Send us Fan Mail Four people. Four very different trials. And one faithful God meeting each of them in the valley. In this special September rewind of the More Than Conquerors Podcast, Lou Lepore looks back at four stories that could not be more different on the surface—but each one carries the same truth James writes about in James 1:2–4: trials test our faith, produce steadfastness, and help shape us into maturity. Lou also points us to Psalm 23:4: even when the road leads through the darkest valley, God has not left us there alone. For Bonnie Leithman, the trial began during an ordinary workday. She drove to work that morning able to see. Hours later, as she pulled into traffic, she suddenly realized: “I can’t see the cars.” Then came the frightening realization that she couldn’t see the sidewalk either. Doctors searched for answers. Bonnie endured multiple MRIs, CAT scans and more than 200 vials of blood being drawn—and still, the cause of her blindness remained unknown. Yet in the middle of something she still cannot explain, Bonnie remembered Job’s response to devastating loss: Job 1:21. The Lord had given her sight. The Lord had allowed it to be taken away. And Bonnie made a decision: she would still bless His name and trust Him. Her story is a reminder that sometimes the Word of God we have been storing in our hearts becomes the very thing that holds us steady when life suddenly changes. Lou points to Hebrews 4:12—God’s Word is living and active, still speaking into the trials we face today. For Jeff Devalle, the valley came through a phone call he never expected. His father was his best friend. Then, during what seemed like a completely normal day at work, Jeff was told there was a family emergency. His wife eventually called with the news: “Your father has died and he’s gone.” There had been no warning. His dad had seemed perfectly healthy. In the days and months that followed, Jeff discovered that God often ministers to us through people who simply show up. Pastors came to his home the night his father died. Later, a church family surrounded Jeff and his wife with encouragement—even when many of them did not know the grief he was carrying. That is part of the beauty of the body of Christ. As Proverbs 27:17 reminds us, God uses His people to sharpen and strengthen one another. Sometimes you don’t need somebody to fix the trial. You just need somebody willing to walk through it with you. Mike Ostermann’s trial began on a beautiful September morning in 2001. He arrived at the firehouse expecting another normal shift. Then he watched a plane strike the North Tower of the World Trade Center. When the second plane hit the South Tower, Mike and the other firefighters knew: “We were under attack.” What followed would become one of the defining days of his life. Years later, Mike’s takeaway is strikingly simple: Enjoy every day. Every day we are given is a gift from God. That perspective echoes Psalm 118:24: this is the day the Lord has made. Mike saw humanity at its worst on September 11th—but he also saw extraordinary courage, sacrifice and love. And after everything he witnessed, his encouragement is not complicated: Love your family. Appreciate the time you have. Trials will come—and trials will go. Pastor Lamar Eifert’s trial looked very different. Early in his career, he was falsely accused of making antisemitic remarks at work. The accusation threatened his future at the company and eventually helped push him toward another career path. Years later, another test came. This time Lamar was asked to participate in marketing a program that violated his Christian convictions. His response was clear: “In good conscience, I cannot market promiscuity.” He was prepared to lose his job rather than compromise what he believed. Instead, God unexpectedly opened another door. Looking back, Lamar can now see that the frustrations, accusations, career changes and years of uncertainty were part of God redirecting his life toward ministry. What looked like interruption was actually preparation. That is why Romans 8:28 becomes so meaningful in a story like Lamar’s: God is able to work even the things we would never have chosen into His purposes. And Lamar’s perspective eventually became bigger than career success. Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:16 challenged him to let his light shine before others. And Matthew 5:11–12 reminded him that faithfulness to Christ matters more than temporary approval or advancement. His conclusion after years of watching God provide? “God is faithful, and He has proven Himself faithful.” Four stories. Blindness. Grief. September 11th. A career placed on the line. None of these people would have chosen their trial. But each discovered something about God in the middle of it. Bonnie learned trust. Jeff experienced the strength of God’s people. Lamar learned that a detour may actually be God’s direction. Mike learned to treasure every day. And together their stories remind us of the promise in 1 Peter 5:10: after we have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace is able to restore, confirm, strengthen and establish us. The trial may shape the story. But it does not get the final word. And as Lou reminds us from Nehemiah 8:10, the joy of the Lord is our strength. This is More Than Conquerors—where today’s test becomes tomorrow’s testimony. Looking for Hope?
