Not long ago was the two-year mark since my car wreck occurred that changed our lives in one sudden and terrible moment. Jamy and I certainly would never have chosen to be on this incredibly difficult path, but daily marvel at the goodness and faithfulness of God every step of the way. Somehow in God’s providence, He allowed me to survive the car wreck and through His grace has enabled me to see His hand at work through my suffering for His glory and my good.
Today, my heart is full of gratitude for a loving God, an amazingly supportive wife and family, the encouragement of friends and co-workers and the constant promise of prayers on my behalf from God’s people. The love and support we have experienced from our Oklahoma Baptists family has been an incredible blessing.
To be very real and honest, my heart still struggles to grasp the intricacies of God’s providence in this journey. I still want to ask the hard questions—Why was my truck in that place, in that moment when the other car crossed the center line? Why did I live and the other person pass away? Why did I lose my leg and sustain other life-changing injuries?
Yet, in spite of those questions, I have learned it is far better to focus on the things I know to be true about God from His Word, than focus on the things I don’t know about Him. Trusting in God, even when I don’t know the answers to all my questions, puts me in a much better place than doubting or being angry at Him.
My heart is heavy today for the family who lost their beloved family member in the wreck. A wonderful, godly family that lost more than I did that terrible day. I pray often for God to fill them with His comfort and peace and ask that you would join me in that prayer for them as well.
And lastly, my heart is filled with hope today—even in an uncertain future. I do not know what each day will hold—whether I will have to have another surgery, lose more mobility or face some additional health challenge related to the wreck. My hope is centered on an unchanging God Who has demonstrated His love to me time and again and will continue to do so in a possibly uncertain future.
Today, I think of the picture you see on this page. This is when they first let my family see me after the wreck. The moment here was filled with uncertainty. The doctors could not assure my family I would survive, and if I did, what would the future look like? Yet for all the uncertainty, there was also in that moment an unshakable and certain hope that whatever may come, God would be faithful to His promise to be present with us in love and comfort, and in the end, work everything for His glory and our good.
I hope in some small way this article may encourage you if you are struggling, in pain, or overwhelmed with the uncertainty of your situation. Focus on the Lord and what the Word says about Him. Focus on His spiritual and eternal purposes, rather than temporal circumstances. His love is immeasurable, His goodness is certain, His power is unmatched—even though you may struggle to see or understand it in the present.
Psalm 55:22—“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Psalm 62:8—“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.”
