Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth has been a long-time “mentor from afar” to me via her books and the Revive Our Hearts daily podcast. When I learned that she and her husband were writing a book together, I knew it would be a great book and was eager to read it. This book arrived in my mailbox (thank you, Revive Our Hearts launch team!) and within a couple weeks, I had it read. That’s saying something – because if you know me, you know that I am usually reading about fifteen books at once! (For real.)
This book is brimming with real-life stories of everyday people, ranging from close friends of the Wolgemuth’s to Christians from history to people in the Bible. Underscoring each of these stories is what we tend to dread: the painful wrench of unexpected, undesirable events that disrupt our lives (or those we love) – and how God can bring hope and redemption when we wholeheartedly trust Him in the trial and with the outcome.
The view out the front windshield is a different story. We may think we know where we’re headed, only to discover again and again that we had no earthly idea. What actually takes place may not at all be what we had envisioned or anticipated.
What we see looking ahead is our story — our circumstances seen from our finite, limited perspective.from Chapter 1, Of Birds, Flowers, and You: Living Under Providence
What appears when we look back is God’s Story — what He sees and knows and has in mind, how He is always at work for our good and His glory.
As someone who tends to be a worrier, I need to hear the above reminders – often. My mind and heart can get wrapped up in the tiny, minute details of life that seem worthy of my anxiety; my eyes fixated on me and today and right now. And while I think attention to detail and doing our best is important, our efforts should happen from a place a rest… where we work in His grace, for His purposes, trusting that He will perfectly shape the outcome.
The life of Christ breathes redemption into the brokenness of our world when we entrust our stories to Him. We may see this redemption in our lifetime – or we may not. Yet we have the joy of knowing that our stories, however ordinary, are woven into the pattern of His much grander Story when we “trust and obey”, pinning all our hopes on Jesus and the promise of eternal life.
Paul writes, “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain… If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied, BUT in fact Christ HAS been raised from the dead…” (1 Cor. 15:14, 20, emphasis added). Praise God that Jesus has been raised, that He lives, and that through Him we have hope today and for eternity!
I hope you’ll pick up a copy of this book. It’s an encouraging read for anyone. Some of the chapters include:
You Can Trust God When Your Marriage is in Trouble
You Can Trust God When You’re Pressed Financially
You Can Trust God When You Lose Your Health
You Can Trust God When You Long for a Mate
You Can Trust God When You’ve Been Sinned Against
… and others!
Click here to buy the book!
If you enjoy podcasts, you can listen to Nancy teaching on the subject of this book here and watch here.
