God promises to give us His strength in our times of weakness.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
And when we trust His promises… by choosing to rely on Him instead of ourselves… a soul-securing confidence comes in the most unexpected ways.
Eva Piper, wife of Don Piper {the author of 90 minutes in Heaven} knows just how true that is.
Today she’s here to share with us how she found a surprising confidence during her darkest hours. Her new book, “A Walk Through the Dark,” released last week. It’s based on her role in the story that began the day her husband died and came back to life 90 minutes later, and the years and countless surgeries and miracles that followed. Click the arrow below to watch a powerful short video trailer about Eva’s story.
{If you are reading this via email, click here to return to my blog to watch and enter to WIN a copy of Eva’s book.}
From Eva Piper:
I was sitting in a movie theater watching The Sound of Music. The young Maria had sung while dancing through the mountains, the sisters had asked “How do you solve a problem like Maria?” and now Maria was walking through town on her way to serve as governess to a group of seven children singing about confidence.
The song begins with Maria listing her doubts and fears but ends with these words. “I have confidence in confidence alone, besides which you see I have confidence in me!”
I never thought of myself as a confident person. I was confident in some of the ‘things’ I did…playing the piano, teaching school, being a wife and mother. But when it came to making decisions, I usually let someone else take charge.
I rationalized they knew more about such and such than I did. They were more outgoing. They were more sure of themselves. They were more ‘confident.’
Some people build confidence by practicing a sport or art. Some build confidence by taking classes in public speaking. Others may study to become an expert in a certain field of study. My confidence came from a very different source.
During the second week of my husband Don’s stay in the ICU, it became necessary for me to move into a hotel a short distance from the hospital. I needed to be close by in case anything happened so I checked into the Downtown Hyatt.
Each morning as soon I awoke I placed a call to the nurses’ station in the ICU. As soon as someone answered I would go through my list of questions…How is his breathing? What is his oxygen rate? What is his pain level?
The nurses responded to all of my questions and provided any additional information that I might need. But on this particular morning, things went differently. Instead of getting the information I requested I was told, “Oh honey, you don’t need to know all that, you’re just the wife.”
In a split second I went from being a person who questioned whether I was up to the task to one who realized I had more strength than I realized.
Without skipping a beat I asked to speak to her supervisor. When she came on the phone I explained what had happened and waited.
The supervisor apologized and quickly gave me the information on Don.
That was my turning point. That morning I took my first step toward being someone who was willing to do whatever was needed to move my husband’s recovery along.
Looking back I can see, that’s when I stepped beyond my private comfort space—and would do it many more times in the months ahead.
During those early days I had to push to get what I needed. I learned to ask questions until I not only had answers but I understood the situation we were facing.
If I didn’t grasp the meaning or if staff spoke with medical jargon, I learned to say, “I’m not in the medical field. Can you explain that again?”It worked. I got what I wanted.
I was never belligerent or rude. I tried to treat people with respect. But when I became aware of things that needed doing or I required information, I asked and stayed steadily at it until I received an acceptable response.
The situation with the rude nurse taught me a valuable lesson. Sometimes God uses difficult people or situations to move you to where He wants you to be. Without that rude nurse I would never have had the confidence to face the rest of my walk through the dark.
Eva Piper is a speaker and author of A Walk Through the Dark, where she shares unique insights into the trials of heartache and the triumph of overcoming!
The wife of best-selling author Don Piper, Eva was the glue that held her broken husband and her family together. Don’s story, recounted in the New York Times bestseller, 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Life and Death, is Eva’s story too. A teacher of 34 years, she and Don now live in Pasadena, Texas. Visit http://evapiper.com/ to reserve your copy of Eva’s new book, “A Walk Through the Dark” today!
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I’m giving away a copy of Eva’s new book. To enter, simply click “Share Your Thoughts” below and share about a time you had unexpected confidence. Or, share why you’d like to win a copy of Eva’s new book.
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Thank you for opening up and sharing your struggles so that we might learn from your experience.
