“…which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life (Matt 26:28)?” I can’t add one hour to my span of life whether I’m anxious or not. That’s the answer to this question. I don’t control my life; it’s in the hands of the One who cares for me. Lord, help me to remain at rest in my Father’s care.
The sidewalk around Ian’s room should be finished tomorrow. In the foreground of this picture is where a small patio area will be so we can sit outside under the shade or in the sun. We’re looking forward to Ian coming home.
For prayer, please remember the issue of the attendant care (we’re asking for 24/7 coverage); it still hasn’t been resolved. Also, we’re praying that the weather holds and that we remain a priority for the paving company to put a driveway in to get Ian and all of his equipment to his room. Pray for strength for us. Pray that Ian would wake up.
Mary went to see Ian today, and he seemed as alert as we’ve seen him. She had another session of training in how to care for Ian’s needs.
Ian had both of his eyes open for awhile today when we were oustide enjoying this gorgeous weather! He was very active in his chair and most of that was from discomfort I think. He had been in the chair for awhile already in the morning and probably just wanted to stay in bed. He was really moving his leg and his arms around though. He reached for me a few times and grabbed my shirt- he either wanted a hug or wanted to communicate something with me. I’ve been encouraged lately by just the blessing that when Ian looks at us, he is really looking. It’s not an empty stare like it can be with coma patients. Just one look in his eyes and he gives you a good taste of what he’s thinking about. Sometimes in speech therapy he gets a look like he wants to punch Val, and then other times it’s like you can see him smiling in his eyes. It’s great to see emotions.
“Praise the Lord. I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful.” Psalm 111:1-4
On the way home from the hospital today, a Chris Tomlin song was on the radio that sings about the greatness of our God and His worthiness to be praised. I was reminded of and encouraged by the thought that everything that God does is great. What excitement that should instill in me! The works of the Lord are great and all that He does is “full of splendor and majesty.” Even if I can’t always see it now, Ian’s situation is great. It is ordained by God and is His work-therefore it is full of splendor and majesty. There is no work that is mediocre with God and God will never look back and say, “well, maybe I should’ve handled that situation with Ian differently.” Greatness is His nature. What a blessing to be on the receiving end of that greatness.
We got word today that the sidewalk is to begin on Monday. The weather seems to be cooperating. The sidewalk is to go completely around the addition. Since their forming and pouring a sidewalk anyway, we asked them to add in a small patio area, so we can sit outside with Ian.
Once the sidewalk goes in, the paving company will come in to do the driveway; they’ll pave right up to the sidewalk. The guy that will be doing the sidewalk made an interesting comment after discussing all these plans with us. He said, “You think your yard is torn up now! Wait till this is done.”
For all this effort, I want very much to see on the other side of the fence that is the future, because I think somehow that will comfort me. I can’t see, though, and I know that no matter what the outcome of all this is only God can comfort me. I have to keep myself focused on the next step the Lord gives me and keep walking looking to the Lord and His Word for help.
Thank you to so many I don’t even know who are praying for Ian. I know you’re there, because I occasionally meet someone for the first time who tells me they’re praying for Ian. That affects us deeply. Thank you!!!
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now…*
They want to discharge Ian and have him home by the 30th. However, he may not be approved to have 24-hour nursing care by then (it usually takes a while to get approved). This means my parents (who have been getting training) need to take care of him between the time he comes home and the time he is approved for around-the-clock care. This is not out of the question, but it will be really hard for them. Please pray to God that he will provide another way, such as getting the nursing care approved by the 30th.
Thank you so much for praying. God is good, and this is a small need compared to what he’s already done for us.
Prior to this experience with Ian, I had never experienced any serious trial like so many people I know. I’ve had my difficulties but never anything close to this. Trials like this, I had heard, elicit lots of questions that can call God’s character into question. I know now what a strong temptation it is to acknowledge and think about those questions. I’ve discovered that I can’t allow those argumentative questions to have a place in my thoughts; God remains silent in those debates anyway. He doesn’t explain himself, and He isn’t required to defend His actions. Job in chapter 40, verses 4 and 5, recognized the inappropriateness of his arguments with God when he said, “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”
It’s just all so unbelievable. I remember when I took this picture of Ian and Lydia that Easter day; he was just with us. His condition is so shocking. We’re so grieved. It’s so tempting to challenge the actions of the Almighty, but how ridiculous that would be to do it. He is silent about His reasons.
