Note from Angela:  This Story of Hope is written by my sister, Andrea Garner.

Sometimes we define a Story of Hope as one that ends the way we want it to, however I have found that hope is not only for our journey on this earth but for our ultimate destination of heaven.

“Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you pure and undefiled beyond the reach of change and decay.” 1 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT)

My grandmother was a beautiful, strong and capable woman who always served her family and God with hard work and love.  To give you a picture of the hard worker she was, she and an old carpenter friend built their family home while my Grandpa was away during the week driving a logging truck.

So when she was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) it was a devastating blow.  It is a terminal disease that robs you of your abilities one by one until all you have left is your ability to think—literally trapped inside your own body.

Slowly she could no longer serve God and her family in the practical, hardworking ways she always had, the ways that had so long defined her.  She went from having to walk with a cane to not being able to put herself in her wheelchair; from slurred speech to scribbling notes on a note pad.  Through this she amazed me with her steadfast faith in God’s ability to heal her and her confidence in His sovereignty if He chose to take her through this journey.

One day my mother walked in on my Grandmother weeping and pouring her heart out in prayer.  Her words were unintelligible to my mom, but she knew God was hearing exactly what my Grandma was praying.  When my mom asked my Grandma what she was praying for she wrote down two words: “My Family.”

God did, in His sovereignty, take my Grandma home to be with Him.  Since her passing answers to those prayers have been poured out on our family, and many have come to have a relationship with Jesus.

My Grandmother could have thought, “What’s one more prayer going to do?” Instead she thought, “God please let me pray one more prayer!”  She realized that although in many ways she was helpless and feeble, there was one thing she could do that still held power and purpose.

As women we often feel helpless or inadequate to face the daunting trials before us.  Let’s stop thinking, “I guess all I can do is pray,” and hit our knees knowing that there is nothing more beautiful or more powerful than one more prayer in the hands of a loving God.

“But I will keep on hoping for your help…”Psalm 71:14 (NLT) 

What prayers of hope are you praying today? 

Andrea and her husband have been married for 12 years and have 3 beautiful girls with another one on the way!  She is passionate about loving and serving people wherever God gives her the opportunity.  She serves in children’s and worship ministries at her church.