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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I had a fun summer doing stuff with my family and friends: camping, boat rides, cookouts, etc. I am going to begin reading the book soon, and I am following the radio station emails. I hope it helps me! My lack of confidence and people-pleasing, along with an anxiety issue are chipping away at me and bringing me down. I feel like I need all the help and prayers I can get!
I have the book and need to reread I still struggle with confidence and becgreatcto do as small group with the video.
When I found out my mom had terminal cancer, I thought “this can’t be happening!” My mom was my confidant, my go-to person for everything. Even though I was married, I shared everything good/bad with her first – always! After my mom passed, I didn’t know how I would get along without her. I thought many times of picking up the phone to share great moments – pregnancy, job recognition, etc. only to realize she’s no longer available. I did reach the confidence to go on and become stronger in my choices and abilities in all that I do thanks to my husband and my increasing walk with the Lord. While it wasn’t easy, and it definitely took a long time, I did reach a strength I didn’t know I had. I would love to win a copy of Eva’s book. I am sure there are many similarities in our lonely walk toward healing.
My daughter of 24 years has been house bound for the past 7 years. We cannot find what’s wrong she’s just weak and lives in pain. She barely can take care of herself other than going to the bathroom. We lose hope a lot and I can only work part time in order to care for her. Would love to read the book and be encouraged by it.
My sister has pancreatic cancer. We found out about 2 months ago. We don’t know how long she has but are told months. It’s hard to know what to do or what to say. I look for hourly help from my Heavenly Father. I would love to read this book in my many sleepless hours. Thanks
Can’t wait to read this book!
There have been many instances in my life where God has given me confidence. I recently had to make a decision whether to pursue treatment at an eating disorder facility or with a ministry. I was so unsure about what to do but I prayed and seeked God. He brought me to exactly what I needed and is healing me from so many hurts, habits and ungodly beliefs. He is truly my healer!
I believe God gives us struggles to increase our faith in Him. I have been through many struggles just as your readers have. My hardship this time has me relaying on God for the outcome. Relaying on God, or being dependent on Him has me living, speaking and acting differently.It is hard to explain, I’m relaying on God’s promises to see me and my children through this. I feel what this wife experience about her husband is similar to what I’m experiencing and would help to continue my journey.
A few years back my husband lost his half sister. His step dads only child. She was 20yrs old and was in a horrible car wreck….they lived many years in a horrible dark spot and about 2 yrs ago (approx) my husbands aunt sent his parents the book 90 mins in heaven and told them to read it. That book touched their soul the talked about it for months and about how amazing the book was…they are great Christians but I could tell that the book brought out a confidence into what Liz must have experienced. I know that after that they seemed more at peace….we know she there enjoying a beautiful eternity but since that book was so powerful for them and they still struggle with dark times I would absolutely love to be able to win and give them this book. I know it will always be hard for them (as it is for all of us) but if this book could bring them some comfort and strength for this road their on that would be awesome. 🙂
I’m intrigued with this book because of the title. Honestly I have come out of the darkest part of this season, but we are in unknown territory, allowing God to put the pieces of all He allowed in the last 25 years through something and believing we are on our way towards new joys and freedom. In the darkest years (6 God silent years while I rested) I clung to the truth of who I knew God to be. I didn’t see evidence for those 6 long years but He is faithful. There is still much to restore, but He is the One who promises to redeem our messes and restore the years that the locust ate…things that He allowed. My motto right now….”breathe out, be still, the tomb is empty, God is enough”.
I would love to win a copy of this book. I am currently experiencing a “Walk through the dark” myself. My mother is currently battling stage IV lymphoma. My grandmother (who lives with her) has end stage dementia and I also have a special needs brother. (I also have a job, husband and 2 kids, one with type 1 diabetes). I have felt so defeated at times, but know, without a doubt that God’s Grace is sufficient! He is going to make something perfect out of this bad situation. Prayers for my family would be appreciated:) I know that whoever wins this book, it is part of God’s plan!
Eva’s comment about God using difficult situations to get you where he wants you to be rings loudly in my mind, heart, and soul. My two grown children although 4 years apart in age got married just eight months apart about 10 years ago. After 7 and 10 years of marriage both of their spouses called it quits. I know both of them married the first time for life and were devastated when their spouses choose differently. My son has remarried and has a godly wife who treasures him for the godly man that he is. They have an 8th month old precious baby boy who is the one of the lights of our lives. My daughter has 2 precious boys, 5 and 7. I am trusting God to bring a godly man her way so that she can know a wonderful marriage just like my son has come to have if this would be his plan for her. These two difficult situations which break a mother’s heart
has brought me humbly to my God and my knees many times. I would live to have Eva’s new book. Blessings to you.
Eva’s comment at the end of her post, “sometimes God uses difficult situations to get you were he wants you to be,” hit me right between the eyes and heart. I am currently going through a divorce. I married right out of high school and have been with my husband for 28yrs. This trial has been very difficult. We are currently fighting over finances. I have never been one with much confidence, especially in standing up to my husband. But at my bible study, the topic had come up that there are character traits in us that God wants to work on and the Holy Spirit is with us to do just that. It was then that I felt that God was leading me to stand up for myself and become more confident because I was not alone. So I am proceeding forward and not backing down. As I was walking the dogs last night and praying, I said to God thank you for making me move. I know he wants more for me and has more planned for me.
