Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.   Proverbs 29:25

Last week in Denver, CO God gave me the opportunity to witness the difference between fear and trust.

On February 7, 2009, we had a devastating ice storm in northwest Arkansas. Tommy Van Zandt, a very special friend to many, many people, climbed a ladder to continue cutting countless limbs dangling from trees. His two sons, who had been helping him, had gone inside for lunch. The details are unknown, but Tommy fell off of the ladder and severely damaged his spinal cord resulting in paralysis from the neck down.

In an instant Tommy’s life changed, as did the lives of  his wife Robyn and their boys. And it rocked the lives of  hundreds of men and women who know and love this humble, people loving, man of God. Tommy has been at Craig Hospital in Denver for several months where he is focusing on his rehabilitation.

That’s where my story picks up. As I sat and visited with Tommy, I was amazed at his attitude. I had heard he was “the same old Tommy”, but I wasn’t prepared for his enthusiasm for how God was already using him to impact the lives of people around him, including the staff at Craig Hospital. I know that Tommy has some very difficult challenges ahead of him as he learns to fight this new battle. But he has a choice. He can fear his injury. Or, he can “trust in the Lord that will keep him safe”.  To see Tommy already trusting God for how he can be used in his present circumstances is inspirational!

Father, we join again today with hundreds, if not thousands of people to lift up to you Tommy, Robyn and their boys. We pray first for complete healing from this injury. But at the same time, we pray that you will continue to give Tommy the ability to trust you. And use Tommy’s life to inspire us to do the same in our marriages, our parenting, our work, and our friendships. Amen