As In a Mirror

I just found out today that Kerry Hasenbalg, co-founder and former Executive Director of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), who is now serving as a stay-at-home/homeschooling Mom to her two children and wife of Scott Hassenbalg, the Executive Director of Shaohannah’s Hope, had a beautiful baby girl this past Thursday, July 8th! Over the last five years, Kerry has lost three little babies, but has been faithfully believing God for another child, though she did not know at first if it would be hers or adopted. Still, she and her family trusted God and He blessed them the other day with a wonderful little girl! Her name is Leah Joy, because God has turned their sorrow into joy!

For some of us, this news comes in the midst of great trial and pain. Not too long ago, we lost our Mom’s Dad, and though it caused a lot of grief this side of heaven, we have hope. The more I look death in the face, I see so clearly that death and pain are not what God planned for us, but He still works through it; our God is amazing; He is just not stopped at anything!

So while the agony and loss that comes from so many different things can still grip my heart from time to time, I rejoice greatly for the Hasenbalgs. I have been following Kerry’s journey even before I started my own blog, so I guess to a degree I feel like I have been traveling this road with her. And like her son said, “God has been so good to us!” Amen! God is ALWAYS so good! To read all about it and see pictures of the new arrival, go to Kerry’s blog.

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)”

James 1 tells us to count it all joy when we fall into various trials, because the testing of our faith produces patience. It goes on to say that God does not test anyone, but He is the giver of all good things. Kerry and her family have experienced great trial, but they endured and waited for God to bring triumph out of the calamity, and He did! He is always faithful to His word, and this family was faithful in waiting on Him! God bless them!

For more Inspiring Stories, visit In Defense of the Christian Faith.