I would love to read this book. Like Eva, I found myself beside my husbands bedside three years ago, facing the unexpected. My husband had a popliteal aneurysm behind his kneecap and it ruptured and was throwing blood clots quickly. He was in intensive care for three weeks, and they had to revive him three times. He was hospitalized for almost 4 months flat on his back, with a huge doses of pain meds that kept him knocked out and not able to comprehend what was going on. In those following weeks he had multiple surgeries and finally made a decision with the advice of the surgeon to have his leg amputated. He had developed gangrene and it would threaten his life if a decision wasn’t made.
I have always felt confident and in control of things. But my husband had never been sick in his life and he was fighting a battle that I wasn’t sure he would win. I asked and pushed the doctors to give me answers to everything that was going on and what to expect. On sleepless nights I would research countless hours to find out what the prognosis, treatment and outcome was going to be.
We lived an hour from the hospital and so I spend so many nights in the room with him, praying and begging for a miracle. It didn’t take long for me to lose that confidence that I had in the first few weeks of his illness I became bitter and asked God why this would happen to my husband. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandpa, provider and my best friend. One night while pacing the floors and praying, asking for a miracle and my biggest question WHY !! And in a small whisper I heard God say why not and I accepted that it was no longer in our control. I had to turn it over to God.
Life was good when my husband came home and he was an inspiration to everyone. He had a great testimony and did well with his prosthesis. Then he had complications with his stump and things went downhill from there. He became depressed and felt defeated. He was no longer able to provide for his family and he felt like he was not a whole man. He quit going to church and he would sit in a daze, not talking and trying to sleep his life away. He was in the stronghold of a deep depression and nothing could bring him out of it. No doctor, no medicine or nothing I said or done seemed to bring him back to a somewhat normal life.
Finally I told him I was leaving, I couldn’t handle it anymore. He had become a bitter man and someone that I barely new, he wasn’t the man that I had married. After 26 years of marriage, 4 children and 3 grandsons, I was walking away if he didn’t seek help. He finally broke down and sought a psychologist and started on medication.
I would love to end here and say life is great again. He did return to church and is on the praise and worship team, but depression has a firm grip on him. I don’t know how to cope with it any longer. We have developed a relationship again, but its not like a wife and husband should be. We no longer share our deepest thoughts, our dreams and there is no intimacy between us. He sleeps in one bedroom and I in another. I am walking in the dark now. I want to return to what our life once was or at least one that I feel comfortable in.
I myself am facing some health issues and struggling with some personal things in my life that involves my daughter and grandsons. I know God is walking with me, but I feel lost and empty. I want to feel the presence of God. I know I am not walking alone, but i feel I am on a long journey to get back to where I need to be. I would love to be able to receive a copy of this book. I have read some of the other comments left and I hope God reaches out and touches each and everyone of us.
Wow, after posting and reading this I didn’t realize I had wrote so much. It has made me feel better by sharing with others though. I usuall don’t talk about personal things in m life, but it feels like some weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
I love you, Renee. And I don’t think I’ve ever written that to someone quite under these circumstances. 🙂 I’m still finishing your book from our on-line study of “A Confident Heart”. Going at my own pace, where God has me. In Chapter 11 and having a first meeting of a woman’s prayer meeting at my home tonight. Renee, thank you so very much for your support and sharing and transparency and obedience to God. Your words have encouraged me more than my actual friends or church, and I’ve needed that encouragement in God! Thank you for being serious about God and going deeper with Him and for walking in real life with Him and then letting us in on that. We are all the same in this way, needing to grow in knowing and trusting Him, falling, failing and needing Him to get back up. The world coming at us all can be rough and harsh and like a constant pounding of the waves. Also as women, we have a special bond and way of relating that is unique to women, and we need each other. Thank you again, Renee. I’m grateful for God’s using you! I’m grateful for you standing on God’s promises and making them your own, and helping to show us the way to do the same. God bless you and your ministry and family. John 16:3 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” This verse speaks to me a lot because it’s very real, it’s in the first person from Jesus, and has very great promise and encouragement! I hope God lifts you up today, Renee, in the midst of the summer and your life! I’m focused on “working” Chapter 12. I’m grateful to call you Sister.
in Him,
Lisa
What an incredible story. I have been a nurse for 35 years at the children’s hospital of Alabama. A reminder to always be kind through our actions and our words. Eight years ago I had two heart surgeries, breast cancer and chemo in that year. No one thought I would return to work but through God’s grace and many prayers, I am still working! My husband has been in icu and I have made those same phone calls. What a journey our lives are! Most of all Blessigs Abound!!!!
I can’t wait to read Eva’s book!
Over the past 2 years my life has been in an upheaval and I needed Christ more than ever – my confidence was waning and I was scared. I started to delve deeper into my relationship with Him and oh what a difference!! slowly I am making my way back – I need to know there are others out there who struggle sometimes and what they do, how they pray, how they feel……