As Thanksgiving approaches, many have difficulty finding ways to be thankful because of the hard season in which they find themselves. However, when a hard, life-changing thing happens, you can find God using it for His glory in amazingly redemptive ways.

Since my severe car accident and becoming an amputee on one leg and ankle fusion on the other, there are a number of things I grieve that I will never do again or do so in a limited capacity.

Perhaps the biggest thing is never running again and never being in another marathon. I was training for the Tulsa half marathon when the accident occurred. I’ll be honest, it was a hard pill to swallow, losing this part of my life.

Running is not just exercise for me but also stress relief. I do better personally when I have a goal I can set and work toward achieving. Benchmarks I set for myself in running and marathons did that for me in part. I was grieved to lose this.

However, I had a few fellow running friends reach out to me about the hand crank division in marathons. I had never heard of this. I knew people participated in wheelchairs in marathons, but I didn’t even know handcycles existed. I was interested, but I had no idea where to start.

Recently, social media suggested I follow Randy McCown. I noticed in his profile picture he was on a handcycle. I knew Randy is one of our great Oklahoma Baptists multi-vocational pastors, but I did not know he has had a long journey with spinal cord injury and has used a handcycle in many marathons and other running events.
I reached out to Randy. Jamy and I met he and his precious wife recently so we could check out his handcycle. We had a wonderful visit not just about the handcycle, but life and ministry as well.

I think this is something I will really be interested in and look forward to the possibility of returning to marathons and goal setting using this device.

We left meeting the McCowns in awe of how God, in the midst of a very difficult season for us, showed us His goodness and kindness and redeemed something bad for something good. Plus, we walked away with two new friends!

If you’re walking through a tough time right now, stay faithful to God. It’s easier to say this than do it. Trust me, I know.

But if you will not lose sight of the goodness of God, His providential plan to work for your good and His glory, and an eternal perspective on your current suffering, I am confident you will be greatly encouraged at how God is using your situation and giving you glimpses of His love and care along the journey of your suffering.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Todd Fisher
Oklahoma Baptists
Executive Director-Treasurer