Ridiculously Hopeful
A story of bold faith and hope during a crisis
by
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Early in my pregnancy, my doctor advised me around 24 weeks or at the point when I began to feel unbalanced on my road bike due to the size of my growing belly, she would prefer I not ride roadside any longer. I suppose I could see her point. My goal of completing a sprint triathlon at the beach fell around twenty-two weeks, so I was in luck!
I know my husband, friends, and our parents thought I must be foolish to want to attempt the race, but they had learned by now that if I set my intentions on something, there is no use fighting it.
But then…
We received information we didn’t expect. News that flipped our worlds upside down and made my goal seem so small and insignificant. News that created a divide, a fork in our road.
Overall, that week is foggy. The doctor I knew and trusted would no longer be my primary doctor going forward in my pregnancy. Our new specialist granted me permission to complete the triathlon if I chose to.
The question in front of me now was this: Do I even want to compete? Everything changed. Life was no longer what I thought it would be. My dreams seemed crushed, my hopes for the future dashed. I was left with feelings of confusion, disappointment, sadness. The grief at times felt heavy, the burden of what I held causing a crumbling in spirit and mind.
Throughout this book, I hope you learn what it means to live and to choose life above all else and to be captivated by the good news of Christ, to be anchored into the truth of the Bible and the words contained within. I hope you discover how we as a body of believers encourage and intercede for another, how we stand in the gap for each other, fervently praying and trusting the promises of God when those we love simply cannot. I pray you walk away with an understanding of the practical ways in which we can train our minds to focus on heavenly things, so the noise of the world diminishes.
And that through our story, you discover in sorrow and joy the hope, power, and peace only Jesus Christ can give.
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About the Book
During Maleah’s pregnancy, she and her husband, Scott, received news no parent expects—a congenital heart defect diagnosis for their son that rocked their world. Without medical intervention, the condition would cost their son his life. Scott and Maleah found themselves at a crossroads: choose fear or faith.
In Ridiculously Hopeful, Maleah illustrates the benefits available to you in choosing to walk by faith. She offers hope, encouragement, wisdom, and insight into deepening your relationship with Jesus Christ. She offers testimony to the power of prayer, unity found within the body of Christ, and an awareness that miracles—both big and small—occur today. She illuminates the transformative nature behind the Biblical truths of believing, seeking, and receiving even when answers and explanations don’t exist.
Ridiculously Hopeful challenges the world’s way, which often breeds fear and anxiety. Maleah suggests a better approach: holding fast to hope and a confident expectation of good found in Jesus Christ during a period of uncertainty. She provides practical applications you can apply to transform your outlook and strengthen your relationship with Jesus amidst any difficult situation in your life.
About the Author
Maleah Stephens is a follower of Jesus, wife, mother, dog mom, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. A student of numbers and finance, she is a financial advisor by trade. She is a book enthusiast, a reader of all genres, and an author by happenstance. Maleah currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, Scott; their son, Townes; and their dogs, Luna and Leo. Visit her online at www.RidiculouslyHopeful.com.