I’m working on my confidence to speak up with the situation needs it. I do best to speak up for my husband and my girls but speaking up for myself is very hard for me! The “dark” is also a very scary place for me too. I know God is always there, I just need to remember not to focus on the dark but to focus on the light!
My husband suffers from depression and that, in a nutshell, sums up my life. He has good days, and bad days, and the bad days far outnumber the good ones. It is a case of seeing how he is each day and taking it from there. It has taught me patience, and how to hold my tongue when I think it is just too much to bear, the continual criticism, his drip feed of worry, the cutting remarks, the running down of everything I do, and how all this is affecting the children, whether they live with us or not. I know God is at work in this, that slowly, the light is appearing at the end of the tunnel so it would be wonderful to read Eva’s story and hear how she coped with everything when it all seemed black, when the nights and days had no end and it seemed like it was just one thing after another. 🙂
HE will NEVER leave US nor Forsake US.
I too, am stepping out of the darkness into His Light!
I would like a copy of Eva’s book because right now our family is going through a situation. I’ve always heard that hearing other people’s testimonies of survival is sometimes just the thing to help someone else overcome their obstacles.
I can definitely relate and was touched by Eva’s introduction to her book. I am very familiar with and have been blessed by her husband’s testimony and his account of this amazing journey into our Heavenly home. Like Eva, I was a person who did not like to make decisions, especially life altering decisions that would affect others…especially people I love. When my mother was hospitalized many times with an unknown condition that doctors could not pin down, I had to step up and be persistent with numerous medical people which was not a role I relished. I too, experienced that “rude nurse” situation whereby it propelled me whereby I had to stand firm in getting answers. What a wonderful opportunity to hear the “caregiver’s” and loved one’s side of the story. God bless Don and Eva!
Oh, I want to read her book….sounds fantastic!
When my husband had a heart attack 3 yrs. ago, we had just moved to this area….did not have a doctor…did not know people here. But God came through for us by giving me a special scripture to claim!
After the surgery, the doctor gave me his card……..THERE was the same scripture on it!
HE was in control!
I would like to know the other side of the story! Thanks for having her on your blog.
I had more confidence than I ever imagined at my mother’s funeral. She had lived with me for about 8 years after my father passed away but had spent the last year or two in a nursing home. She died 5 days after my son’s wedding. I had a lot of things going, my husband had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, my brother-in-law fell the day after my son’s wedding. He was on life support in San Diego and I was there trying to support my sister…and then I had to plan a funeral. I was amazed that I was able to speak confidently at her funeral thanks to the promise from Jesus…” That I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” What a blessing to celebrate her life.
Thank you for sharing part of this book today…… I am much like Eva when it comes to matters that I feel inadequate to resolve. I would love to read the rest of her story. Thanks for this opportunity to get a chance to win this book. Even if I do not win a copy, I will buy this one.
Walk in blessing today because we as God’s children are indeed BLESSED!
When I was pregnant with our daughter Samantha we went for our 18 wk ultrasound. During the ultrasound they discovered that she had an electrical problem with her heart. We were crushed and concerned for her health. We were told that she could need a pacemaker at birth or surgery even before she was born. Many thought raced through our heads and we were unsure what was to come. Then the doctor said, there is a chance that this could correct itself. That is when I decided that I have to have more confidence and faith in the power or prayer to heal. I called the church and we went to praying. Many weeks later during one of my many ultrasounds, the electrical problem was gone and I got to share the power of prayer with my husband and many of the doctors and nurses that gave me such great care. Today she is a beautiful, healthy, strong 7 years old. We thank God for all our children everyday. I would love to read a copy of Eva’s book.
Our daughter, pregnant with her third child, was having severe kidney issues. The 2nd nephrostomy tube had just been inserted into the other kidney. Severe pain began around that region. She, being experienced in pain from infections, advised the medical staff. They repeatedly stated that her pain was the result of being “post-op.” Three days passed…same response…regardless of her many tears.
