June 10
A NEED FOR CAUTION
NOT SPEED
"A wise person is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless."
Proverbs 14:16 (NIrV)
Julian had waited months for this moment. His first car—a sleek black coupe—felt like freedom on wheels. At 19, he saw himself as invincible, the kind of driver who could weave through traffic and always beat the light. The thrill of speed gave him a rush he couldn’t resist. He loved the sound of the engine roaring as he pushed the accelerator, and he didn’t think much about consequences.
One Friday night, Julian was heading home after meeting friends. The empty highway stretched before him, tempting him to test the limits of his car. As he sped down the road, the speedometer climbed past 90 miles per hour. He felt untouchable, the wind rushing past and the music blaring.
But in an instant, everything changed. As Julian approached an intersection, another car pulled out ahead of him. He slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. The sound of the crash was deafening, glass and metal colliding in a horrific cacophony. Julian’s car spun out of control before coming to a stop.
Julian stumbled out, shaken but unhurt. As he looked around, his heart sank. The other car was crushed, smoke rising from the hood. He ran over and saw an older man slumped over the steering wheel. The sirens were already wailing in the distance, but Julian knew the truth before the paramedics arrived—the man was gone.
In the days that followed, Julian was consumed by guilt and regret. Sitting in his room, he replayed the accident over and over in his mind. “Why did I have to go so fast?” he whispered to himself. The weight of his actions felt unbearable. He couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat.
At the funeral for the man he had killed, Julian met the man’s family. His wife, tears streaming down her face, said something Julian didn’t expect: “We forgive you. It won’t bring him back, but we hope you’ll learn from this.”
That night, Julian broke down in his room. “God, I don’t know why You let me survive, but I’m sorry. I’ve been reckless, selfish, and foolish. Please help me change.” He opened his Bible for the first time in years and came across Proverbs 14:29: “Anyone who is patient has great understanding. But anyone who gets angry quickly shows how foolish they are.”
The words pierced his heart. His impatience, his hunger for control, had caused irreversible harm. But in that moment, Julian also realized something else—he had a chance to live differently, to honor the life that was lost by slowing down and making better choices.
From that day on, Julian made a commitment to drive responsibly and live with greater patience. He started volunteering at a local driving safety organization, sharing his story to help others avoid the mistakes he had made. While he couldn’t undo the tragedy, he knew that God was using his pain to create something good.
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
We come to You with heavy hearts, knowing how easy it is to let impatience and recklessness take over.
Like Julian, we often act without thinking, and the consequences can be devastating.
Please forgive us for the times we’ve put ourselves and others at risk. Help us to learn patience and self-control, to slow down and trust in Your timing.
Thank You for Your grace, which allows us to grow even after we’ve fallen.
Use our mistakes to teach us and help us make a difference in the lives of others.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
