Many times drivers will reject rides for whatever reason. Usually the people know when they’ve been rejected and many times they asked me why. One night I was driving in West Valley city and got a call to pick up a man at an apartment complex. It was a little hard to find his apartment and I almost left but felt I should stay with it until I found the man. All of a sudden he open my back door and startled me. When he got in he smelled really funny. I think it was the smell of food covering up the smell of cigarettes He has several tattoos and a few piercings yet he was very engaging and nice.
We exchanged pleasantries and started to drive. He was a nice enough guy but I could tell something was weighing on his mind. Then out of the blue he said “I need some advice, I have some decisions to make and I feel like I’m supposed to ask you “
I don’t know about all of you but if I were to make a list of 25 people I would go to for advice a rideshare driver would not even be on the list! I asked him what question he had and told him I would give the best answer I could. The spirit started telling me to be ready because this was important.
He told me that he was working with couples helping them cope with the challenges of the world today including covid and the economy. He said the one thing he noticed was that many of the families had everything they need but just couldn’t put it together.
He said that he, in his own life felt an emptiness and thought that if he could figure out what that was it could help him. He asked me what my thoughts were on the subject.
I told him the in my mind the reason why many couples struggle is the same reason he felt that emptiness. I told him that I thought that the problem was the lack of the Spirit of God in their lives and in their relationships. I told him that it was nearly impossible to do this right if we’re not partners with God in our lives and in our relationships with our spouse.
I told him that my opinion is that if he had the spirit of God with him he would feel that power transform his life and then he would be more likely to give the kind of advice that would really help the people. With the spirit of God ( the Holy Ghost) we can access the wisdom of God He was silent. He told me he had never believed in God ever. He told me that he considered going to church a waste of time.
I testified to him that God was our father and that he loved us. I testified that through prayer God can bless us and that through his Spirit he can guide us. I testified to him that Jesus Christ suffered for our sins, our pain and anguish so that we wouldn’t have to do this alone. I told him that this relationship could help him and then help him be better at his work. I told him that through Christ we can be forgiven of our sins, become clean and walk with God. He was silent as he considered what I said.
Then he said, would God still want me after everything I’ve done? I assured him that God loved him and that he would welcome him with open arms in his kingdom. I talk to him about God being an all-inclusive God that loved everyone. I said that he has a plan for his children to come home. There will be an opportunity for every one of them.
We talked about Jesus Christ and then I told him that Jesus came to America so that there would be one fold and one shepherd and then in America he said that there were still other sheep that were not of this land or the land of Jerusalem or the land round around about (3rd nephi 16.). I told him that God was not a provincial God, or just a God of the Jews, or just a God of the Christians but the God of everyone who ever lived…..including him.
I asked him why he began the ride seeking advice from me. He said it was the strangest thing but he just felt like I would have the answers. I told him that the answers I gave to him came from the spirit of God and that that spirit was with us in the car. I asked him how he felt, he said that he felt excited and peaceful all at the same time. I told him that that was the spirit confirming the truth of what I said. He said that he had never felt anything like that in his life. I told him that this feeling came from God to him specifically to let him know that his father loves him and that the things we were talking about were true. He said “you’re right, they are true!”
When we got to his house I saw that he lives right around the corner from the church house. I told him that this is where he could find his answers.
He said he had some neighbors that went to church there. I asked him what they were like? He said they were so happy and amazing neighbors. I told him to go talk to those neighbors and ask them if he could go to church with them. I told him to tell them about our conversation and that he wanted to learn about baptism so he could be clean and have the Holy Ghost with him.
He asked me what I meant by clean. I told him that through baptism and repentance he could be cleansed of all of the sins that he had ever committed, because of Jesus Christ, He said, I need THAT! I told him that the Spirit of God could walk with him and fill that hole. I said that it would help him better assist the families he worked with.
He committed to pray, talk with his member neighbors, go to church that Sunday and talk to Missionaries about being baptized. By that time we had been sitting in the stationary car in front of his house for about 10 minutes. He said I know you have to go but this feels so awesome, “I want to stay all night” He said that I had answered all of his questions even the ones he hadn’t asked. We talked a few minutes more and he got out. I believe he went to church and some missionary had a fantastic Sunday
I have no doubt that the reason why a couple of drivers had rejected him in the first place was because God wanted to allow me to give him a lift.
Sometimes God sends you a lift 