Hope Climbs: The Relentless Pursuit of God in the Midst of Life’s Valleys

Copyright © 2020 Gina Davis.

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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-8332-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-8333-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-8331-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020900333

WestBow Press rev. date:  01/13/2020

Dedicated

to my husband, Richie, my son, Eli, and my daughter, Elisha—I love you always and forever! Also, to everyone who prayed, cried, laughed, and visited us during this hard time.

We will never forget you.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1   Reaching for Hope

Chapter 2   Hope Unseen

Chapter 3   Angels of Hope

Chapter 4   Hope Endures

Chapter 5   Hope Unveiled

Chapter 6   Hope Rises

About the Author

CHAPTER 1

REACHING FOR HOPE

Rejoice in Hope of the glory of God … glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character, and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint.

—Romans 5:2–5 (NKJV)

MY REACH FOR HOPE

I t all started on March 6, 2012. I don’t like to look back at the calendar because that date and the days to come are filled with images and thoughts I don’t want to remember. But for someone who is reading this, I pray you find courage to climb the mountain you may be facing.

I sent my nine-year-old son, Eli, and my seven-year-old daughter, Elisha, to school, just like any other day. They loved going to school, even though it was a new one. We had moved to Cleveland, Tennessee, in October of 2011. My husband, Richie, had just started a new job in Dalton, Georgia, and we were trying to settle into our new home and our new community. The kids had already made a few friends, and we had some great teachers at their new school. As I watched the kids get out of the car that day, I looked at their smiling faces and kissed them goodbye. I had noticed Eli was coughing some, but it seemed like nothing to be alarmed about. He was a very healthy young boy, who was active in basketball, picking on his sister, and tagging along on every activity that I had with the student ministry at our church. A little cough didn’t seem like a big deal, but after picking him up from school, I noticed he was not only coughing but also running a fever.

I took him home, put him in bed, and gave him some medicine to reduce the fever. Eli had never been one to complain about taking medicine or getting shots at the doctor’s office. He never cried. He had always been very strong and very brave, even as a toddler. I thought to myself, This is probably just a little bug, and it will go away.

His symptoms became worse through the night. His fever continued to climb, and the cough was settling deep within his chest. By morning I decided to take him to a mobile health clinic at one of our local schools. I thought he might have the flu or bronchitis. Based on the symptoms he had at that time, a nurse said it looked like bronchitis. The clinic gave us a prescription for antibiotics and said that he could return to school the following week. I remember walking out of that clinic and thinking that something else was wrong. I remember the internal conflict in my mind about whether I was being an overprotective mom or the Holy Spirit was telling me to keep searching. Because I was new to the area, my pastor gave me a recommendation for a local pediatrician. I thought it wouldn’t hurt to get a second opinion, so we immediately went to see the new doctor.

As I walked through the doors of the pediatric office, I felt a sense of hope that maybe the doctor could help my son feel better. The doctor stated that he had pneumonia, and he was given stronger medicine. We were also instructed to return if the fever didn’t go away during the weekend. Feeling confident that we had a correct diagnosis, we headed home, and the descent into our valley began.

GLORY IN TRIBULATION

In Romans 5:2–3, there are several things that must happen before we can grasp true hope. Verse 3 says that the first thing we have to do is glory in tribulation. How do we do that? Where is the line between daily trials and a full-blown tribulation? Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines trials as the act of trying, testing, or putting to proof. And it defines tribulation as a grievous trouble, severe trial, or suffering.

What is the difference? When God has something big to prove to the world, He has to take someone through a big tribulation, to show others that He is the God of the impossible. Without tribulation, we would never know that we can endure hard things. Without tribulation, our character could never grow. Without tribulation, we could never know the hope that doesn’t disappoint.

Have you ever been disappointed? I have. Two years prior to this event with Eli, I told our family some very joyful news. I was pregnant with our third child, and even though we were a little surprised, we were very excited to hold this little one in our arms. The pregnancy