Faith Helped Courthouse Shootings Hostage

FOXNews reported The only thing that helped Ashley Smith (search) get through an over-seven-hour ordeal where quadruple murder suspect Brian Nichols held her hostage was her faith in God..... "You're here in my apartment for some reason," she told him, saying he might be destined to be caught and to spread the word of God to fellow prisoners. She told him his escape from authorities had been a "miracle.".... Smith gently talked to Nichols, the armed suspect in Atlanta's courthouse slayings, and the two discussed God, family, pancakes and the massive manhunt going on outside her apartment.... "I honestly think when I looked at him that he didn't want to do it anymore," Smith said at a news conference Sunday. "I believe God brought him to my door."

Michele Catalano does not understand. If God is so interventionist as to lead this homicidal maniac to Ashley Smith's door, then why didn't he intervene when Mr. Nichols was mowing down innocent people in a courthouse? Further, why didn't God intervene when Mr. Nichols was (allegedly) raping his girlfriend? Were the deaths and rape all part of some mysterious plan to get Nichols into prison to preach the word?

The answer lies in Free Will. He gives all of us Free Will, to decide what we will do, and what we will not do. I am sure that He would be pleased if when Nichols goes to prison that he accepts Christ and preachs the word, but God certainly did not orchestrate what happened on March 11 and 12. But He certainly gave Ashley the necessary peace to enable her to survive the encounter. I don't know or care what Nichols does in prison, but I do wonder what important job He has in store for Ashley.

Michelle Malkin said that Nichols at one point called her "an angel sent from God," Smith said. and Michelle quoted Psalms 31:24: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord

MyopicZeal said While held hostage for those seven hours, she read Purpose Driven Life to Brian Nichols. She asked him about his purpose in life, what talents he had been given to use and discussed life with him.

NeoNeoCon said The power of her story was in her sincerity, her courage, and her own belief in redemption. Whether or not you yourself are religious, there is no escaping the power of her belief, and its effect on what appears to have been the already-weary Nichols.

ChasingTheWind said Held hostage by a murderer and rapist, she teaches him the Word of God and tells him he could do the same for fellow prisoners. Incredible.

EspressoRoast said I don't know what is going to come of Nichols in the future (I hope Smith is right), but I know that there is only one source for the kind of peace and courage exhibited by Ashley Smith. It's something real inside when you lose your husband in a stabbing incident and still remain strong in your faith in God, especially in these kinds of circumstances.