My Rock Of Truth In Trauma

My Rock Of Truth In Trauma

Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for my only hope is in your laws. –Psalm 119:43

I was sad to get this e-mail recently from Michelle Alm, one of my friends from Tyndale House Publishers, with the subject line “Holding on to Hope!”

DEAR NANCY: Early in the morning on Saturday, October 9th, my son, Vince, was in a serious car accident. As a result of his injuries, he is a C6 quadriplegic. This tragedy has rocked my world in a way I did not even know was possible. I am very thankful that you have gone ahead of me in sadness. Seeing that you survived it is the hope I need to move ahead.

DEAR MICHELLE: The words “he is a C6 quadriplegic” don’t seem to do justice to the immensity of this trauma. I can’t imagine how hard this has been and how hard the future must look for you and for Vince. I went for a walk after I got your e-mail to talk to God. Sometimes I have to check in with him to make sure it is all still true—his goodness, his sovereignty, his purpose in suffering, his desire for our ultimate good, his love, heaven. Because if it isn’t true, we are completely without hope in this life, and it is all meaningless. If it isn’t true, then pointing hurting people toward him is actually very cruel. But if it is true, then we can trust him; we can love him, no matter what happens. And I firmly believe it is true; he is true! In these days, as your world has been rocked so significantly, grab on to what is true and determine to hold on to it even as the winds of doubt and despair blow over you. It is not necessarily great faith or great courage that will get you through this (although that is what others no doubt will see). It is holding on to what you know is true about God and refusing to let go.

DEAR NANCY: “The LORD’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning.” My pillow at the end of these long days is my greatest friend. It means that enough suffering has gone on for today, and even though I know there will be new opportunities to feel the sadness of this loss the next day, I have suffered enough for today.

Michelle’s source for hope and strength is the Truth. Will you hold on to this hope along with her, regardless of what rocks your world?

Rock of truth, I run to hide in you and be strengthened by you as everything in my world quakes around me. I’m holding on to you and never letting go.

DIGGING DEEPER