Romans 8:28 Visualized- The Long Story

So I was in a wreck this week. My first "real" wreck. And it has been amazing. Not since the death of my father, have I seen the Lord so clearly at work in my life in so many different areas. While the situations from the wreck are hardly over, and have seemingly already lasted forever, I can truly say, I am so thankful that I was in a wreck at 9:30am on Tuesday, December 6, 2005. For from it, the Lord has provided ample opportunities to grow in Him. And I'd like to share about it with you.


My story starts the night before the wreck. I was on AIM talking with a new friend of mine, Ross. This past Monday night Ross and I were chit-chatting online. I eventually asked him if he was a Believer and he told me he was. Good. Common ground here. I know we started talking about spiritual things at this point, but I don't remember all the specifics of this part of the conversation. But I digress. It came up that he was struggling with a friend and didn't know what to do. I then encouraged him to read the book of James for encouargement and guidance. Shortly thereafter, I signed off, and went to bed. But even as I lay there, I kept thinking of specific verses or passages that I wanted to tell him about. It was keeping me awake, so I ran back to IM him certain things to read. But he had already signed off as well. So I decided to send him a private message on the forum of a friend's website. This is what I wrote.


Okay, so I got off the computer and got in bed and my mind kept thinking of verses I wanted to pass on as encouragement to you. So I jumped up out of bed and ran back to the computer, hoping you were still on. But of course, you weren't. But that's okay. I'll just tell them to you here. And I hope that this doesn't come across as preachy in any form. That is not my goal. My desire is to really encourage you as your Sister in Christ. So here they are.

In regards to seeking wisdom, I thought of James 1:5-8, which says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." Seek to know His wisdom, Ross. There is no better One to ask for help and guidence that the Omnipotent Guide Himself. But ask knowing He will be gracious and faithful to follow through with His promise to give it to you. Otherwise, it is a slap in His face to ask and expect Him to not answer.

And to (hopefully!) encourage you, as you struggle and are frustrated: James 1:2-4, 12- "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (or patience). And let steadfastness (patience) have its full (or perfect) effect, that you may be perfect and complete (meaning in your faith), lacking in nothing. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast (again, can also be translated as "patient") under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." Pretty straight-forward. And Ross, I think it's really neat that at the beginning of the passage (verse 2), it says, to "Count it all joy". It is talking about the trials. Count the trials as joy. Many times we choose to look for ASPECTS or EFFECTS of the trials to be thankful for or to rejoice in... but that's not what this verse says to do. It says to consider the trial ITSELF... not an aspect or outcome, or effect of it, as a joy! Impossible without the Lord... yet so attainable with Him. How great is our God....

Anyway, I'm rambling.

The last passage I wanted to share with you to encourage you is one of my favorites. It's in Isaiah 40. Starting in verse 21 it says, "Do you not know? Do you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. Scarcely are they planted, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing. Why do you say, Ross (personalizing here!), "My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God"? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhauseted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint." Again, how awesome is He! Ross, this verse just amazes me and humbles me every time I read it (which is no where near how often I should). It just lays out an incredible foundation at the beginning saying "don't you know?! God is in control! He's sovereign! He is what is keeping this earth in order! He establishes who rules. He holds the sky in place. He determines what will grow, and what will die. And who is comparable to Him?! None! He has named each of the stars and knows their number! He calls them out at night by name! And none ever go missing. Amazing, Ross, simply amazing. What power. It then goes on, the Supreme Authority over all NEVER faints, sleeps, grows tired, or weary. And He knows ALL. Even young people will do these things.

And here's the best part (to me anyway), "But to those who wait on the Lord," All we have to do is wait on Him. How hard is that?! So very. But also so very possible. He does not ask what we cannot do without Him. How reassuring. And to finish, if all we do is wait, He will renew us. We will not faint, be weary, or falter. Amazing. We so do not deserve a God like that.

I hope this encourages you Ross. I certainly does me... continually. I am praying for you. Let me know how I can encourage you in your walk.

Your Sister, Rebekah


After getting this sent, I was finally able to fall asleep.


