I love this picture that I captured in our neighborhood. This little swing begs for a child to be pushed underneath the branches of this majestic oak. It has a storybook feel to it and almost gives you the sense that all is right with the world. I find myself longing for these simplistic moments. Moments that give us the opportunity to shut out the realities of our lives and relish the giggles of a child and the breeze of the air.
This weeks guest blogger would probably agree with me that these simple moments are some of life’s greatest treasures. Marcia’s husband, Mark, is a Co-Pastor at 3 River’s Church in St. Marys where we used to attend before we moved. I have watched the events that took place in their lives via the internet and social media. Their family has persevered, endured, been challenged and overcome many obstacles throughout the journey and trials that took place in their lives in July 2018 till the present. It is definitely a “But God…” kind of a story and they have been faithful to trust in him.
Here are Marcia’s words . . .
For I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us………that one simple verse gave me so much hope in the days that followed the most tragic and heart wrenching time in my life. For those of you reading this who don’t know my family’s story, I will try to give a quick version.
July 9, 2018, we received news that our 14-year-old son, Camden, was hit by a car while on our golf cart. The accident happened around the corner from our house, so we rushed down there not knowing just how bad it was. We thought he was in the golf cart when the car hit, but we soon found out he was pushing the golf cart from behind, (it had broken down) and the car hit him causing him to fly backwards into the windshield and then he was thrown forward 6 feet and landed face down on the road.
I never saw the car or the cart that night, but my husband did, and when he was told Camden was pushing it from behind, he just knew there was no way he could survive that. Camden was already in the ambulance when we arrived and was conscious. He talked to us and said he just wanted to go home. Thank goodness- no serious head trauma or brain injury. The entire ride to Shands Hospital my husband and I cried out over and over to please spare Camden’s life. There are so many miracles and God things that happened that night, but that is a whole other post.
Fast forward 3 days later and I am sitting in Camden’s PICU room scrolling through messages and Facebook posts while he’s in another surgery. I come across a post with Romans 8:18. Later that day the same verse pops up on my Bible app as the verse of the day. We had been told Camden had a spinal cord injury. There was no feeling below his waist. He probably wouldn’t walk again. He was currently sedated and had tubes in both his lungs. He had a tear in his aorta. His sweet legs were crushed and bandaged up, missing skin and tissue, bones broken, and fighting a different infection daily. I was in PAIN! Emotional, mental, physical, heart wrenching pain for my child! I knew my husband felt the same, as well as my daughter, Camden’s big sister, and eventually my son, when he woke up, would have to deal with so much pain realizing what had happened to him.
I sat and read that verse over and over. Another translation says, “The pain that you’ve been feeling can’t compare to the joy that’s coming.” I remember the night before Camden’s accident my devotion had me reading about JOY! I was on fire with my faith months leading up to that night. My husband and I were studying the Bible together- I was ready to go out and do whatever God was calling me to do! I was on fire for Christ-what JOY I had! Then BAM! The accident happened and my joy was replaced with intense pain.
I can tell you, as angry and heartbroken as I am sometimes, God does reveal HIS glory all the time! He was revealing his glory all throughout those months in the hospital and rehab with the doctors, nurses, and therapists who were blessings to Camden. He is now 16 and starting his junior year in high school this fall. He is driving with hand controls in his truck. He has regained more feeling and can stand and walk short distances with arm crutches. He is a living, glorious miracle. Oh don’t get me wrong, not a day goes by that I don’t think about that night and get sad, but I immediately give praise for the blessings that God has revealed to us through Camden and all the people we’ve met because of this journey and that have poured into our family and Camden’s healing.
But the verse says that the present sufferings do not compare to the future glory that will be revealed in us. Although Camden’s healing and perseverance brings glory to God and our trust in Him brings glory to God for all that see faith in God being lived out in front of them, we are promised something even far more spectacular. We suffer in many ways in this life but in Romans 8:32 we are reminded that God did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all. The suffering servant, obedient even unto death becomes the name above all names, the king of kings, the lord of lords and every knee will bow and confess that he is Lord! Yes we suffer, especially for the sake of Jesus, but Romans 8:16-17 says, “the Spirit himself testifies that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, PROVIDED WE SUFFER with him in order that we may also be GLORIFIED with him.” It is unthinkable but true – we will be glorified with Christ. We are not worthy, yet God has made a way for us to have JOY for all eternity through his son Jesus. We get the whole deal – suffering with Christ and sharing in glory with Christ. The suffering is short and temporary, but the glory and joy are eternal. What a promise! This promise is what gets me through the tough times.
There will be suffering in this life, and how could anyone get through it without faith and trust in our Savior, Christ Jesus? I pray that everyone reading this knows Jesus personally and can stand firm in His promise. Turn your pain into JOY! Give God the GLORY!
Marcia Lang