Yesterday I wrote about a fatal car crash I witnessed a year ago and I prayed for that family and others who grieve the deaths of their loved ones. But there was another young woman whose life was forever changed by that day, the driver of the other car. She was just nineteen at the time, had dropped her boyfriend off at work, and was on her way to her job. In the blink of an eye – in the instant of a missed stop sign – her life would never be the same.
Fast forward a year and her case has wound its way through the courts system. According to the website, later next month is a “Final Settlement Conference” which, if I understand correctly, will be her last opportunity to reach a plea agreement or the case will go to trial. “OPERATING – WHILE INTOXICATED CAUSING DEATH” and “OPERATING – WHILE INTOXICATED CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY” are pretty serious charges, in this state likely leading to 15-20 years in a women’s state prison. She made a choice to consume a substance and then drive while intoxicated, and there should rightfully be consequences to that terrible choice.
Yet, God planted in my heart a seed of great compassion for this young woman. I wondered if the courts would consider a Christian addiction recovery program like Teen Challenge instead of prison time, but my pastor said that with the seriousness of the charges probably not. She will (likely) spend the next two prime decades of her life in prison. In the years when most young women are investing in their education, marriages, children, and careers, she will not be free to do so. Will she find healing and release from the substance abuse? Will she be able to process the reality that her choices led to the death of a woman and severe injury of her young daughter? Will she use those decades to reexamine her life and seek out a new and better way? Will she hear God reaching out to her and inviting her to a new life in Christ? Will she be able to embrace the spiritual freedom that Christ offers her?
I don’t know. I interacted with her for about 20 minutes the morning of the accident, helping her make phone calls and stay calm. I prayed over her and have continued to pray for her, even as I’ve processed the trauma of that event. God has given me strong friends, family, and church that have helped to pray me through that episode of life. Does she have such people in her life? Does she have people who have witnessed to her about the Way, the Truth and the Life – the LIGHT of the World? Does she know that the Spirit of the Lord gives her freedom? Does she know she can be released from darkness and despair, spiritual captivity, and brokenheartedness by One who loves her beyond all love? Does she know that God’s good plans are a hopeful future for her?
I don’t know. Because I am an eyewitness for a legal process I feel it is inappropriate to reach out to either the young woman or to the victims’ family. So, at least for now, I can only wonder these questions and pray. God knows the answers. God knows the young woman he created and, if she lets him, he will rescue, protect, answer, be present, and deliver her. God can be the source of her freedom.
Spirit of the Sovereign Lord,
Thank you for your presence and the hope you give in Jesus Christ. Thank you that you have prepared and anointed us to proclaim good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, and to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Thank you that we proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God. Thank you for your comfort to all who mourn and grieve and we pray you will bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. We pray for this young woman whose decisions led to such life-altering consequences. We pray that she would be surrounded by Spirit-infused Jesus followers who would point her toward your Light and the Abundant Life she can live in you, and that they will comfort, encourage, and bless her as she walks this journey. Show her that where your Spirit is, she can live in freedom and help her to embrace that freedom. We ask all this in the strong name of Christ, Amen.
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV)
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NIV)
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” (John 8:12 NIV)
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” (Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV)
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:35-36 NIV)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)
““Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:14-16 NIV)