’s presence, but He spared us and isn’t finished with us, for which we praise Him! We are here!”

Analise thanks God she was in the seat that took the brunt of the crash, because she has been able to recover more quickly than her parents would from the injuries. “He’s all knowing,” she says. “The accident was no surprise to God. Even though it came as a surprise to me, it wasn’t to Him. … It was His will for us to go through the accident.

“There is more to His story and we’re excited to see how He will use this in each of our lives. All glory to God!”

Lynn Yount

Lynn and her husband, Doug, lead a Growth Group. Lynn serves as a writer and editor for Living Faith magazine and other church communications.

View Resources by Lynn Yount