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We all have struggles; they just come in ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������� �������������������� �������� ������������������������������ �������� �������� of the day, we’re all in the same boat. We all �������� �������������������� ������ �������������� ������ ������������ ���������� ������ be. Places that hurt. Places that stretch us beyond what we imagine we can bear. saying, “No duh! I know I’m in prison. I know I’m without a job. I know I’m lying in a hospital bed. I know I’m homeless. I know I’m without a spouse.” Whatever it is—there you are. But have you accepted where you are? Have you come to grips with the fact that you are where you are? These words are so simple to say, but they aren’t easy to live out. It’s not always easy to accept your situation and face its challenges, but doing so will change your life. This is practical step number one for moving forward. Accept Where You Are Where I am, there I am became my foundation when I was told I was dying and needed to say goodbye to my wife and family. At that moment, I had to come to grips with the fact that I was in the hospital, severely burned, and clinging to my life. I had to accept it. I couldn’t hold on to the past, dwell on “what ifs” or “if onlys,” or worry about my future. I had to focus on where I was right then and there. On that hospital bed in indescribable pain, I had two options: I could either be an angry, miserable, defeated person who gives up on life; or I could choose to hope against all odds. Matt experienced many dark days as he underwent multiple surgeries and horrific skin-graft procedures. He emerged from the darkness because of his faith and a determination to face what was difficult. With God’s help and a determined spirit, Matt Manzari is living a full life once again. Here he is with his wife, Bobbye Jean, and their sons, Justice and Trigg. I could choose to embrace where I was, to stay strong, and do what I needed to do to move forward from that place. Weighing those options, I realized being bitter and angry wouldn’t stop the surgeries. It wouldn’t stop the pain that resulted from the daily scrubbing of raw, open muscle, tissue, and bone. It wouldn’t accomplish anything other than my own defeat. It would tempt me to accept the lies that I was a burden, that I’d never get better, that I’d never see my child born, never walk again, never hold my wife’s hand again, or never go outside. It would cause me to accept that I was destined to suffer and die in that hospital bed. I couldn’t do that. So I chose to hope. I chose to spend every day of however many days I had left, pouring myself back into my loved ones and those trying to help me medically. I chose to fight with everything I had. If the doctors were right and I died, then at least I would be remembered for fighting till the very last minute. And most importantly, they would know I’d held strong to my faith until the end. Isn’t that what we are called to do? And isn’t that the heart of the gospel? A gospel that is also simple but not easy. Growing up, I heard the gospel of Jesus Christ so much that I almost brushed it off. It was such an easy concept—God sent His Son to die for my sin; if I trust in Jesus, I inherit eternal life (John 3:16). But even for Jesus, walking out His surrendered life and facing a brutal death at the hands of the very ones He loved was not easy. It cost God and Jesus everything. Likewise, walking out the Christian life here on earth will not be easy either. We all encounter trials and tribulations, but we can still experience kingdom living. We can have peace, joy, purpose, contentment, love, acceptance, and power, wherever we are! But victory begins with accepting “where I am, there I am” and then determining to bring glory to Christ in that place. The God of the universe humbly came to earth, took on flesh, and died a criminal’s death on a cross so that I could have eternal life and an abundant life here on earth. What more can I ask of Him? How can I not spend my life here on continued on page 34 kojministries.org Issue 2 2017 17


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