Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?
PUT YOUR HOPE IN GOD, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
Psalm 43:5

The week that Karis was diagnosed with Krabbe¹ (12/4/09), I put this verse on the front door inside our tiny apartment. For the first time in my life, I knew despair.

Some days casting my eyes to this verse was the only thing that stopped the weeping. In those first few years, my prayers were shaped more by fear than by faith.

I would boss my Creator in my prayers, informing Him that I literally would not survive if He took my daughter. (I’m so thankful that He is so patient with me!)

Hoping is about who our Heavenly Father is.

My hope was in Karis’ healing. My hope was in an outcome. Through much suffering and many experiences with Karis, I didn’t think I could survive.

I’ve learned that “hoping in God” doesn’t mean hoping in an OUTCOME, but hoping in His GOODNESS, as He defines good.

I no longer *hope* in Karis’ healing, but I sure do pray for it with every bit of my heart ❤ ️.

Praying is about what our heart may desire.

My hope is in my loving Father, carrying us through every encouragement and every disappointment this side of heaven.

Because of Christ, I’m free to pray the desires of my heart for Karis: head control, walking legs, strong arms, and a voice that shares the glory of the One who healed her.

I can’t wait to see what our good, good Father has in store.

Thank you for joining us as we continue to #prayforKaris #prayerchangesthings.

 

Katie

 

Katie Cook Guerrieri is manager of Katie’s Cookie Company (KatiesCookieCompany) and Karisteo Art & Design (KaristeoArt&Design), as well as a consultant with Rodan + Fields (RandFwithKatieG). Katie, husband, Marc, and her three children live in Mobile, Alabama, USA.

 

Footnotes : (1) Krabbe disease (also called globoid cell leukodystrophy) is a severe neurological condition affecting nerve cells in the brain and the central nervous system to lose myelin, the protective covering around nerve cells that ensures the rapid transmission of nerve signals. Babies with this condition typically have a life expectancy of 13 months. To learn more about Krabbe disease, click https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/krabbe-disease.

Pictures : Banner Photo: Woman Silhouette and the Sea, photo by Chris Lawton, Pikwizard.com. (1) Karis, photo provided by Katie Cook Guerrieri. (2) Timothy 4:15, creator unknown, Pinterest.com. (3) Katie, Marc, Karis, Kales, and Anders, photo provided by Katie Cook Guerrieri.