When I first began this journey of writing, I wrestled with a big question: Why share my story?

I didn’t want my life to be defined only by a diagnosis or a disease. Yes, I live with interstitial lung disease and mixed connective tissue disease, but that is not the sum of who I am. I am a woman of faith. I am a wife, a teacher, a friend, and most importantly, a daughter of God. And more than anything, I wanted to make sure that if I shared my story, it would point not to my pain—but to His purpose.

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🌿 Faith in the Dark Valley

This memoir was born out of some of the hardest valleys I’ve ever walked. There were days filled with fear, frustration, and endless questions for God. Yet even in the darkest moments, I felt His quiet presence reminding me that He is still good, still faithful, still holding me close.

Psalm 23 has been an anchor for my soul: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

I realized that if God could meet me here—in my weakness and uncertainty—He could meet anyone, anywhere.

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✍️ Turning Pain Into Purpose

So I began writing The Race of Your Life. Not as a book about illness, but as a testimony of hope. It’s not a story about defeat; it’s a story about endurance, grace, and God’s unfailing love in the midst of suffering.

I want anyone who reads it—whether they’re battling a health challenge, a broken relationship, grief, or just the weight of life—to know that your valley does not define you. God is still with you. There is hope beyond what you see right now.

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🙏 My Prayer for You

As I write, my prayer is that this book—and even this little blog—becomes a light for someone who feels like their world is dark. That you’ll find comfort knowing you’re not alone. That you’ll be reminded that God is still writing your story, even when it feels like the pages are torn.

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🌟 A Sneak Peek from Chapter 1: The Diagnosis – A New Reality

“Barely able to breathe, I lay in the ambulance, sirens piercing the night while my soul cried out to God—not in fear of death, but in hope that He was near in the chaos, cradling me in His mercy. In that storm of doubt, a still, quiet truth surfaced: You are a child of God. I clung to it like a lifeline. I didn’t have all the answers, but I had the assurance of His presence. I wasn’t alone. The same God who breathed life into me was holding me, even here, especially here.”

This is just a glimpse of the valleys I faced while writing The Race of Your Life. My story isn’t just about illness; it’s about finding God’s faithfulness in the midst of fear. As you read it, I hope you’ll be reminded that no matter how dark the valley may feel, His presence is constant, and His love is unshakable.

Thank you for being here and allowing me to share this journey with you. If you’re walking through your own valley, I want you to know you are not forgotten, and there is hope in Him.

With love and faith,
Stacy