GOD IS WITH YOU
“When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations at it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.”-Ephesians 3:1-7
As some of you may know, it was about a year and a half ago that I experienced a very serious medical issue that resulted in 19 days of intubation, three intense throat surgeries, extremely high fevers, and months of physical rehabilitation. The outpouring of God’s love that our family received from family, friends, New Life family, staff members from Unity School District, and our surrounding community in general was nothing short of incredible. I don’t know if we will truly ever be able to express or show the depth or magnitude of thankfulness that we feel for the overwhelming love that washed over our family during that time. Since then, I have not really spoken much about our experiences, or shared with many people about the types of emotions or intense moments our family has walked through as a result of such a large life event. First and foremost, God graciously continued to move in a powerful way in each of our lives as we each found ourselves broken at the foot of the cross in different ways. The story that I am about to share is one just one part of that journey, and the verses above provide scriptural foundation of the heavy, yet beautiful reminder that the most important legacy we can leave in this world is that which is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
After I was intubated for the first two days, they took me off the ventilator thinking I was starting to improve. Within two hours, my throat began to close and they we once again going to have to put me under. After putting me back on the ventilator, I was still awake and given a chance to hug my family and say bye before they officially put be under to prepare me for further care. I asked everyone to leave so that I could have a conversation with my oldest son, Isaiah. Frankly, nothing prepared me for having to talk with my 16-year-old son about what I wanted or needed him to take care of if I wasn’t going to make it, but I knew it was a conversation that needed to happen. As everyone left the room, Isaiah came and stood by my bed, tears in his eyes and tears in mine…we both knew the weight of the conversation without saying a word. The trouble was, I couldn’t speak. I had a tube down my throat and I couldn’t get the words out of my mouth. So, with a pen and a pad of paper, I began to write down a number of things that I wanted to ask of my son in case I never woke up. With strength from God alone, he stood there as a young man strong with tears, bearing the weight. As words became less, and a father’s love abounded, I was overwhelmed with one final message that I wanted him to know…that I needed him to know. In all capital letters, the final words I wrote on the pad of paper to Isaiah were, “GOD IS WITH YOU!” Then we embraced one another and cried…he walked out of the room, then Sara came back in the room to give me a kiss before I went to sleep and, through God’s grace and the incredible skills and decisions he gave my amazing medical staff, I woke up 17 days later.
“To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with the power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”-Ephesians 3:8-20
As Paul reveals the mystery of the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles in his letter to the Ephesians, he was imprisoned and fully aware that his life was increasingly in danger, yet he wrote it anyways. It is critical to understand that I am not boasting about this moment with my son, rather that I am sharing that in my complete brokenness, every fiber of Christ living within me wanted Isaiah to know that He…was/is…with…him…always, and that significant message must be carried on “throughout all generations.” That moment is one that continues to shape me and Isaiah, and while I first thought God wanted to bring Isaiah comfort in that moment, I now understand he was comforting and instructing us both.
-your brother in Christ, zack fugate
Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.”-Ephesians 3:1-7
As some of you may know, it was about a year and a half ago that I experienced a very serious medical issue that resulted in 19 days of intubation, three intense throat surgeries, extremely high fevers, and months of physical rehabilitation. The outpouring of God’s love that our family received from family, friends, New Life family, staff members from Unity School District, and our surrounding community in general was nothing short of incredible. I don’t know if we will truly ever be able to express or show the depth or magnitude of thankfulness that we feel for the overwhelming love that washed over our family during that time. Since then, I have not really spoken much about our experiences, or shared with many people about the types of emotions or intense moments our family has walked through as a result of such a large life event. First and foremost, God graciously continued to move in a powerful way in each of our lives as we each found ourselves broken at the foot of the cross in different ways. The story that I am about to share is one just one part of that journey, and the verses above provide scriptural foundation of the heavy, yet beautiful reminder that the most important legacy we can leave in this world is that which is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
After I was intubated for the first two days, they took me off the ventilator thinking I was starting to improve. Within two hours, my throat began to close and they we once again going to have to put me under. After putting me back on the ventilator, I was still awake and given a chance to hug my family and say bye before they officially put be under to prepare me for further care. I asked everyone to leave so that I could have a conversation with my oldest son, Isaiah. Frankly, nothing prepared me for having to talk with my 16-year-old son about what I wanted or needed him to take care of if I wasn’t going to make it, but I knew it was a conversation that needed to happen. As everyone left the room, Isaiah came and stood by my bed, tears in his eyes and tears in mine…we both knew the weight of the conversation without saying a word. The trouble was, I couldn’t speak. I had a tube down my throat and I couldn’t get the words out of my mouth. So, with a pen and a pad of paper, I began to write down a number of things that I wanted to ask of my son in case I never woke up. With strength from God alone, he stood there as a young man strong with tears, bearing the weight. As words became less, and a father’s love abounded, I was overwhelmed with one final message that I wanted him to know…that I needed him to know. In all capital letters, the final words I wrote on the pad of paper to Isaiah were, “GOD IS WITH YOU!” Then we embraced one another and cried…he walked out of the room, then Sara came back in the room to give me a kiss before I went to sleep and, through God’s grace and the incredible skills and decisions he gave my amazing medical staff, I woke up 17 days later.
“To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with the power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”-Ephesians 3:8-20
As Paul reveals the mystery of the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles in his letter to the Ephesians, he was imprisoned and fully aware that his life was increasingly in danger, yet he wrote it anyways. It is critical to understand that I am not boasting about this moment with my son, rather that I am sharing that in my complete brokenness, every fiber of Christ living within me wanted Isaiah to know that He…was/is…with…him…always, and that significant message must be carried on “throughout all generations.” That moment is one that continues to shape me and Isaiah, and while I first thought God wanted to bring Isaiah comfort in that moment, I now understand he was comforting and instructing us both.
-your brother in Christ, zack fugate
Recent
Archive
2025
September
October
November
December
Categories
no categories
No Comments