Walking With Christ

This daily email is my personal testimony. It isn’t to change anyone’s mind on this or that. I do encourage discussion because that’s what the church should be doing. I don’t really have a specific goal with any given email. I’m simply sharing my walk with the Lord in the hopes that the things He is showing me resonates with someone else. I know that I’m not the only one being shown these things. I’m not the first. I won’t be the last.

In Proverbs we read, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)(ESV)

I’ve struggled with trust my entire life. It’s difficult for me to trust anyone beyond the socially required platitudes. I’m more than willing to be open to just about anybody on just about any subject. My fear? The deeper truth is that I’m only willing to share those things that I’ve turned over to God. Those things hold no power over me. I trusted in people who should have been trustworthy only to find out that they were human. The first time I came to church on my own, I trusted in the people there because I felt safe and accepted for the first time in my life. They told me to trust in God so I did. The pastor I trusted died at an exceedingly young age and I began to spiral. When I got kicked out of my home, I walked away from the church and God for many years.

When I came back to the church again, life was amazing. Then God asked if I trusted Him. How else do you respond to that? Of course, I said yes. Then I almost died. I spent several weeks with amnesia and several years with severe memory deficits. I trusted God before the wreck. I continued to trust Him after the wreck even through the mental rebuilding. I trusted Him because I could still remember the absolute peace of being in His presence. Even in the worst storms or disasters, I felt a joyous peace. I didn’t feel that peace after the wreck, but I could remember what it felt like.

It was that memory of peace, the recollection of God’s presence, that anchored me. It became clear that trust in God isn’t just about the calm moments; it’s also about holding on during the tempests, even when you can’t feel His hand immediately. My journey through recovery was a testament to that—a real-life example of walking by faith, not by sight.

As I navigated the fog of healing, the verse from Proverbs took on new meaning. I couldn’t rely on my own understanding—quite literally, as my memory and cognition were impaired. I had to acknowledge Him in all my ways, especially since my own capabilities were so diminished. And you know what? He did make my paths straight. Not free from obstacles, but navigable, with His guidance at every uncertain turn.

This experience has taught me that trust in the Lord with all your heart is not just a nice phrase for wall art; it’s a lifeline. It’s a daily, sometimes minute-by-minute decision to say, “God, I don’t get it. I don’t understand why things happen the way they do, but I choose to trust You.” It’s about surrendering the need for control and opening up to the possibilities of God’s plan, even when it’s far different from what we imagined.

Today, I encourage you to reflect on your own journey of trust. Where has God asked you to rely on Him? How have you responded? And if you’re in the midst of a storm, or if the path seems too twisted to walk, remember Proverbs 3:5-6. Let it be your anchor and your direction. Trust in Him, lean not on your own understanding, and watch as He aligns your paths with His perfect will.

And so, my friends, as I share this walk, I pray that my testimony of trust, of brokenness, and of restoration speaks to you. I hope that it reminds you that you’re not alone in the struggle, and that our collective stories are threads in the grand tapestry of His kingdom.

God’s peace be with you all,
Don