Here is another miraculous story.
We had a credit card with one of the major banks. In fact, it was the same bank we had a relationship with for over 30 years, giving them business through many products.
When we ran out of money, we couldn’t make payments. Not even the minimum payment. Nonetheless, the credit card company (all of the credit card companies) would constantly call asking for a payment. Just send us $50. $200. Let’s set up a payment plan. How many ways can I tell you that I don’t have anything to pay you right now!
One of the principals the Lord showed us when we couldn’t pay all our bills, was “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9), which was also like saying “My grace is greater than money.”
God was showing us to leave all the bill collectors to him. If they were not financial institutions, but were family businesses, that was different. If anyone was willing to work things through with us, God showed us He would help us to work with them. But otherwise, He was in effect saying “leave it to me”.
This was that.
After Jack agreed to represent us as our General Counsel across all the lawsuits – whatever came our way, he was going to help us.
This major card company filed suit against us through one of the largest Connecticut law firms. The state court system has a mediation program before a case goes to trial. We had filed our response, claiming the plaintiff had not established standing to sue us given the documentation listed in the complaint was minimal and not specific to us, but general to all credit card collection matters.
We went before a retired judge who was the mediator.
The bank’s attorneys offered to settle the $30,000 debt for $5000.
The judge shared with us that he too and his wife had personally gone through financial hardship. His advice? Settle this matter – you have many other fires to put out. Why not deal with this one (by paying settling it for less than the face value) and move on.
But I explained I that at this time I had no money to do that, so it wasn’t an option. The best I could offer at the moment was to ask for 2 years of grace and then endeavor to settle it at that time.
The bank said no deal.
I was praying about what to do. I felt I was receiving a warning not to accept the next proposal the bank would counter with.
Jack and I huddled up after the meeting with the judge. He was like what do you think? I shared that I thought I wasn’t supposed to accept any counter offer the bank made to mine – which was time to pay and work it out. Jack resisted me. He thought the judge was right just take a deal and move on. But I felt the courage of my convictions that the Holy Spirit had spoken wisdom, even if it didn’t make sense Jack or the judge.
Sure enough, back in front of the judge, the plaintiff made a second offer. We’ll agree to the 2 years, but if you can’t pay the $5000 by that time, you stipulate now that the full judgment of $30k will enter against you.
I said, I can’t do that. In all honesty, how can I promise to pay you $5000 in two years, if I don’t have visibility into what is going to happen by then. The judge was visibly upset and tried to convince me this was a great deal and I should take it.
But I stood my ground. The judge thanked everyone and the mediation was over. It would go to trial.
Afterwards, Jack changed his tune and said, you know what? Maybe you were right. Maybe they don’t have the detailed financial records to back their suit. All they showed me was a print out of a number of accounts and the amounts owed, but that’s all they had. That may not be enough.
I told Jack I was trusting God. With this matter and everything. My trust is all on Him. He couldn’t disagree.
About a week later, we received an email from plaintiff’s council. The bank had decided to drop the matter. They just unilaterally withdrew the lawsuit. It was a $30k miracle!
What a mighty God we serve!