It’s my “anniversary” today. 

Two years since I saw headlights coming at me from the wrong direction. 

Two years since strangers helped pull me from the wreckage of my car. 

Two years since my dear friends rescued me from the side of the road and cared for me at both hospitals and homes for weeks on end. 

Two years since I was miraculously delivered from death. 

In some ways, it feels like it was a lifetime ago that I was lying on the side of that Malaysian roadside – hardly able to breathe and feeling the pain of multiple broken bones. In other ways, it feels like it was just yesterday and I can’t believe that I am walking, dancing, running again. 

What a testimony of God’s grace. What a beautiful remembrance of His mercy. 

I’m still brought to tears of gratitude when I think of my wonderful family, friends, and church members who faithfully showed me what it means to belong to the body of Christ. The way that they sacrificed their time, energy, homes – covered for me at work, showered me with love and support, helped me to my appointments, helped me prepare and pack up my life to move. I am still amazed and blown away by the sacrificial love shown to me. 

It may seem a bit odd to focus on a date filled with pain and life-altering change. But it can be so easy to move on and forget once the danger is past and I don’t want to do that. I never want to get used to the amazing gift of life God gave me two years ago. I never want to forget how He carried me through sorrow, pain, and grief. How He showed me He cares about all the details of my life, big and small – from the healing of my body, to the tender farewells and love from my community that supported me for five years in Malaysia. 

What a gift to know God cares for and loves His people. He knows our frame, He knows our needs, He truly is “El Roi” – the God who sees (Genesis 16:13). Praise the One who gives and takes away, blessed be His Name forevermore. 

 ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

and to take him at his word;

just to rest upon his promise,

and to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!

How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er!

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

O for grace to trust him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,

just to trust his cleansing blood;

and in simple faith to plunge me

neath the healing, cleansing flood! 

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,

just from sin and self to cease;

just from Jesus simply taking

life and rest, and joy and peace.

• Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus by Louisa M.R. Stead