Faith to Be Strong

Now that my tests are over with for a while, I decided to update the blog. I’m also going to deviate slightly from my Stout Women discussion. Today I’m going to write about my brother. I’m dedicating this blog post to him.

This coming Saturday March 12, marks the first anniversary of my brother’s accident. Many of you know that my brother Stephen was in a serious car accident on March 12, 2010. While he was driving to workout after work on that Friday afternoon, he ran into the back of a semi. The driver’s side of his car was underneath the backend of the semi.  When crews arrived on scene they told us that they were preparing for a fatality but when they go to his car they found that Stephen was still alive. The fire fighter’s had to use the jaws of life to cut him out of his car. Stephen was rushed to the emergency room. Upon his arrival, they found that Stephen only had a LaForte fracture of his face. He had no internal injuries and he had no brain damage.

I arrived at the hospital with some family friends. I couldn’t recognize my brother, they had placed a tube down his throat to help control his airway. I was overwhelmed and brought to tears. We immediately began activating our support system and praying. After they got Stephen a room in the neurotrauma ICU we meet Stephen’s doctors. They told us that in order for them to do the facial reconstruction surgery the swelling would have to go down. Because it was the weekend of spring break they could either do the surgery Sunday or Thursday. We began asking our friends and family to pray that the swelling would go down so they could do the surgery on Sunday. The Lord answered our prayers and Stephen had surgery on Sunday. This was the first of many answers to prayers that came in the coming weeks.

During this time the Lord showed my family the power of prayer and his providence and protection. We firmly believe that he Lord was with Stephen that Friday afternoon in his car. We found out this fall that he was inches away from the back the semi. The Lord sent an angel to stop his car. We realized that we could have lost my brother that day. I learned to appreciate how valuable our lives are.

Stephen was released from the hospital 1 week to the day of his accident. His jaw was wired shut and he was on a liquid diet for 8 weeks. We were so happy that we were able to bring Stephen home.  Stephen began a long recovery. I can’t imagine how hard these initial weeks were for Stephen.  But I saw my brother persevere and finding a new strength in the Lord. He has not allowed himself to be held back by his accident but has chosen to use it to witness to the power of God in our lives. I admire my big brother. He has been through a lot in the past year and hasn’t given up. He still is recovering from his accident. He is currently wearing braces. In the accident he lost five teeth. After the braces have correct the area he will then have implants to replace the teeth that he lost. He refuses to give up and continues to persevere. My big brother is an extra special person to me. He came to live with me when I needed a roommate. He is the best roommate I have ever had. I have enjoyed the past six months living with my brother and getting to know him better.

This week I think God for my brother. I think the Lord for his providence and protection. I think God for answered prayers. I realize that times in our lives we get frustrated because we think that God doesn’t answer our prayers. I firmly believe that our prayers don’t go under heard, but sometimes the Lord says wait. There is power in prayer and my family is living proof of that. The Lord promises to never give us more than we can handle. All though it seemed like it at the time the Lord made us a stronger family through that week we spent at St. John’s last March. I recently heard a song by Andrew Peterson on the radio. It’s called Faith to Be Strong. I feel that this song is a theme for my family of the past year whether we knew it or not, God knew it. God knew that only faith could bring us through this difficult time.

Give us faith to be strong

Father, we are so weak

Our bodies are fragile and weary

As we stagger and stumble to walk where you lead

Give us faith to be strong

Give us faith to be strong

Give us strength to be faithful

This life is not long, but it's hard

Give us grace to go on

Make us willing and able

Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we're torn

Mend us up when we break

This flesh can be wounded and shaking

When there's much too much trouble for one heart to take

Give us peace when we're torn

Give us faith to be strong

Give us strength to be faithful

This life is not long, but it's hard

Give us grace to go on

Make us willing and able

Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us hearts to find hope

Father, we cannot see

How the sorrow we feel can bring freedom

And as hard as we try, Lord, it's hard to believe

So, give us hearts to find hope

Give us faith to be strong

Give us strength to be faithful

This life is not long, but it's hard

Give us grace to go on

Make us willing and able

Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we're torn

Give us faith, faith to be strong