Journal Entry 1/1 From Kristi
2020 is over and 2021 is now upon us. It seems the whole world is taking a deep sigh of relief to say goodbye to the past year and standing with hopeful expectation of days to come.
Zac said to me today regarding his paralysis, “It’s like God gave me a reset.”
In one moment, it seemed everything in Zac’s life changed; in an instant he went from strength to weakness, from plans to uncertainty, from ability to dependency. Everything “gone”. But he says this “excites him”. I should have started counting how many times he used the word excited those first few weeks. This is his great “reset”. The opportunity to be taken down to nothing that the Lord can rebuild him in His image. This is why he is excited.
Everything changed, but then again, nothing changed. For his life was not built on the physical, but on Jesus Christ. This mystifies people. A reporter asked him, “How have you been so strong through all of this?”
His answer: “My faith in God. It is my firm foundation. When everything is stripped away, He is the Perfect thing to hold onto. And it has been incredible to see that through the fire, He has been there the entire time. I would rather be through the fire with God than in the world alone without Him.”
The physical change in his life is so drastic right now, but he is choosing faith, choosing to stay locked onto the promises of God. It is a choice. And because of his choice, his spiritual strength is matching his physical weakness.
Closing off this first day of 2021, this was Zac’s prayer: “I thank You, Lord, for this day, for the opening of a new year. I pray that You would bless it and go before us and that You would take control this year; You already have it all planned out. I pray that we would follow the steps that You want us to. As Proverbs 16:9 says, ‘A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.’ Thank You for this last year and for Your hand through it all. In Jesus name, Amen.”
Rich and the kids have returned home, I’m settled into my long-term apartment next door to the hospital, and we are taking a deep breath, ready to charge into this year with faith, joy, gratitude, and expectancy - for we KNOW we will see the goodness of the Lord! (Psalm 27:13)
