Diane,a
young Christian university student, was home for the summer. She had gone to
visit some friends one evening. The time passed quickly as each shared their
various experiences of the past year. She ended up staying longer than she had
planned and had to walk home alone. But she wasn't afraid because it was a
small town and she lived only a few blocks away.
As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked God to keep her safe
from harm and danger. When she reached the alley, which was a short cut to her
house, she decided to take it. However, halfway down the alley she noticed a
man standing at the end as though he were waiting for her. She became uneasy
and began to pray, asking for God's protection. Instantly a comforting feeling
of quietness and security wrapped around her, she felt as though someone was
walking with her. When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past
the man and arrived home safely.
The following day, she read in the paper that a young girl had been raped in the
same alley, just twenty minutes after she had been there. Feeling overwhelmed
by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, she began to weep.
Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help this young woman, she decided to
go to the police station. She felt she could recognize the man, so she told
them her story. The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify him. She agreed and
immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the alley the night before.
When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke down and
confessed. The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was
anything they could do for her, she asked if they would ask the man one
question. Diane was curious as to why he had not attacked her. When the
policeman asked him, he answered, "Because she wasn't alone. She had two
tall men walking on either side of her."
Moral of the story? Don't underestimate the power of
"Prayer."