"WHEN YOU CAN'T ... YOU CAN ...!"

Written and Preached by David P. Nolte

MATTHEW 11:1-6

As Todd Huston was untangling the ski ropes to prepare for inner-tubing, the outboard motor kicked into reverse and sucked his legs into the prop. His dad pulled him out of the water and into the boat and sped to shore to get help. Examination disclosed that the sciatic nerve had been severed and his right leg would be paralyzed from the knee to the toes. The doctors said there was even a good chance he'd never walk again. Todd was bewildered. He cried, "Why me? Why me?" Bone disease set into his right foot and for the next 7 years he battled to keep his leg, but he finally had to face the inevitable amputation. A Bible verse came to him, "righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps." Psalms 85:13. Todd couldn't see any good in his predicament. He couldn't see the way prepared for him, but he learned to listen to God's word and promise. John the Baptist was in a spot where his spiritual eyesight failed him. "Why me?" might have found its way from his heart to his lips. His once clear vision of Jesus Christ was clouded. Sometimes that's the way it is for us, too, but when you can't do one thing, you can do another.

Todd was blinded by grief and he couldn't see why he had been allowed to go through all his pain, but he listened to God's word. In april, 1981, he knew that he had to go through with the amputation and when he settled that in his mind, he found courage to face the unavoidable. He didn't know what God had in store for him, but he believed that God held him in his hand. His leg was gone, but not his faith. He studied psychology and graduated magna cum laude and took a job as director of the amputee resource center in california. He became a great inspiration to others who had suffered the loss of a limb. He said, "the steps I must take in my life are ordered. I guess I'm on the right path, but what is my next step?" He didn't know his next step, but he believed God. That's what John the Baptist needed to do as he questioned, "are you the expected one?" He didn't know right then, but he needed to believe.

Todd believed in God and that he would help him. Before the accident, todd had hiked and camped and been an athlete. Now, with a prosthesis he could walk but not much more. A new device was invented called flex-foot which enabled him to be more mobile and with determination and effort, he was soon able to run 12 miles per day, but that wasn't enough. He heard about an expedition seeking for an amputee to climb the highest mountain in all 50 states in 100 days or less! Todd wanted to be that amputee and he trusted God to help him accomplish what no other amputee had accomplished. He prayed about it and became convinced that this was to be his next step. He applied to participate in the expedition. After he was accepted and had made all preparations, the expedition was cancelled for lack of funds! Todd didn't understand because he had been convinced that God was leading him to do this, but he trusted God for the finances and soon had enough backing on his own. Incredibly, state by state, mountain by mountain, in 66 days, 21 hours and 37 minutes todd had succeeded in shattering the old record by 35 days! He had trusted God when he just didn't understand, and he had conquered. John the baptist, too, needed to trust even when he didn't understand. We are often in that same position.

Todd Huston's testimony is this, "through faith in God and a belief in the abilities God gives you, you can overcome whatever challenges you face in life!" People are prone to believe and trust the strangest things. We can read in enquirer or some other piece of pulp, "Mom to be on diet of only chicken, lays huge egg!" or "WWII bomber found on the moon!" or "Woman gives birth to 2 year old baby: child walks and talks in 3 days!" People will read and believe this nonsense, but refuse to take God's revealed and inspired word seriously! No wonder people lose spiritual sight and are confused! But God has spoken to us! We need to trust Him! We need to put faith in Him! When you've run the course of your endurance, His full giving just begins. When you've become weary, you can roll onto Him the load that has crushed you and he can bear it. When you've done what you can, God will do what you can't! And when you can't face life, you can faith it! When you do, you'll find that faith is the victory! Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!

(STORY FROM: "A SECOND HELPING OF CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL!" Canfield and Hansen, Health Communications, Inc., Deerfield Beach, Fla.)

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