Today’s devotional courtesy of Paul Tripp entitled ‘Jesus Is with You.’
———
In the quiet of the night
when doubts creep in
and take control,
when you wonder
if God is really good,
his word is really true,
if his love never fails.
When it seems like
everything has faded away,
you in the darkness,
fear your only friend,
your theology
no longer comforts,
experience screams
“You are alone,”
your doubt such a heavy weight
you feel it may crush you.
When night of the soul falls
you are not alone.
When the escape of death
is more attractive
than the long travail of life.
When guilt assaults
and shame betrays.
When lies silence truth
and everything once sure
floats in a pool of uncertainty.
When you don’t know
who you are or what you’re doing.
When night of the soul falls
you are not alone.
The One who is with you
in the light
is always with you
in the darkness.
The One who suffered for you
never leaves you
when you suffer.
The One who faced the enemy
on your behalf
won’t turn away when he attacks.
The One who never lied
will silence the enemy’s lies.
The One who was rejected
will never reject you.
The One who was God’s provision
will provide for you.
When night of the soul falls
you are not alone.
Jesus is with you in
the darkness.
Jesus is with you in
confusion’s cloud.
Jesus is with you when
doubt’s burden is heavy.
Jesus is with you in
guilt’s shame.
Jesus is with you when
strength fades.
Jesus is with you in
the soul’s winter.
Jesus is with you.
Jesus is with you.
This is the promise of grace.
Today’s Updates:
In many ways, Zach’s week was similar to last week. He is refusing to eat most of his food, although he will sometimes take one or two items in a day. Zach is receiving tube feed to make sure he is still getting the nutrition he needs. Zach is often agitated and resists his regular care and routines like getting dressed, receiving oral care, going in his wheelchair, and getting his vitals taken. Please pray that this period of agitation for Zach will pass soon and that he will be calm and trust his care team and the people around him.
Zach got a brain MRI on Thursday to check if anything neurological might be causing his increased agitation. He received some calming medications and was able to remain still during the MRI. The brain scan showed nothing concerning, other than the expected brain atrophy caused by his original anoxic brain injury.
Zach’s communication has been inconsistent over the past week, where he will sometimes indicate something using his eye tracking device or by pointing at a choice, but then become upset when we give him what he asked for. Zach has been very clear in forming “yeah” and “no” with his mouth when he is motivated, but he is more inclined to say “no” in general, which can make it hard to know what he wants or needs. Please pray that Zach’s ability to communicate will improve and become more consistent. Pray also that we will be able to understand Zach’s needs and help him to feel safe and comfortable.
Zach went to more therapies this week than last week, but he was quite tired during his sessions. He also resisted treatment sometimes, especially for his left wrist. Zach has been working on rolling onto his stomach in physio and has been doing remarkably well given how long he was not in his regular physio sessions. Zach also got to try a new adapted controller setup to play video games in recreation therapy early in the week. Please pray that Zach will enjoy all his therapies and be able to work hard in all of his sessions.
We had a family meeting with Zach’s care team on Thursday to discuss long term care options for Zach. There are only three facilities in Calgary that would accept Zach as a patient since he is a young adult (younger than 55). This means there will be a long waiting list before Zach can be accepted into a long term care facility. We also learned that, whether Zach is placed in a long term care facility or in home care, he will have access to an outpatient program for brain injury patients where he would have access to therapists or therapy assistants for three half days each week.
Since it will likely be a long time before any of the long-term care options for Zach become available, the plan is for Zach to stay on his current neuro rehab unit until at least the end of this year. Please join us in thanking God that Zach can continue to receive intensive rehab care for the rest of the year. Pray that Zach will benefit from his time on this unit, and pray that God will provide a place for Zach to receive the care that he needs in the long term. Please pray also for strength and clarity for us while we consider what Zach’s future will look like. Have a blessed Sunday.
“So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel. And he said to them, “I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’ The Lord your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them, and Joshua will go over at your head, as the Lord has spoken. And the Lord will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them. And the Lord will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole commandment that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
(Deuteronomy 31:1-8)