Now we come to the wreck. The next morning, I was headed out of town. I pulled up to a stop light on Main Street. The light was red. When the light turned green, the SUV in front of me started to pull out. Before I could even start forward, I experienced a huge jerk... like nothing I've ever felt before. I couldn't figure out what had happend. I wondered if somehow I had run into the vehicle in front of me. But they were still moving on, and my foot was still on the brake. I thought maybe I had imagined the jerk. Then I realized that I was hurting... horribly... all over. What in the world had happened? Did I jerk? Or did my car? How did that happen? I was more than a little shaken. I was thinking of pulling into a parking lot next to me when I looked up in my rear-view mirrior. The woman in the vehicle behind me was very angry looking and telling me to move into the parking lot. Then I realized... I had been rear-ended. I immediately became angry. I didn't say anything, but pulled into the lot and she did too. I got out and walked around to the back of my car to see what the damage was. There was a very small dent. I waited for her to come over and check on me and my car... after all, it was her fault. It didn't seem like she had even thought to do this. So I went over and asked if it had done anything to her car. She was shaking her head and looking at her hood. There were faint scratches going up about 5 inches from the edge. "Yes! Look at what you did to my car!" Excuse me? What I did to your car? Thankfully I didn't say that, but I was screaming it in my head. I just looked at her. I was totally shocked by what had happened and her response. And I hurt. Bad. She started to walk back to her driver side door. As she was getting in she said, "Well, you've made me late for a meeting. Follow me to Discount Tire." What was I supposed to do? I didn't know for sure that you weren't supposed to leave the accident scene, but it sure seemed to go against what I did know. But I didn't have any of her information. So I quickly got back in my car and followed her there. "Consider it all joy..." And on the way, I started to cry... the first tears of many for that day.


I didn't know where Discount Tire was, and she was going about 25 miles over the speed limit. I thought she was going to leave me in the dust, so I grabbed an eyeliner out of my purse and tried to write her license number on the back of my hand. Before I could get it all down though, she pulled into the tire store parking lot. She got out of her car and headed in. I followed. She went straight behind the counter and into the office behind it. A man behind the counter asked her what was wrong. "That girl wreck my car. I'm calling the police." I wrecked her car. You rear-ended me lady! What am I going to do? "If any of you lacks wisdom..." I'm by myself. "... let him ask of God..." She is lying. I'm hurting worse. "... and it will be given to him...." Again, there was a lot of yelling and confusion in my head. I walked back out to my car crying. I really needed a pain killer but didn't have any. My grandparents were out of town. My aunt was in school. So I called my friend, Keith, and asked him to bring me some medicine. He asked where I was and what had happened. I told him and he said he'd be there in a minute. When he got there, the police had shown up. He gave me the medicine and asked me if I wanted him to stay. And because I'm and idiot, and was embarrassed that I was so upset, I told him no, to go back. "Even youths shall faint and be weary..." He asked me if I was sure. I told him yes. "Go." Stupid move, Rebekah.

