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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Each day I struggle with who I am as a mom friend daughter and person in Christ. Let alone the struggles I face as a single mother with Parkinson’s Disease oh and I almost forgot, quickly approaching my 40th birthday ; feeling depressed and like a failure lately. I know God is ever present too but so consumed by my surroundings
I lost my husband to cancer over 5 years ago and I still struggle with issues of confidence and insecurity. Learning to do things on my own and trusting God to carry me through is a constant battle. I have done Renee’s study A Confident Heart and am doing Beth Moore’s study So Long, Insecurity right now. I read 90 days in Heaven when my husband was sick and would love to read Eva’s side of the story. It is always encouraging to hear how someone else can come through a dark and difficult time in their life.
I would love to have a copy of this book…reading To Heaven and Back right now by Mary C. Neal and it is so reassuring to know that heaven is as awesome as the bible promises us that it will be!!!
“Sometimes God uses difficult people or situations to move you to where He wants you to be.”
Wow! So simple, yes, but really profound.
He couldn’t have spoken more loud and clear to me than with her statement!
Thank you for that epiphany!
Thank you for sharing your epiphany. I believe this to be true. Marti
Oh my goodness – I had no idea Don’s wife Eva was writing a book. I can’t wait to read it. Don’s book “90 Minutes in Heaven” so changed many of my views about Heaven. When I am talking to someone about Heaven, I always recommend his book.
Thanks Renee for putting Eva ‘front and center’ for all of us.
So thankful for your book, “A Confident Heart” too. I went through the study online with a friend, and now we are using your book for our bible study at church. 🙂
May He continue to richly bless you!
I’m walking through an uncertain and scary situation right now. Eva’s thought about God using difficult situations and people to move us to where He wants us to be is really helpful. I’d like to hear more of her thoughts. Thank you, Laura
Would love to read more of this story. Get encouragement from others from reading about how they overcome adversity.
I have often written or commented referring to my grandson Andrew. He was born on February 6,2008 with an extremely rare genetic disorder. We were told he would not live 3 days. As Andrew fought to survive, God filled my heart through faith with the confidence that we would bring Andrew home. God gave me the strength to advocate for his care. My daughter and I never left him alone and reminded those doctors that their name was not God! 103 days later, we walked Andrew out into the bright sunshine! 5 years have passed and Andrew reminds us with each and every breath of God’s great love!
This would definitely be a great book for me to read! Confidence has never been my strong character. My mom has late stage Alzheimer disease and I have been her voice for the last 3.5 years and it is not easy. I just keep on trying – I can’t give in!
God bless you!
It seems like my life has been a walk in the dark for quite some time now. After losing my 59-year old mother to cancer, finding out my husband of 28 years had been having an affair, him not being willing to work through it and so my marriage ended in divorce, fell in love again only to have the engagement to my fiance come to an end. At 50 years old, life just isn’t what I had expected it to be. While I believe deep in my heart that God is and has been with me through all of this, I could use the extra encouragement and enlightenment of how to truly lean on God in my dark times and to have my faith strengthened.
I would like to receive a copy of her book b/c it will inspire me and help me in my journey with the ministry for women who have been abused I recently started. In my life right now I feel I am stumbling around in the dark.
I can’t pinpoint a time where my confidence has stepped up to meet my situation, but I know it has happened. I feel like Eva’s story is my own in some ways, even though I’ve never been thru anything as extreme as what she has, and I would love to read more about it.
I would love to read more of this story. The confidence she speaks of is something I desperately need.
I would love to read this book. I have always been shy. But when my mom got diagnosed with ALS,
I was the one caring for her. I did things and talked to people that I would never do before. My dad, brothers or sister gotten handle it at all. And they were always more out going.
I would love to read this book. I struggle with confidence daily. I took care of my late mum and dad and I know how sometimes one can live in darkness without realising we need to let go but let God.
Isn’t it wonderful to realize that God doesn’t leave us – we tend to be the one to leave. He can make us strong as long as we let Him be the one to carry us through our stroms. If only we could remember that.
GREAT to hear from you Renee!!
I recall a dark time in my life. I was working for a local bank, thinking it was job security. Everyone needs a safe place for their life savings, a place where they could come to buy that new home or car. I found out as I was turning 40 and my oldest daughter getting ready to start her freshman year at college, our bank was merging with another and I would be let go. My husband had been struggling with depression and under the care of a psychiatrist. I was feeling sorry for myself, why me. My niece had called to ask if I would come help her wallpaper her kitchen. My husband was watching TV in our bedroom. I went to tell him I would be gone for a couple hour, to rest until I returned. He asked me not to go. I asked him why? He said, “I don’t know, I just don’t want you to go.” I explained I would return in a couple hours, he would be fine till I returned. A couple hours later I received a call from my daughter, crying and telling me her Dad was sick and needed me to come home immediately. I immediately left and flew up the road with no regard for the speed limit. As I pulled into my drive I was met with police, rescue squad and people holding me back. I thought my husband was dead. I was told he attempted suicide but was alive and being transferred by ambulance to the hospital. My husband had always been the strong one. Now, I had to be strong for both my daughters and my husband. I felt inadequate. I felt guilt for feeling sorry for myself. So what – I lost a job, it could be replaced. The wallpaper could have been done another day. Why did I leave? Why was I so selfish? I then decided I had to be the one in charge and make the necessary decisions for my family, get the care my beloved husband needed. I prayed God would come into my heart and soul to lift me up and guide me. He did just that. With my faith in God I was able find that strength. We just celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. We have two married daughters, 2 granddaughters and a new grandchild on the way. My husband survived and is well. I am so blessed. I’m a much stronger woman since that time.
Blessings and love to each of you – Debbie W
The book 90 minutes in Heaven was a blessing to me. I read it at a time I was just coming to know the Lord. I often think of Mr. Piper’s descriptions and how God is Praised always in Heaven. Learning Spripture and Renee’s teaching on how to live confidently in Christ has helped me to be more confident. Thank you!
Where do I start! My baby was born with a kidney problem and when he was 3 months old he had a coma that left him profoundly mentally and physically handicapped and his prognosis was poor. He needed 24/7 care and with 2 older brothers I struggled. We were a close knit family and all pulled together so when our first born took his own life at 21 we were completely broken. In our grief our community and friends were. Constantly praying for us and God answered their prayers and we were carried along just like ‘Footsteps’ the next year our baby died aged 17, yes he lived that long despite doctors prognosis. We were still reeling from our tragedy that we were in a daze for his funeral and again by God’s grace we came through. Over the years our middle son struggled and we tried our very best to show him how precious he was and how much he was loved but sadly while we were on holiday he took his own life, aged 37. We were now in a very dark place and our loving Saviour heard our friends prayers and gently comforted us. Prayer has been our saving grace without this help we could not keep on living. This has been the first time I have penned our story although ever so briefly. My mantra then and now is ‘Love lifted me when no one but Christ could help, love lifted me’
I had unexpected confidence when I recently had to see my dad after he developed dementia due to exposure to anesthesia. It was like he was a completely different person overnight. I prayed for strength and was able to keep my composure as we talked, so we were able to have a nice visit.