One of my favorite radio preachers is doing a series on Christian warfare out of Ephesians 6 with emphasis on Paul’s words, “having done everything, stand firm.” The significance of that phrase, “stand firm” which is the idea of holding a critical position while under attack is of utmost importance. The phrase is repeated by Paul several times. Our position must prayerfully be built upon our study of God’s Word, and knowing God’s sovereignty, we are to be unwavering in our commitment to Him!  Life is a struggle, and for the Christian it is a struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil into the traps and difficulties which come our way in daily living. These difficulties come in forms which we could never anticipate or imagine, but they are real, and this is why we must stand firm.

Something I rarely speak of to others, for we all have our burdens, but my son Josh is something front and center before my family. Josh is Jan and mine oldest son, and a husband, and father of four children. Our care for him is the reason Jan and I, and his wife miss many of the activities at church that we were always engaged in prior to his stroke on February 5^th, 2020. Josh, at the time of his stroke was preaching one out of every three worship services at GBC. He was working full-time as IT Manager for Advanced Solar. He was attending seminary via distance learning at Liberty University on the Dean’s special honor roll, and leading “Trail Life,” a Christian boy scout troop of about 50 youngsters. Josh was also the person who started and ran the “Men’s Breakfast.” He initiated and planned our first “Fall Festival.” He created the GBC logo we have on all printed material, and designed the initial web site which continues to upgraded and maintained by others. As a deacon, he was also sitting in a learning position with the elder board, and additionally engaged in many other matters, and was especially committed to his family and their activities.

Why am I bringing this up now? A good portion of those that I write to each week have come to be with us at GBC in the last four years and do not know my son or this background. I present it now for the benefit of all brethren and the blessed need we all have to, “stand firm.” Josh’s stroke at age 37 came with no warning and was massive precisely in the worst area of his brain for control of his body. He, according to the doctors, would not live, but he continues to do so. For the first three years, following the stroke, he was in and out of 8 different hospitals on 15 different occasions. Two of his hospital stays were for months. He has been at death’s door several times. You may know that his stroke occurred just at the start of the Covid crisis, which made the situations of his care poor and often near intolerable. Shortly after his stroke, his family was barred from hospital visits for his needed oversight that only a family member can give in his critical condition. This barring from his presence went off and on for the first two years following the stroke. By the grace of God and much prayer, he made it through those incredible times, and so did his family.

Today, Josh resides at our residence with frequent visits from his precious immediate family. Allison relieves Jan and I for grocery and church matters according to a schedule. Josh does not move freely. He moves by reaction and rarely by purpose. He can randomly move his feet. He has on rare occasions moved his hands when asked. He at times communicates with eye blinks and foot moving, but this is not consistent. He is awake and appears alert but is expressionless. He cannot blink his left eye, and therefore it requires consistent attention. This eye was also injured by the stroke. He requires a low level of oxygen and is on a minimal ventilator setting 15 hours each day. He is fed through a stomach tube. He is also on a tracheotomy. He is always on a monitor with alarm settings. All things must be done for him because of this condition. With all the difficulty, Josh appears otherwise content. He is able to make noises when he is uncomfortable, of which we are now familiar. In the rare times when we are able to communicate with him through his limited movements, he expresses his continued faith in the Lord. By the way, no one hears more sermons than Josh. We are constantly playing either sermons or music before him except when he is in the living room with us, then he must endure old westerns on the inspiration channel.

Where does a situation like this take a person, and how does it end? We all have trials in our life, and this trial has and continues to be difficult. Yet, God has been gracious through it. He has been with Josh and with his family. All of us know that everything is spiritual! There are matters of living that none of us would ever learn or experience if God did not take us into trials we could never imagine or consider. We must all remember that God is in control and knows what He is doing for His purposes and our benefit. What is our responsibility in all of the difficulties of life? We are to, “stand firm, having done everything, stand firm.” I am always reminded of the words of Romans 8:31, “If God be for us who can be against us?” Paul then follows this with a listing of every possibility that could separate us from the love of God and concludes that separation is not possible. We do not know how Josh will be going forward, even though he has become more stable, humanly his outlook is uncertain. However, we know that God can do anything. How does our trial end? Well, it ends like all the situations for those in Christ. It ends in glory for those who love Him. There are and will be bumps and chasms in the road, but the ultimate outcome will be for those in Him, “exceeding great joy.” What are we in Christ facing today? Know that God has all these things in His hands, and He will never leave or forsake us. So, “stand firm, and having done everything, stand firm!”

PS – Peter says, “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Pet. 5:10).  Josh preached a great message on this very text on August 12^th, 2018, titled, “The God of all Grace.”