Remember how Don rolled his truck? That first week we were praising God that Don had survived. Then a series of trials hit us, and we were visibly shaken. Don’s back was throbbing, and I wasn’t well, and my precious sister died along with some other major hits. Don and I even began re-thinking our entire future.

Trouble seemed all around and within. But why should we be surprised at trouble living in this imperfect world? Jesus said,

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”                                    (John 16:33 NIV)

One thing we needed soon was to find another pickup. The appraiser totaled Big Red, emailing us the amount of the settlement check, around what we expected. But I knew it wouldn’t be enough. Overwhelmed, we prayed, “Help, Lord,” and then waited.

     Three weeks later, I was relaxing watching TV when a thought popped in my head– “Go look at the title.”

The impression came out of the blue, and I recognized it as a prompting from God. I wish I could say I always obey His still small voice that speaks within us. I can’t.

But I did this time, dragging myself out of my easy chair and searching through the filing cabinet. I pulled out the truck title. “So what now?” I wondered as I scanned the title, not sure what I was looking for.

Then I saw it. The title said “USED.” Nowhere did it say “Prior Branded” like the insurance company had stated when they made that hefty deduction from our settlement amount.

I snapped a picture of the truck title with my iPhone and emailed it to the adjustor, thinking, “Nah, he won’t raise our settlement amount,” but at the same time, hoping and praying that he would.

The appraiser responded right away (another miracle). Within an hour he had sent a revised settlement statement that was $5790 MORE than the first because of the clean title

Unbelievable! I almost held my breath until the next Tuesday when I actually held this incredible check in my hand. It was then that I realized it was $3800 more than we had originally paid for the truck that we’d driven for six years. And true to God’s faithfulness, it was more than enough to buy the new truck we had found by then.

Listening to God and obeying Him pays. Of course, it doesn’t always come with a monetary reward. But it did this time.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.                                                   (Ephesians 3:20, 21 NIV)