“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who he has given us” Romans 5:3-5 NIV.

A few weeks ago while driving, I came upon a detour sign that was re-directing traffic due to road construction. For days, that detour image was plastered in my memory—I knew it was meant to be a blog post. I began to think about the many detours I have experienced during my own life. Like any young girl, the Disney fantasy of marrying, children, and happily ever after was my dream; however, there were detours of divorce and many other disappointments along the way. Just like the detours you may encounter on the highway, life’s detours can also alter your plans, take you out of your way, or delay you in getting to your intended destination. I have discovered that our envisioned destination is not always the destiny God has planned for us. Maybe we are not strong enough to handle what He has purposed for us, so He takes us through an alternate route to be strengthened and tested before reaching our appointed destiny. Dr. Tony Evans, pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship and founder of Urban Alternative in Dallas, TX, states, “Development takes time, tests, failure and overcoming. God knows each one of us individually. He knows what we each need in order to develop and strengthen our spiritual muscles and sharpen our spiritual insight and wisdom. More often than not, this requires detours in life to allow us the opportunity to learn, grow and develop.”

This past weekend, I plugged into the “Desperate for Jesus” 2020 Women’s Conference, facilitated by Priscilla Shirer and her sister Chrystal Evans Hurst. It was such an amazing, uplifting conference—a definite change in pace from the constant negativity going on in the world today. During the two-day conference, there were several outstanding speakers, but the one that gripped my attention the most was Katherine Wolf.  At age 22 after graduating from college, Katherine married her college sweetheart, Jay. They were both from the south (Alabama and Georgia), but decided to make California their new home. Katherine was a catalog model and Jay was in law school. They had a great life until one fateful day in April 2008, Katherine suffered a massive brain stem stroke—their lives changed forever. After two years of rehabilitation (learning how to eat, speak, and walk again), she was left with paralysis on her right side, blind in her right eye, deafness, and suffers from chronic pain in her lower back. Although it took two years of rehabilitation, Katherine states it took her five years to discover what God intended for her life. She expressed how she shifted her perspective of what suffering is—she began to feel chosen. One of her favorite scriptures is Ephesians 4:1-3 (CSB), “Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unit of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Key points from Katherine’s testimony:

1. We are missing bravery—life is hard but life is good.
2. Cultivate joy—it is sustaining and real. “I can’t have a Jesus Band-Aid because I have a bullet wound.”
3. So much of our healing comes from healing others. “My nightmare will become someone else’s survival guide.”
4. Pick up the pieces of what remains and live a life.
5. My wheelchair does not confine me—it frees me to go anywhere I want to go.
6. When we focus our eyes on Jesus, we don’t focus on what’s around us. Self-focus prevents healing.
7. My physical body is broken; however, God has healed my soul so I can go and tell my story.
8. Suffer well—we all have different brands of suffering.
9.  I shifted my perspective—I get to travel and live an incredible life telling the truth of Jesus.
10. Possibilities are endless.

Katherine still has many health challenges; however, her and Jay have been blessed with a second child and they have founded an awesome ministry for people of disabilities. Jay truly honored his marriage vows of enduring through sickness and in health. They have authored two books, “Suffer Strong” and “Hope Heals.” Katherine quotes Romans 8:37, “Yet in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who love us.”

I believe it is safe to say Katherine would not have chosen this detour of health challenges; however, she has definitely made lemonade out of the lemons dispensed her. When life takes you off the familiar path and send you on such detours as health challenges, marital troubles, financial hardships, children problems, loss of loved ones or any other life challenges, how can you shift your perspective and cultivate joy? Changing your perspective can be very difficult; however, very rewarding. If you want to hear more of Katherine Wolf’s inspiring story, visit hopeheals.com/story or watch the “Desperate for Jesus” 2020 Women’s Conference (July 25, 2020) on YouTube.com.

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