Hi Pastor John!
Hope you’re feeling full of energy!
I have a little testimony.
A few weeks ago, I had a vehicle inspection to perform. The gentleman worked at an insurance company and was returning his leased unit. It is my job to inspect the vehicle for all damages and apply charges for repair. Well, when I arrived, the customer was very nice. He was happy and smiling. As I began to inspect the car, I saw a lot of damage. Most of it was right on the line between chargeable and non-chargeable damages. I always try to not charge if it is possible. Well, at the end of the inspection, I noticed hail damage. It is very hard to see hail damage sometimes. This car had a lot of hail damage. The damages were going to be $600 – which actually is a great repair price, but is still $600.
I hated to go tell this happy man about the damage, but I did. The minute I mentioned the word “damage”, he got so angry! He had me go out to the vehicle and show him every dent. Well, you have to turn your head and lean at an angle (sometimes) to see the damage. I tried to show him what angle to look from and how low to bend down. He just got angrier and angrier. He said, “If you have to look that hard, then it should not be chargeable!”
I tried to be very sweet while talking to him. I do understand that it can be upsetting. I have looked at so much hail damage that I can spot it, but I remember during training thinking, this is hard. The whole point of my saying all that was that I was still sympathetic to him. As I wrapped up the inspection, I had to get a signature and give some instructions to the customer. He treated me very badly. He held my computer as he made some phone calls, would not look at me or answer me, and was just ugly acting. It reminded me of a temper-tantrum from a badly behaved child. I finally got my computer back and left.
When I got outside, I was so upset. I was talking to Jesus about it. It hurt my feelings. I said, “Jesus, why did he have to be so awful?” I tried to shake it off, but it really bothered me. I was driving down the road, and I just started saying, “Jesus, just because he cannot see the hail damage does not mean it is not there.” I said this over and over, and then the Spirit interrupted me with this thought: “That is just like the truth. Just because they can’t see it does not mean it is not there.” I instantly brightened. I mean, I felt so light and happy and in love with hearing from Jesus! Everything changed in just a moment.
Today, while I was thinking about that event and the feelings I felt from that man, Jesus spoke to me again. He let me know that man was not trying to see hail damage. Instead, he was spending all his energy trying to convince me there was none. He never looked for hail damage. That is the same thing the world does to Jesus and the truth.
I love hearing from Jesus.
Beth