Kaci, a WAY-FM listener, called in recently to talk with Carlos & Joy about the struggle of finding hope. Another listener, Rae, overheard Kaci’s call-in on the subject, found the closest coffee shop, prayed, and reached out to us with encouragement to pass on to Kaci. Turns out she encouraged the team here too. Instead of keeping Rae’s encouragement to ourselves, we thought (with her permission) we’d share it with you too…

"Dear Kacie, I heard your question on the radio and my heart broke for your hurting. I understand your feeling of hopelessness. I'm 24 and still in college. When I was 22 my parents went through a divorce. It was the hardest semester of my college career. I struggled with doubts. I asked God how could this get any better? How am I supposed to be a good wife one day when my parents can't even work it out? God wasn't surprised by my questions. He wasn't angry that I had them either. Because instead of my questions drawing me away from Him, they brought me closer to his character. He showed me his incredible love and joy that semester in ways that I would never have imagined! Everything in my life is not perfect by all means, but I am learning to trust the God who is. No matter what I do or say or even don't do or say, I am not big enough to mess up God's plan. My hurting seemed unbearable, and to be honest, I still struggle with loneliness, fear, and insecurity, but the more I trust God and in his goodness, the more I hope and assurance I have in his promises. God promises good plans that will prosper me and his children (Jeremiah 29:11), if we would just seek him with our WHOLE heart. He promises to never leave us even through the darkest of days. Even when I mess up yet again, His grace remains through Jesus Christ. If God can still love me and have wonderful plans for a 24 year old, stubborn and selfish person, He still has plans for and your son, and NOTHING will stop his plans for you. "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands." - Psalm 138:8 He loves you so much! Don't let Satan deceive you with his lies. You are CHOSEN. You are the daughter of the King. Despite what you feel, God has not given up on you. Even when you might quit on him, on yourself, or even men. I've given up so many times and yet God is still patient and faithful to lead me to himself and to transform me into the woman he's created me to be. I am praying for you to find peace in God's promises. He's a GOOD Father who wants the best for his children. Trust Him. Talk to Him. Tell Him your doubts and fears. Ask him to help you. Ask him to reveal his purpose for you, even if it's not a complete picture; God sees the whole picture and he will guide you to the next step. He will provide for you. He will take care of you and your son. Build your relationship with God, family, friends, those around you. Matthew 6:33-34, do not worry about these things. Seek first the kingdom of God and all that will be given to you. Have courage my beautiful sister. "Through Christ we have also obtained access by faith into God's grace in which WE STAND, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." - Romans 5:2-5 "But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it with patience." - Romans 8:25 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 Keep holding on, sister. In Christ, M Rae"