Somewhere, deep inside ‘Mama Bear’ came a revolt that stirred nearly an entire hospital. I kept my salvation in tact, yet I let it be known that she was going to receive attention!! The student doctor said, “If you want us to do a culture on the port, we will.” [Hmmm…who is the doctor here?] For the next three days, while the culture grew out, an administrative team visited our room daily…now concerned.
The culture results were done. An infection was in fact raging through her body and was bringing her dangerously close to being sepsis. Had I not insisted, she nor our precious granddaughter would be here today. A walk through the dark? Oh my, yes!
Carolyn: Thank you so much for sharing. It so so unimaginable that it would take such measures to get a response to a serious concern. Oh, my. Praise God for using you and that your daughter got the attention she needed. God bless you.
I’d like to win a copy of Eva’s book, because right now I’m in a dark place in my own life and would love to read about someone that walked through the darkness.
This book sounds amazing. Thank you for this opportunity. I too have spent many hours in a hospital at my husbands beside, I struggle with self confidence daily, and would appreciate the chance to receive a copy of this book. Blessings to all!
Praying for you Beth – that God will give you more and more confidence each day as you learn to rely on and trust in the security of HIS Promises!!
So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” Hebrews 13:6
Unexpected confidence….That could be so many different things. I am the mom of three young boys-4, 2 1/2 and 3 months old. I take them to the restraunt to eat without any extra help. I breastfeed in public, knowing that at anytime, someone could approach me and ask me stop, but God gives me the strength to keep doing it. I also approached my supervisor and asked for more responsibility-while that little voice in my head was telling me not to-and got it! I think unexpected confidence is that step you take out of your comfort zone and realize, that God wants you to be confident in who you are, what you are doing and what you will do for others. He wants us to help others and be there for soemone else-but we have to have the confidence in our hearts to know that. Unexpected confidence can come in so many different ways. By typing your comments here, it could be a moment of unexpected confidence-if you are afraid that noone will appreciate what you say or disagree with you. (I know that is a big one for me too.) Have a great day, Ladies!
Such a great point Rachel. I love what you shared and am so glad you took the time {and had the confidence} to post your thoughts and share your heart!! Thank you!!
This book would be perfect for my cousin who is struggling right now.
Praying for you cousin right now. 🙂
I can’t wait to read these books! Darkness can look so different for all of us, but God will use it to bring us to His Light. I just walked out of a season of darkness in my own life & I look back in awe of what God did in me & around me through it. It was painful, lonely & tormenting at times, but He used it for my good & His glory. It gave me unshakable faith. It also made me realize His calling on my life & spurred me on to becoming a Speaker & starting a ministry. I’m so thankful that He doesn’t waste anything in our lives!
Amen Jenn!! Amen, amen, amen.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Pet 2:9
In reading Eva’s short story I identify with her, I leave the big decisions to my husband usually because I don’t feel confident in myself. I think the only time that I can think of where I had “unexpected confidence” is when a doctor told me that I needed to terminate my pregnancy because my baby would not survive. I said NO, and here I am 10 years later with my beautiful baby girl who just turned 10 years old. I am glad I stood up and did not listen to him. God is GREAT and GOOD!
wow Jessica, what an amazing story. And I think God wants to remind you of that today – that with Him you can have confidence. With His leading in your life, you’ve got what it takes to be strong, to make great decisions and to live with assurance in every situation you face. Here’s a verse that came to mind when I read your post:
“But blessed is the [Sheryl] who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in HIM. Jer 17:7 {NIV}
Caring for my mother with cancer. She was so weak that I had been waiting for the hospic nurse and felt that God was there. Never will I regret that we cared for her the best we could with faith.
And I bet there were angels watching, blessed by the way you loved your mom in words, prayers and in such sacrificial actions during her last chapter on this side of Heaven. She was/is surely blessed to have you as her daughter Sheryl!
I would love to read more about Eva’s story. I’m headed to the beach in a couple of weeks and this would be a great read to take along! Blessings!
This would be a great read while on vacation. Even if you don’t win, I hope you’ll grab a copy to take with you!! And if you do win, that will be such a blessings. Of course, I’d give each of you a copy if I could :)!