Me: Hi Prodigal, where are you driving too?
Prodigal: Just running around and doing the usually errands.
Me: Be careful on the roads, they can be dangerous.
Prodigal: I will! Do you want to share before I leave.
Me: Yes, I have a story about driving.
This is a story from Couples Who Pray by Squire Rushnell and Louise Duart
Matt had been in an accident in Philadelphia seven years earlier that involved a cab driver running a red light and broadsided Matt’s car. The cabbie was clearly at fault, and now he was trying to sue Matt. Fortunately Matt was not hurt but the force of the collision sent his car into a pizza shop.
Matt was worried about the outcome. Could he find witnesses to support him seven years later? Would the court find in his favor, or would he be required to come up with a huge monetary settlement with the cab driver? Matt went to the Lord in prayer daily.
Matt had a lawyer assigned to him by his insurance company. The attorney repeatedly pressed Matt to search his memory for supportive witnesses and evidence.
Matt called the owner of the pizza shop. The owner and Matt knew each other because he would go there all the time. Matt was disappointed to learn that the owner had just left for Greece for several months. Matt was getting worried. The arbitration was getting closer and Matt had no witnesses.
The day of court, Matt walked into a panel of three stern-faced lawyers sitting at a table in arbitration room.
The cabbie and his lawyer were first to present their case against Matt. The cabbie attempted to foster sympathy. He told the panel that his wife had died. That he had mounting doctor’s bills resulting from the accident. He said that he was driving three or four car-lengths behind another car when Matt drove through the intersection and plowed into him. He showed photos of his damaged cab.
Matt’s lawyer cross-examined the cabbie, noting that the photos showed his car was damaged in the front end, not the side.
Still, Matt was worried. Matt had no witnesses to support his story, which was that the cabbie was lying, that he was the one who was to blame.
One of the lawyers then signaled that it was Matt’s turn to present his side of the case. In a voice attempting to hide the anxiety that churned within, Matt began his testimony.
One of the lawyers on the panel cut in.
“Wait a minute. When did this accident happen? In 2000? Were you in a car that crashed into a pizza shop? asked the lawyer.
Matt nodded.
“I was there! I saw that accident that day!” exclaimed the lawyer.
Shortly thereafter the panel of lawyers advised that they would meet privately and that the participants would be notified once a judgment had been made.
Before Matt could even make it home, they received a call from the lawyer saying that the court had found in his favor.
Do you ever feel like you have no witnesses? That there is no one to defend the good that you are trying to do.
Don’t rule out God. He likes to keep quiet and then He will show up to defend you.
2Samuel 22:3-4
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. 4 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.com
