There are days in our lives, and in history, that will ever be identified by what occurred on them. Some are on a national or global scale – July 4, 1776… December 7, 1941… September 11, 2001… dates that, when mentioned, remind us of some important event or grievous tragedy. Others, far more personal in nature, are no less emblazoned in our own memories – glorious days like the day of our marriage and the days our children were born or, better put, days when the course of our lives were dramatically changed by some type of occurrence. For my family, we have days like those – February 4, 1989… August 30, 1990… July 23, 1992… April 9, 1995… July 7, 1997 – are all special to us. Those represent in our memories the day Michelle and I were married and the days our children were born. There is also January 16, 2001, which will forever be etched in our memories and hearts as the day Michelle was first diagnosed with breast cancer, beginning a battle that ultimately showed us, at a deeper level than ever before, the faithfulness of God to fulfill His promises even through trials. Another one of those days is one that we are daily reminded of – July 3, 2014. That is the day, sitting in my Neurologists office prior to doing some Fourth of July party shopping, I heard him say, “If we had to hang our hats on a diagnosis, we believe you have ALS.” In that moment, in an instant, I joined the ranks of a select group of people who, having heard such words, can truly understand what it feels like to be told they have a disease with no cure and no treatment, and that will, over time, take their life, but not before decimating their body and stealing from it the ability to function.

As I left the office that day, heading to Costco to do the aforementioned Fourth of July party shopping, there was a swirling numbness of mind that I can’t really describe. One of those surreal moments when your mind is “quietly loud” with thought, yet you cannot lock on to any one. Arriving safely in the Costco parking lot but not really remembering driving there, I found myself talking to my wife and then to a Christian brother and friend, trying to break through the fog of that numbness to somehow find clarity of thought and direction, all the while trying to encourage my wife and then my friend, who were just now hearing of my diagnosis for the first time, that I was okay and we all would be just fine (of course, the definition of “FINE” from the movie “The Italian Job” came to mind in that moment and humorously chided me… Freaked-out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional!).

Hanging up from my calls, sitting there, and doing the only thing I knew to do – pray – the Lord in His faithfulness came flooding through, washing away the fog, and reminding me of a teaching I did a few years previous. While teaching Acts 20 to a training class of interns, I drew them to Paul’s words in Acts 20:24 where he said “none of these things shall move me…” and going on to say the focus of his life was simply to run the race the Lord had set before Him in joy, to fulfill the ministry the Lord had given Him, and to testify of the gospel of the grace of God in and through his life. I think Paul would have said of that, “I live thus… wanting to do nothing more, and nothing less!” His purpose of life was simply to know nothing more among those he came in contact with but “Christ, and Him crucified” in his  and through his life, through his numerous trials, and until he took his last breath. In that moment, sitting there in the Costco parking lot, the Lord lovingly, gently, and compassionately reminded me of what I had told those interns on that day, and many other interns since – “In the coming months, and in your life, you will go through difficult times… trials and hardships… persecution and sickness… loneliness and confusion… but, in the face of all of that, Paul would say, ‘PRESS ON!’ So, when it gets difficult and hard, I want you picture my face and hear my voice saying in that moment, ‘PRESS ON!’” As only He can, the Lord asked me as He drew my mind back to those words, “Do you believe what you taught them, Steve, and can you live your words out to My glory?” Right there and then, I purposed to somehow, someway, make this journey the Lord had me on, this race the Lord had personally set for me that now included a diagnosis of ALS, to be all about Him, and to simply seek to glorify Him through whatever would come my way.

It has been over nine years (miraculous!) since that day, forever seared into my memory, and the journey continues. I have found Him faithful throughout all those days. Even as strength continues to diminish in my legs causing me to have to use walking aids, the rest of my body losing strength, and my speech getting more and more slowed and slurred, all due to the progression of the disease, He has increasingly strengthened my faith in Him and in my resolve to “Press On” for Him to His glory. It has not always been easy, and surely there have been and are moments of discouragement and weakness, but He is always right there to wrap His loving arms around me and softly say to me, “Press On, my son!” As I continue to live with this disease, He increasingly day to day has made my supreme desire and prayer for the days, weeks, months, and, prayerfully, years to come, to simply be pointing people to the only One I know of Who can give us peace, strength, and hope, and provide any sense of meaning and purpose, in the midst of the worst of situations and circumstances that life can bring us.

So, what is it you are going through in your life… what struggle(s) are you facing… what hardship, difficulty, confusion, hurt, or disease are you being confronted with? I offer you one thing that is of greatest value – “Christ, and Him crucified…,” through Whom we receive forgiveness of sins, peace with and peace in God, and the comfort and strength to face and walk through whatever we encounter. Through increasingly focusing my mind and heart on Him, I have come to know at a deeper level that He truly has a purpose and plan for all we encounter in life, to His glory and, yes, for our good… no matter what we face. He has shown me this truth in so many ways – through His still small voice reminding me He is there in the midst of this with me, through the body of Christ reaching out to me and my family in unbelievable ways, to even a precious sister who I had the privilege of serving with (one of those interns sitting in class that day hearing my words) who wrote a song inspired by my words that reminds me daily to continue to press into the Lord and press on for His glory. Please listen – if He has done all this for a person as imperfect and weak as me, I know He can and desires to do the same for you, and will do so as you choose to make your life, including your trials and difficulties, all about Him and His fame.

Until next time… I pray for you to be encouraged, challenged, provoked, exhorted, and resolved to press on for God’s glory… and when you feel you can go no further, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and “PRESS ON!”