But, there are some things about which He has not been silent. He has spoken loudly and clearly. He will never let the guilty go unpunished, and I am as guilty as anyone of rebellion against Him. But he has already punished me – and Ian – by punishing Christ on the cross, so I go free. By doing that to His own Son, it’s as though He shouted at the top His lungs that He favors me. How can I argue or complain about any bad thing that happens to me? “I lay my hand on my mouth” and remain silent.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well, with my soul, It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
“Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water,and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:13-17
It’s God’s beautiful design that in suffering our longing for heaven is increased. Before Ian’s accident, I was secure in my life on earth. I was secure thinking that not only had I met the man who God designed for me to marry but that he loved me in return. I had never suffered through any significant trials. I was in love with my life on earth, and had no perception of heaven and no longing for heaven in my heart. Not that I have an exact understanding of heaven now, but these past few months have made me long to be with the Lord. And I don’t think that’s a bad thing. If it steals me of my joy here on earth and if I can’t see any good in why I’m here, then yes, it’s bad. But it is good to desire to forever be with the Lord, to long to sin no more, and to long for our new heavenly bodies.
I know that many of you who read this blog are going through huge trials in your lives. Keep looking to heaven and know that we are but dust. These trials will end and one day we will be with our Lord.
Thank you for praying for Ian. He has been opening his eyes more often over the past few days. He has been awake off and on today. Right now we’re watching Clifford- one of his favorite movies. Hopefully it’s bringing back some of his hilarious memories. Our new discharge date is April 30. I heard from one source today that there is no longer any infection in his right eye, but it still seems to be a little bit sensitive. God is answering our prayers!
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in Him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers, and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8
In 14 days it will 7 months since Ian’s accident. 7 Months, 212 days, 5,088 hours, 305,280 minutes…That’s a long time.
So what are we to make of this? We’ve prayed that Ian would be healed and he hasn’t.
Sadly, my prayer life has reflected how I’ve interpreted this. I’ve found instead of praying for Ian, I’ve just felt sad for Ian. I’ve slipped into a prayerless-hopelessness. Why has this happened? Though I’d never verbalize it, my actions are saying, “Well, God promised that he would answer my prayers. I prayed, and he didn’t answer. God has lied.” And to that, our loving, holy Father would say very loudly, “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Numbers 23:19.
God promises and God answers! Not one promise has Jesus made that he hasn’t fulfilled. And Jesus promised that if we ask of our Father, he will answer us.
Ask. Seek. Knock.
Think of it this way. Imagine a little boy who needs something of his father.
If his dad is standing right beside him, the boy just looks up and simply asks his dad for whatever he needs.
If the boy comes into the house, and his dad isn’t standing right there, the boy calls out: “Dad, where are you?” And then the boy begins to search the house, seeking his dad, until he finds him. No matter how long it takes. He may have to look in the garage, the attic, the shed, the bedrooms…He may have to search the entire house. But he knows his father is home…
If the father is in the study with the door shut, the boy knocks until the dad answers. And when the father lovingly says, “Come in.” The boy boldly opens the door and asks for whatever he needs.
It may seem like our Father is no where to be found. But he says, “Seek me my beloved sons and daughters, and you’ll find me.” It may seem like God is behind a brass door. But he says, “I hear and answer the faintest of knocks.”
Our Father loves it when we pray!
“Ask – receive. Seek – find. Knock – the door will be opened.” We have every reason to keep lifting up hope-filled prayers for our friend Ian.
We’ve been seeking for 7 months and haven’t found yet…we’ve been knocking for 212 days and we haven’t seen the door opened. But God has promised! He’s our father, we’re his children.
Today is Ian’s 22nd birthday. Let’s give him the gift of our prayers! Today, by the grace of God, let’s resolve to pray all the harder for Ian’s complete healing. Let’s keep asking, seeking, and knocking!
“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? [27] And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [28] And why are you anxious about clothing? Con sider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, [29] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [30] But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
– Matthew 6:26-30 –
Flowers just grow and bloom beautifully for the glory of God, and then they die. Their existence is effortless and anxiety-free. There’s no struggle with anxiety (or, rather, sinful unbelief) for a flower. There’s no struggle with any other sin for that matter. But, then, they can’t know and appreciate the mercy of God nor any other aspect of the glorious character of God. We get to see that and appreciate it for all of eternity because of what He did for us on the cross. For some reason, He counts as having more value than flowers.
God displays something of His glory in a flower. God clothes the flowers and the grass and the birds; it isn’t Mother Nature. God clothes and upholds the universe. And, I’m of more value than those other things that He clothes. Ian is of more value than those things. Will he not much more care for Ian? That question penetrates my conscience and correctly charges me with unbelief. Help me, Lord, to know for certain every moment that you are there and that you are caring for Ian.
We were with Ian today learning more about how to care for his physical needs. We will need the Lord’s strength to care for these needs of Ian’s when he comes home. Pray for us. Pray for his eye which continues to be a problem. Pray that he wakes up.
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“…which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life (Matt 26:28)?” I can’t add one hour to my span of life whether I’m anxious or not. That’s the answer to this question. I don’t control my life; it’s in the hands of the One who cares for me. Lord, help me to remain at rest in my Father’s care.
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