POWER PASSAGES

Several months ago, Arnie asked his email family to share how God’s Word brought them through times of struggle. The responses were powerful testimonies of God’s presence, strength, and faithfulness. While we are currently compiling these testimonies for an upcoming book, please enjoy this preview to encourage your heart today!

A Two-Year-Old with Brain Cancer and a Mother’s Surrender

READ: Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

REFLECT

Sometimes, God allows hard things to come into our lives that we cannot fix alone. During these times, we have no option but to say, “I trust You, God.” Do you trust Him no matter what?

VICKY’S STORY

On January 4, 1979, our son Kevin was born. One week later, I was sitting in a hospital room as our two year-old daughter Kalyn struggled to survive. What started as a diagnosis of amblyopia or lazy eye at her 18-month checkup had turned into a malignant brain tumor requiring immediate surgery. Her prognosis was not good, but she was still with us two months later, although very sick.

Now, I sat beside her bed rocking Kevin while my mom sat on the other side of the bed comforting Kalyn. She no longer walked or talked, and I remember thinking, "How can our little girl endure any more pain and suffering?"

How do you pray in a situation like that? I asked the Lord to be with us no matter what.

God was with us, orchestrating things we hadn’t even asked for, like the fact that we were all together. Babies weren’t allowed in patient rooms back then. When doctors heard of my struggle to go back and forth to nurse Kevin, they put Kalyn in a private room. It was such a blessing!

On this particular night, Kalyn had finally settled down. She’d been restless all day, and we thought she’d fallen asleep, a blessing in itself.

Suddenly, she lifted her little head off the pillow, looked over at Grandma, and in her tiny two-year-old voice started singing, "Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King!" She sang the entire song right there in her hospital room.

She had not uttered a word in almost two months, but remembered that song from the Christmas before she became sick. As tears streamed down my cheeks, I remember praying, "Dear Lord, You have given us the special gift of our daughter to care for and love for almost three years, but she is Yours. Please help us to grow and share Your love with others through this painful experience."

At that moment, I put Kalyn's life in God's hands, fully trusting Him.

Kalyn came home several months later. Over the years, she overcame many more struggles, including the loss of vision in one eye, many more hospitalizations and surgeries, mental deficits, seizures, and finally, a massive stroke.

Despite everything she endured, she was happy. Her smile lit up a room. She went to school, worked, and had many friends.

On January 11, 2003, at the age of 26, exactly 24 years after her brain tumor was discovered, Kalyn went to be with her heavenly Father. She brought so much joy into this world, and we thank God for every moment we had with her.

What is God asking you to surrender to Him today?

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, I put my trust in You through the joys and the trials. When life seems to be falling apart, and there seems to be no light at the end of the long, dark tunnel, help me to remember that You are always with me, and You love me and those I love, no matter the outcome.

REVEAL

Do you know someone who is walking through a difficult season? Share Proverbs 3:5 with them. Let them know that God is trustworthy.

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