Stephen Shehan

In August of 2000, my world came crashing down.  After a brief illness, my wife suddenly died, leaving me to raise our two young daughters by myself. 

I had given my life to Christ only two years before, and so I was very young in my faith.  Even though I was not yet firmly rooted in my beliefs, I found hope in the midst of tragedy by allowing God to carry me.  When I was most broken, He sustained me and helped me carry on.  I look back now and can see that He was with me every step of the way.  Even more, He had been preparing me to withstand this trial – physically, mentally, and spiritually. 

Through God’s infinite wisdom, He had already put in place the wonderful friends and family here at Lake Bowen that I would need to get me through.  They shared with me God’s incredible promises like Philippians 4:13 (“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”), Hebrews 13:5 (“I will never leave nor forsake you”), and Jeremiah 29:11 (“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”).  Those words brought more comfort and hope to my dark world than I could have ever imagined. 

If you are walking through one of those "dark valleys" of life, I can assure you that your strength can be renewed with a relationship with Christ.  He is the only true source of hope.  May God’s grace and peace be with you.