I’ve had the honor of watching Mary, Steve and Larissa walk through the worst trial I can possibly think of for the last 7 months now. I’ve read every post, with all of you, and wondered at the grace that God has poured into their lives day after long day. It has been 7 months full of miracles and sadness and grief, and they have proven to me, through the watching and the reading, that everything that the Scriptures say about God is true.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isa. 41:10

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, not shall the flame scorch you.” Isa 43:2

Because of Steve, Mary and Larissa, I know that He provides whatever His people need when they are suffering. Because of them, I know that He is powerful, beyond belief, because day after difficult day, each of them puts one foot in front of the other, and lives with the praises of God in their hearts and mouths. Because of them, I know, that even in the very worst of circumstances God is, very purposefully, at work in the lives of His beloved children. They have become our teachers, not because they wanted to be, but because God purposed it. And they have been faithful, faithful teachers. And with each passing day, they teach us more about who God is, what He is like, and what He does for His children. What a pleasing aroma their lives are sending up to the Father, day after day after day.

We miss Ian more than words can say. He’s home, and we’re incredibly grateful that God intervened over and over again to save his life and heal his body. But we miss who he was when he left us and we’re aching for the Lord to completely restore him. We miss his voice. We miss his laughter. We miss his humor and wit. We miss his friendship. We miss everything about him, which is a lot because, for anyone who knows him, Ian is quite a presence.

So, I’m asking that, for anyone who reads this blog, would you be willing to double and re-double your prayers to the Father for Ian’s complete return? Would you be willing to ask, seek and knock more and harder. As we have well learned, the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective and God rewards them who diligently seek Him. Would you be willing to ask the Lord for more faith for more prayer for Ian? Would you be willing to ask the Spirit to remind you more each day? It’s so easy to forget. Would you, especially, pray that He would restore Ian’s ability to talk? I know that it’s a great burden for his parents and Larissa not to know if he’s hurting or uncomfortable or discouraged. We would be so grateful if you would, and God is always pleased with more prayer.

Kristi Altrogge