Joy Through Trials

By Dr. Brenda Wilder

Chloe accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior in 2010, when she was seven years old. Although she was young, she knew that God was talking directly to her.

Chloe Shivers, a Junior at Park Place Christian Academy (PPCA) in Pearl, Mississippi, has a powerful testimony of how God turned overwhelming sadness into joy!

Chloe accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior in 2010, when she was seven years old. Although she was young, she knew that God was talking directly to her. After making her decision public, Chloe was baptized on April 11, 2010.

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WOMAN TO WOMAN WITH JOANNE : THE MAGAZINE • Issue 30, May 2020

There have been many major sad events in Chloe’s young life. The first event began on November 7, 2013, when she was in 5th grade. Her Dad and she woke up at the exact same time and found Chloe’s Mom on the floor almost completely paralyzed. Chloe didn’t know what had happened to her. She told her Mother that she loved her and moved the coffee table out of the way so the paramedics could get through. Later that morning, her Grandfather took her to school, where her class had special prayer for her Mom. Her Mom was admitted to St. Dominic’s hospital in Jackson, MS, where she was diagnosed with Guillain Barre’ Syndrome, a neurological condition that damages nerves and can paralyze from head to toe. She spent a few weeks in the hospital and was then transferred to Methodist Rehab for intensive rehabilitation therapy.

On December 13, 2010, about a week before Chloe’s Mom was to be discharged from rehab, Chloe was so excited because she was finally going to be able to spend the night with her Mom. Her excitement and happiness soon turned into sadness when that evening, her Papa and Granny came to the rehab to tell them that her Dad had been in an accident and passed away. At the time, Chloe didn’t really know what happened and thought he had just wrecked the car. She kept asking God why couldn’t her Dad have just made it home. He was so close, wrecking the vehicle on their street, about a minute from their house. Once again, her Park Place School and Church rallied around her and her family, making sure they were taken care of both physically and spiritually.

As time passed, Chloe was told that her Dad had actually committed suicide. Again, she didn’t understand why he would do this to her family with all that was going on with her Mom. At that time, Chloe was only ten years old and her brother was age one. “I will never know what was going through his mind that day, but I do know he loved us and that he knew the Lord. He was just in a different kind of pain of his own. I will always remember my last words to him were, ‘I love you’,” says Chloe.

In 2014 Chloe’s Granna became sick with a different type of Guillain Barre’ Syndrome and had to go through the exact same experiences as her Mom, such as being paralyzed and enduring rehab.

In 2016 when Chloe was in 7th grade, she was checked out of her Bible Class and discovered her Papa had passed away from Stage 4 Colon Cancer that he had been fighting for three years. Chloe shared, “This hit me really hard because I loved that man so much, and I never did anything without him. He was my best friend.” because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.’ I am claiming this scripture. I will graduate from PPCA in 2021, and then continue my education at Mississippi State University. Upon completion of my undergraduate degree, my plans are to pursue a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.”

Another scripture that encourages Chloe is Proverbs 17:22, “A joyful heart is good medicine but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Chloe shared, “There are no dry bones here!”

Although these life events were not joyful, Chloe was able to endure the difficult years because she was able to find joy through God, her church, family, and friends. One verse that has strengthened her then and now is Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Many say this is their favorite verse because it is popular and easy to remember, but Chloe says this is her favorite verse because it is real to her! Even though she had no clue what to do during the difficult seasons, she did know God had a plan for her life, and although she had questions, she knew He only wanted goodness and joy for her life.

Chloe continues faithfully attending Park Place Baptist Church, where people love her, encourage her, and want the best for her. “I have been blessed with an awesome Pastor, Ministers, Spiritual Leaders, and Mentors, as well as great friends that have laughed with me, cried with me, and helped me in school and life in general while navigating the teenage years,” says Chloe.

“Whenever I struggle to feel joyful, I choose to reflect on how God has saved me and always meets my needs. I learned that I might not be able to control my circumstances, but God can. When faced with problems and trials, God uses them to produce faith, perseverance, strength, and character within me. As Romans 5:3-4 states, ‘We also glory in our sufferings, WOMAN TO WOMAN WITH JOANNE: THE MAGAZINE