Would you still have hope if the greatest of all tragedies struck you down?
Katherine Wolf does even though, at age 26 to date (now 42), she has survived . . .
a catastrophic brain-stem stroke
paralysis throughout her body
numerous falls with broken bones
aneurysm surgery unrelated to her stroke
multiple vertebral artery dissections
ongoing neurological issues
hearing loss
blind in the left eye and double vision in the right eye
In spite of all this, she proclaims hope as she . . .
just published her third book, Treasures In The Dark
travels nationwide, speaking to thousands
sponsors a special-needs summer camp
opened a coffee shop staffed by special-needs folks
I heard her speak at a jam-packed Highland Park Presbyterian church service months ago. Her testimony has changed my life.
After reading her books and reflecting on what she says about hope, I see three proven relievers for overcoming despair.
1. Recognize your capacity for hope
An aspiring actress at 25 and married to her college beau, Katherine Wolf had it all.
Looks
Family
Friends
Future
Then, on a plain ordinary Monday, while making lasagna, Katherine screams for her husband, Jay, and instantly, they plunge into the opening hole of death.
After a sixteen-hour micro-brain surgery and five human-body quantities of blood, Katherine barely survives.
Up next? A long journey through ICU, then rehab, and endless trips to hospitals after multiple falls.
In another speech, she stunned everyone from her wheelchair on the stage, raising her voice, “You have a stunning capacity to do incredibly hard things because of Jesus in your story.”
2. Hope is a living force
“Jesus in your story” means your foundation is in God, not wind-shifting circumstances.
Kathryn Wolf preaches hope as a continuous cycle from hurt to healing to hope over and over again.
She doesn’t see hope as an arrival point.
Hope is a pulsating force from a living person, Jesus Christ.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. He who hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him…” Revelation 3:20
According to Wolf, the first step to lasting hope is accepting God’s invitation.
He will meet you before you take the second step.
All suffering alleviated? No. But hope beyond imagination arrives in power.
The power of a new faith and a new life.
“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:4-5
The key to keep going? Perseverance is shared with like-minded people of faith and hope.
3. Hope is a surviving force
Katherine and her family harness the energy of their faith into a surviving force.
How?
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12
So far, she has survived . . .
11 operations
ICU over 40 days
Neuro rehab for one year
Swallowing training for two years
Imagine being restricted from solid foods for two years because you can’t swallow.
“Instead of a profound miracle of God, I saw this as a cruel curse straight from the pit of hell. How can I live this way? I have a baby at home. I’m twenty-six years old. What does the future look like now? The sadness was almost overwhelming. Why me, God? Why not just go ahead and take me to heaven?”Hope Heals/Katherine Wolf/p. 94
But then, one of her ICU nurses gave her a blanket quilted by her mother with this note . . .
“Katherine, as I read the web pages about your terrible journey, God has profoundly changed something in my heart. My faith has returned. While you have been lying on a bed of suffering, you have helped me arise.”Hope Heals/Katherine Wolf/p. 85
Perhaps your ashes are the birthplace of hope for everyone watching you.
4 thoughts on “Hope: 3 Powerful Strategies to Conquer Life’s Toughest Obstacles”
Steve, your post about Katherine Wolf captures her testimony so well. Thanks for sharing your thoughtful insights with us. Deborah and I heard her during that same service and are forever changed, too.
Wolf and Tada exemplify the epitome of mustard seed faith, perseverance through Christ, and His strength made perfect in our weakness….utterly humbling.
“Hope is a pulsating force from a living person, Jesus Christ.”…mic drop! To God be the glory!
Thank you for your encouraging comment Milton. None of us have time for false hope, do we? It has to be real and powerful enough to cut through our pain and suffering. Thanks again for your affirmation of faith and perseverance!
Stephen, what a powerful story. Thank you so much for sharing this! I get similar encouragement from Joni Tada in her books and videos. God bless you, brother.
Steve, your post about Katherine Wolf captures her testimony so well. Thanks for sharing your thoughtful insights with us. Deborah and I heard her during that same service and are forever changed, too.
Wolf and Tada exemplify the epitome of mustard seed faith, perseverance through Christ, and His strength made perfect in our weakness….utterly humbling.
“Hope is a pulsating force from a living person, Jesus Christ.”…mic drop! To God be the glory!
Keep looking up!
Thank you for your encouraging comment Milton. None of us have time for false hope, do we? It has to be real and powerful enough to cut through our pain and suffering. Thanks again for your affirmation of faith and perseverance!
Stephen, what a powerful story. Thank you so much for sharing this! I get similar encouragement from Joni Tada in her books and videos. God bless you, brother.
Thank you Wayne. I recently read Joni’s take on hope and healing when there doesn’t seem to be any answers. Pretty remarkable perspective.