Tell Your Story

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story,

those He redeemed from the hand of the foe.

— Psalm 107:2 NIV

In our Western culture we seldom have enemies hunting us down. At least not the kind of enemies we read about in the stories of the Bible — Pharaoh pursuing the Israelites or Saul chasing David. What we do have is troubles — relationship troubles, health problems, loss and grief, feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. At times our troubles can seem so overwhelming that we wonder where God is and what possible purpose He could have. Our faith dwindles as we envision a grim future or a poor outcome.

Surrender the Fight

In 2015, I found myself face-to-face with an enemy I never expected. Only 38 years old and with two young children, I sat in the doctor’s office trying to absorb the diagnosis: the excruciating headaches, deep fatigue, confusion and dizziness — a brain tumor. The tumor had to come out and quick, with further testing needed to reveal whether it was cancerous. From the get-go, I had a decision to make: rail against God and attempt to power through in my own strength or accept God’s sovereign will, surrendering the fight to the One who held my future in His hands.

My foe appeared powerful, but it didn’t compare to the God of the universe beside me.

As I lay my troubles at His feet, an unexpected calm enveloped me. It’s tempting to clench onto our lives, to grasp for what our hands can never hold. Scripture tells us that God alone holds the world together, in hands big enough to change the course of history through His Son. He cared enough to redeem us, and He cares enough to hold us right alongside the stars and galaxies.

Take Action

Pry open your clenched hands. Surrender to His ways, even when they don’t make sense. We can rest assured that God’s plan is perfect; His promises prove true (Psalm 18:30). Then wait and watch the story of His love and grace unfold.

As my hospital bed rolled into the operating room, the peace of God filled my heart. Surrendering the outcome to His perfect will freed me to breathe easy and trust that He was in control. I woke up grateful to be alive, grateful to remember my family and friends, but most of all, grateful to have a story of His faithfulness. Even while we waited for the biopsy results, God was faithful — yet again.

Share with Courage

God redeems even the internal villains of our lives, writing a story so grand we stand in awe, and then He gives us the courage to share our story. Telling others encourages them to trust their troubles to Jesus, the One who stands beside us.

Written for Devotionals Daily by Wendi Lou Lee, author of A Prairie Devotional.

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Your Turn

What foes are you battling? How can you release your grip of control and surrender your future to God? What story of God’s faithfulness does your friend or neighbor need to hear? Come share with us on our blog. We want to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily

Do YOU remember?

Relive Little House on the Prairie nostalgia with the original Baby Grace

photo credit: Jackie Juchniewicz

For Wendi Lou Lee,the four seasons she spent on Little House on the Prairie playing Baby Grace Ingalls alongside her twin sister Brenda are among God’s greatest blessings. Her good but hard life resembles what the Ingalls family experienced—great joys and sorrows. In 2015, Wendi was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Her surgery and recovery led to a newfound freedom. Sharing her story of God’s goodness through life’s most difficult circumstances brings Wendi the most joy. Learn more about Wendi through her website (wendiloulee.com) or by reading her new book, A Prairie Devotional!