Some days I am excited to share a story from my personal life with you, but there are some stories I would rather forget and move on. Prayerfully, I’m sharing this recent experience, and I’m learning to live unafraid again. Five nights ago, I went to bed traumatized. On my prayer walk I was harassed by a man slowly driving beside me. I got off the sidewalk and back onto the walking trail, but he followed alongside me on the road about six feet away from me.
At first, I thought the driver might be lost and needed directions. But no, he rolled down his window, commented about my body, and then asked if I wanted to go for a ride. I responded with a firm no and kept walking.
But he kept talking, making comments, and trying to get my attention. I stopped walking, got out my phone, and photographed his license plate. After that, I videoed the van until he drove away.
I walked another block to ensure I wasn’t being followed, then backtracked and came home.
Be On the Lookout
As soon as I got home I immediately told my husband and we filed a ‘Be On the Lookout’ report with the police. I didn’t want anyone else to suffer from his harassment. He was never close enough to touch me, it wasn’t considered an emergency, but my feeling of unease lingered. I asked God, ‘Why?’ I even asked, ‘What is the lesson in this experience?’ I don’t yet have a complete answer. And maybe I never will. But, I do have comfort, healing is happening, and I even have a new goal: to live unafraid.
Now, because of you, Lord, I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once, for no matter what happens, I will live unafraid!
Psalms 4:8 TPT
I am grateful that God’s protective hand is over me. Grateful indeed that He didn’t allow that man to get close to me. I am grateful for His voice of clarity. It helped me get the license plate and video of the van for the police.
Because of Him
Armed with pepper spray and fueled by determination, I got back outside the next day to prayer walk again, taking pictures and taking note of my surroundings.
But I can lie down tonight and sleep in peace. No matter what happens, I believe that He is with me in each moment. Whether it’s a wolf, a creepy person, or whatever else the enemy tries to send my way, I put my focus back on God, and I will live unafraid again.