The police man immediately went over to the lady's car. The man from behind the counter came out and went with him. I decided to let the cop talk with her first and hear her side of the story. I'm sure it wasn't going to be very accurate, but I wasn't going to stand there and disagree with her. I would wait till he came to talk to me and let me tell him what REALLY happend. About 5 minutes passed and they were still at the front of her car talking. This is ridiculous. So I walked to where they could all see me at the back of her car. Then they finally started walking towards me. So I walked to my car and they followed. The cop asked me what had happened. I told him. And the woman said, "That's not true! You pulled up and then stepped on the brakes! You're making it sound like it was my fault! You ruined my car!" My jaw dropped. How could that have been my fault? "Why do you say, Rebekah, my way is hidden from the Lord?" I couldn't believe what she was saying. Then they asked what I was holding. I hadn't taken the medicine. "... and my right is disregarded by my God?" Before I could answer, the woman said, "Who was that man?" None of you business, Lady. "A friend." "Why was he here?" Why do you care? "Because I asked him to come." "Why?" "Because I needed something." "What did you need?" Man, you're nosy! "Medicine." Her whole demeanor changed. She had been very accusing. Now she was acting suspicous. "Why do you need medicine?" 'Cause you just nearly killed me, Woman! Is this ask a stupid question day?! "Because my back is hurting." "Why is your back hurting?" Yep, must be. "Because when you hit me, it jerked my whole car and hurt my back." After that it all went downhill... REALLY fast. "Consider it all joy..." She kept saying that there was no way that that little dent (pointing to my back bumper) could have hurt me in any way. "... when you meet trials..." The policeman then pulled me to the side. "What do you want ma'am? Do you want your car fixed? Are you wanting money? What?" I wasn't expecting that. "... of various kinds...." I told him yes, I would like my car fixed, but what I really wanted was a report filed. Then he asked me why I wanted a report filed. Is everyone I come in contact with today going to be a complete moron? "Because when she hit me, I think it really messed up my back. I want to have paper work saying that I have been in a car wreck so that I have a reason for the injury." He then started to tell me, why it wouldn't be in my best interest to file a report. "...trials..." Apparently, it would go down on my car insurance and make my premiums go up, because, "They don't care whose fault it was. It'll just say you were in a wreck." Oh. I didn't know that. "Okay. Then I just want some form a document simply saying I was in an accident so that I have something to show for any possible injuries." So he gave me a blue form and said that I could fill it out and mail it to Austin. "... of various kinds..."I clarified, "I am supposed to fill this out?" "Yes ma'am. I can't fill out a report because you left the scene." I left because Looney Bin here was going to ditch me! "Okay. I'll fill this out and mail it in."

We talked a little longer with the woman and the man from behind the counter (who I later found out was her husband and he owned the tire shop). The man said he would fix my car.

I still hadn't taken the medicine. I had seen coffee inside. I asked if I could have some to take my medicine with. After I was told I could, the woman, who had been headed to her car said, "Yeah, I could use some too." And then walked right in front of me and poured the last of the coffee into a cup and started to walk back out. "...my right is disregarded..."Shocked, I ask if she would have some more made. "No. We only make it for the morning shift and it's over now." Wow. Still crying, I walked back out to my car, got in, and headed for the church. I knew that Keith, and others would be there and they would be able to make me feel better.

I got there and all the staff asked what had happened. The more I said, the angrier they seemed to get. Keith eventually stood up and said, "I should have stayed. Come on. We're going to the police station. That's ridiculous for him to have not filed a report." He seemed really angry. We went to the police station.

To sum up, the policeman who had been at the scene ended up saying that he didn't think that we would be able to do a report because we had left the scene. "When you meet trials of various kinds...."But if I would give him my number, he'd ask the cheif and get back with me.

Later on the day of the accident, I had gone to the doctor. He is a wonderful friend of my family's. His name is Paul. He did x-rays and told me I had a couple of different problems. "...trials of various kinds...." But he also told me I should say in the police report and on the insurance forms.

Finley, the father of my best friend, was told of all this by my mother, called me as soon as he found out. He was mad too. He then told me what I should do about my car, medical bills, etc.. But even though he was upset with how I had been treated, he was very supportive and comforting.

Keith, Paul, and Finley all said that I needed to get the woman;s insurance information to file on her insurance to cover the car repairs and medical bills. I didn't want to go alone, and my mother and all these men didn't think I should either. So Keith was elected to go with me to the people and the police station and generally run the show for me. "... when you meet trials..." This turned out to be a HUGE blessing.

So the day after the accident, we went back to the tire store. Keith had told me exactly what to say, and said that if they said anything mean or gave me any trouble, he'd take care of it. Perfect. I did EVERYTHING he said. I simply went in and told the woman that I had sustained several injuries from the wreck. I was SUPPOSED to then say that we were going to file a police report and ask then what they wanted to do about the medical bills as I did not have insurance. But I didn't get that far. As soon as I said that I had sustained injuries, the woman said, "There is no way you haveany injurieds from that." I told her I had; Keith backed me up by saying I had been to the doctor and had x-rays to prove it. She said I was either just wanting money or trying to cover an old injury with this accident. I assured her I wasn't. She said, "Fine. We'll see you in court."

