A Life Rooted in Joy: How Deborah Trusted God in Every Season

Finding joy after loss doesn’t mean avoiding hardship—it means discovering Jesus in the middle of it. Deborah’s story reveals what it looks like to choose joy across decades of grief, service, sacrifice, and unexpected grace. Rooted in faith, her life shows how joy can remain steady—even when circumstances are not.

Finding Joy After Loss Begins with Trusting God

Finding joy after loss doesn’t mean pretending life hasn’t been hard. It means learning to trust God when it has been—and choosing to walk with Him anyway. Deborah’s story is a testimony to that kind of joy.

More than 50 years ago, Deborah cried out to God from a place of deep despair. In her darkest moment, His comfort reached her—changing her life forever and awakening a calling to care for others. From that moment on, Deborah made a quiet but courageous decision: She would choose joy, even when life tested her faith.

Choosing Joy in Seasons of Illness, Waiting, and Sacrifice

In 1986, a severe illness threatened her long-held dream of motherhood. Yet in her early forties, Deborah miraculously gave birth to a son. Around the same time, she devoted herself to caring for her aging parents, discovering that joy often grows through obedience and unseen acts of love.

“Serving isn’t always easy,” she admits, “but it is always rewarding when you do it for God.”

Her story reminds us that finding joy after loss is not about avoiding sacrifice—but about meeting God in the middle of it.

When a Life of Joy Draws Others In

That steady joy—unforced and sincere—began drawing people to her. One afternoon at a museum, retired pastor Arthur Days noticed her warmth and struck up a conversation. What began as a simple friendship slowly grew into something unexpected.

Years later, when illness left Arthur lonely and isolated, he reached out to Deborah for encouragement. That call became a lifeline—and soon, a love story.

“Arthur was 90 when we married,” Deborah smiles. “I asked God for five years. He gave us six.”

Finding Joy After Loss Through Love and Letting Go

Their years together were brief but rich, filled with prayer, laughter, and the quiet companionship of two people who trusted God’s timing. When Arthur passed, grief returned—but joy did not disappear.

Soon after, Deborah lost her father. As she began to recover, COVID struck. Exhausted and stretched thin, she found herself caring for her mother, working multiple jobs, and watching her savings slowly dwindle.

Once again, Deborah faced a familiar crossroads. Once again, she chose joy.

God’s Provision When Strength Runs Out

Even in exhaustion, Deborah sowed a seed of faith through Inspiration Ministries. In time, God provided—opening doors for new work, fresh opportunities, and a circle of prayer-filled friendships that surrounded her with support and love.

Her story shows that finding joy after loss doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like quiet faithfulness—and trusting God one step at a time.

A Joy Rooted in Christ That Endures Every Season

Today, in her seventies, Deborah continues to serve with a radiant spirit. Recently, God opened the door to a new, affordable home.

“Leaving the place I’d lived for years was hard,” she shares, “but His love gives me peace. I want others to know His love like I do.”

Her life reflects the promise of Isaiah 61:3—beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, and praise in place of despair. For Deborah, joy isn’t the absence of trials. It’s the steady presence of Jesus in every season.

…

Want to grow deeper in faith and learn how to choose joy in every season?
Visit the Spiritual Growth Hub for biblical resources that help you strengthen your walk with Jesus.