The theme for today is anchor.

Hope needs an anchor. There’s so much going on. Beeping. Buzzing. Dinging. Ringing. Testing. Wrapping. Unwrapping. Moving. Shifting. Turning. Scanning. Meeting. Feeding. Medicating. Updating. Talking. Listening. Questioning. Praying. Hoping.

All the noises. The days are a topsy turvy rollercoaster. Some days it feels like you’re riding one wave after another. You feel dizzy. You feel weak. And your brain ends up in a fog. You long for security, safety, and stability.

God knows this. That’s why He’s such a loving comforter, a constant encourager, and a faithful Father. His Word is full of assurance, affirmation, and acclamation. He provides us with one promise after another. His promises will come true for us, that our future and Zach’s future, is firmly in His hand for our good. For His glory!

Hope needs an anchor. Better yet, Hope IS an anchor. And God says, “take it, hold it, keep it!” The anchor is reality. The anchor is God’s promises. The anchor is a blessing. The anchor is Heaven. The anchor is anything and everything that tells us who God is for us in Jesus Christ. The anchor is Jesus.

The anchor is lodged. Lodged for the long haul. Lodged forever. It won’t budge. So, we will take it, hold it, and keep it! We can long for it, bank on it, trust in it, feel secure in it, and be satisfied with it. His grace is sufficient. The anchor is sufficient.

Today’s Updates:

The doctor spoke with us again regarding the brain MRI results from yesterday. They say that Zach’s brain might still recover and he might wake up since he is so young. The plan is to continue to wait and see as there is nothing for them to do right now. Let us continue to pray that Zach’s brain will recover and that he will wake up in God’s time.

Zach has two chest tubes now. A CT of his chest last night showed some infected fluid around the same lung as before. Zach’s breathing and his lungs are looking much better now. Both of the chest tubes will have to stay in until Zach is off the ventilator.

We had a family meeting today to discuss a more long-term plan for Zach. With the multiple infections and the brain hypoxia, Zach will have a longer stay in the hospital. They talked with us about the possibility of a tracheostomy tube, which is a breathing tube inserted in his neck instead of the tube in his mouth. The tracheostomy will be more comfortable and long-term than his current breathing tube. One of the surgeons will be meeting with us this week to talk more about this.

We continue to hope and pray for healing and patience, knowing that our God sees our pain and hears our prayers.

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When upon the rising seas the angry billows roll
My Savior is my refuge and the harbor of my soul
For when the tempest rages; when night grows dark and chill
He comes to bid my fearful heart,
“Peace, peace, be still.”

(Peace Be Still by Sally DeFord)

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We who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Hebrews 6:18b,19a)