I’ve had an amazing opportunity recently to support a friend who suffered a catastrophic injury.
I won’t share the details because they don’t matter. Becky asked me if it was difficult to sit and talk to someone in circumstances so similar to mine – 38 years ago. Honestly, I was sort of surprised at my answer.
Because it wasn’t difficult.
I think she worried that this experience might bring back difficult memories. It did, of course. It was easy to see myself in the same situation, to hear myself asking the same questions and crying the same tears.
But – during those 38 years, Jesus has walked beside me during times that made absolutely no sense. During those 38 years, there was the story of RELENTLESS GRACE. During those 38 years, I’ve cranked a handcycle more than 53,000 miles.
And in the last 13 years, The FREEDOM TOUR community has donated more than $1,000,000 to support the kids at Project Rescue’s Home of Hope.
So, I could say with confidence, “God DID NOT do this to you. It was a horrible accident.”
I could say with confidence, “Your only job right now is to get better, to work hard at your therapy. Because it WILL get better.”
I could say with confidence, “You are not alone. Jesus is right here, right now. He stood beside you when you were injured, and he wept. And he’s not going anywhere.”
This quiet confidence didn’t come from me. I believe it was Jesus speaking through me, through my 38 years of experiences.
I said sitting with my friend wasn’t difficult, but it wasn’t easy, either. Too much familiar medical equipment, too much familiar physical struggle. Hanging out in that environment wouldn’t be my first choice.
I’m grateful for the quiet confidence, for the blessing of sharing my horrific experience with my friend.
I’m grateful Jesus held us in his hands.