If you live outside of Jackson, Tennessee, you are likely unfamiliar with the name Ann Marie Kelley. Those of us who call this community home, however, recognize her as a bit of a local hero. Diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2021, her initial prognosis was bleak. Yet, with the innovation and progress of modern medicine as His means, God supernaturally healed Ann Marie’s body of all cancer, giving her a new lease on life.
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In the years following those dark days, Ann Marie has worked tirelessly to bless others who face the devastation of similar diagnoses. She decided to deliver smoothies to chemotherapy patients monthly, realizing how difficult it is to eat while enduring these treatments. Next, she organized daily transportation for patients unable to drive themselves to and from doctor appointments.
Then, three years ago, Ann Marie created Swinging for Hope, an annual golf tournament which raises money for the Kirkland Cancer Center. Remarkably, in just 36 months, fundraising efforts have grown rapidly, surpassing the $500,000 mark. At their core, these initiatives are a living testimony that God comforts us so that we may, in turn, comfort others with the strength He gives (2 Cor. 1:3–4). With her Christian faith as the anchor of her life, Ann Marie is seeking to be a conduit of God’s blessings. Because she received so much from the Lord, she is eager to give just as much to others.
And rightly so.
Within the providence and provision of the Lord, our worst trials and burdens often become the pathway to our greatest impact and blessings. The same problems which initially cause us to doubt God’s goodness unexpectedly turn into the platforms from which we declare God’s glory. The notion that our Savior’s breaking us precedes His using us appears over and over again in Scripture.
Joseph suffered unjustly in a prison for over a decade before God raised him up to feed all of Egypt during a time of famine (Gen. 37–50). Prior to leading Israel out of Egypt, the great leader Moses spent 40 years in exile due to his recklessness (Ex. 2:15–25). The glory of King David came only after he spent around seven years hiding from his predecessor (see 1 Samuel). Paul served as the mighty apostle to the Gentiles, but only while living with a continual thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:7–10). Most important of all, the glory of Jesus’ resurrection required the agony of His cross and the hopelessness of His grave beforehand (Mark 15:22–47).
Embracing the opportunity
In all of these instances, the resulting fruit and benefit for others came from walking with the Lord, not away from Him, during the darkest of circumstances. Doing so allows us to embrace the opportunity of sharing the divine comfort we receive with those around us. While the purposes behind our pain are many, most of which remain hidden outside the perspective of eternity, one source of sanity through hardship is knowing that a greater good can emerge (Rom. 8:28).
All around us are people who realized that what the enemy meant for evil, God orchestrated for good (Gen. 50:20). Consider Lisa Reasons, who leads the new adoption agency of Birth Choice ministry here in Jackson. Behind her education and effectiveness, it is easy to miss the tremendous burdens she has overcome. As an infant she lay with little attention or affection for the first year of her life in an orphanage. Even after being adopted through the foster system, Lisa frequently struggled to connect with others due to her previous lack of attachment as a child. When her adoptive father died during her teenage years, she had to wrestle with being alone all over again.
Little did Lisa know that these painful years were the preparation she needed to adopt her son, Clay, who faced similar struggles. Likewise, her unique compassion for hurting families, born out of personal struggles, has uniquely equipped Lisa to lead an adoption agency. Truly, the complexities of her past served as the doorway to her future.
Across town, at The Dream Center, a ministry designed to serve women in crisis, Director Gail Gustafson traveled a similar path. After growing up in an abusive home, her life was sidetracked by addiction. It took 35 years before Christ changed her life, but the grace of God ultimately overtook her. Today, Gail sees herself in the women she serves and feels called to help them find freedom in Jesus Christ. Understanding the heartache hurting women face is the key to her effectiveness as a faith leader.
Isn’t all this just like our great God?
In our moments of greatest despair, God is preparing eternal glory for us that far exceeds our present struggles (2 Cor. 4:17–18). We face constant affliction, bewilderment, and even persecution, yet without despair or destruction in order to put the power of our Savior on display (2 Cor. 4:7–10). And, as God pours into us, we have incredible opportunities to pour into others. Our deepest valleys have a way of elevating us to new heights of service and significance.
Let’s remember, especially on our worst days, that God has a plan for each of us. As He works in us, He is likely preparing to work through us. Some trials are simply too painful to waste. So, when the dawn breaks, be ready to share the spoils of your struggle with others. Let’s encourage and build one another up, knowing that heartaches do not have the final say (1 Thess. 5:9–11). Drawing from the well of our past victories, let’s do what is good and helpful for others, especially those in the family of faith (Gal. 6:10).
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