So now it appears we will have a little hands-on lawsuit education. How fun. "And let patience have it's full effect...." And this is where the situation now stands at 2:43 am Saturday, December 10, 2005. "That you may be perfect and complete...."

And I'm thrilled.

I have prayed that though I really screwed up in my attitude and witness to the couple and cop, that He will work in my heart and allow me to see how He is going to use this to conform me more to His image. And He has been faithful to do just that... to finish what He began as a good work in me. I can honestly say, that while I wasn't thinking Biblically at all the day of the wreck, the Lord has brought me to a place where I can say with Job, even during my "various trials", "Blessed be the Name of the Lord!"

I have seen so many things come of this that the Lord has used to mold me into the woman He desires me to be.


And through them, the Lord has shown me that "The Lord IS the everlasting God... His understanding is unsearchable." It is so unsearchable... I don't know the purpose of this wreck, and how it will play into my life in the long run, but that's to be exepected... it was planned out by a God who's understanding cannot be understood. And how wonderful is that! My God is too big for me to understand! That's a great thought! How small He would be if I, as a sinful human, second-guess Him.

This event has also shown me how the Body of Christ is to correctly function. And it is amazing to see it in action. Through Keith, Finley, and Paul, I have seen the Body work. These three men beautifully illustrate James 1:27- "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God and the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their distress..." How neat to see the body of Christ take care of itself. It is truly a beautiful thing.

And because I have been through a time where I have seen these verses come to life, I have been able to in turn, share that with someone else. Scripture proves itself again: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5- "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ." Back to Ross.


Ross never got my private message till tonight. This is a conversation we had tonight on the internet.

rebekah: Did you ever read those passages?
Ross: I have not yet. I am tomorrow. I did not have my Bible from my grandmothers house.
rebekah: Okay.
rebekah: Just wondering.
rebekah: Did you get my pm?
rebekah: It went into detail about why I wanted you to read those specific passages.
Ross: I did not know I had one. Just a sec. I will check it out.
rebekah: Let me know if you get it.
Ross: Ok, just a sec.
Ross: Ok, I see it now. Give me a few. I am going to read the message.
rebekah: Take your time.
rebekah: I'll be here.
Ross: Thank you so so so much. That is so great... and wow. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!:-)
rebekah: That's really sweet Ross, but all I did was copy Scripture and send it to you.
Ross: No, that is not all you did. You took the time to think out what needed to be said, and then explained what the meaning of all the Scripture, and how it was relevent to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
rebekah: Well Brother,
rebekah: It was my pleasure.
rebekah: I hope it encourages you the way it does me.
rebekah: And it was good for me to do that.
rebekah: I need to rehash every so often the Scriptures I think I know so well.
rebekah: It encouraged me to write it out.
rebekah: (I) Hope it didn't seem preachy.
rebekah: I know you can read and understand the Bible for yourself.
rebekah: I just wanted to share what I thought.
Ross: I thank you for that. See, sometimes I get kinda' lost and need someone to show me the way.
rebekah: Well,
rebekah: 99.99999999 percent of the time I don't even know which way is up, but I love the Word, and love to discuss it.
rebekah: I need mucha ayuda as well.
rebekah: Just ask Keith.
rebekah: Or Travis.
rebekah: Poor things,
rebekah: I go to them 9 million times a week with questions.
rebekah: If you benefitted from that, then It accomplished it's goal.
rebekah: And once again, Scripture has proven itself true.
rebekah: "The Word will not return void."

Before there was any way for me to know I would need to be thinking on those verses, the Lord was causing me to meditate on them. And I thought it was to simply help a Brother... I had no idea that it would help me DAYS before Ross even saw it.


This whole situation has brought countless times to mind the song, "How Great is Our God".

"How great is our God! Sing with me, how great is our God! All will see, how great, how great, is our God! Then sings my soul! My Savior, God, to Thee, how great Thou art! How great Thou art."

How true. Amen.


As one "called according to His purpose",
Rebekah