Kara Tippetts, a well-loved author, blogger, pastor’s wife, and mama to four littles, is now home with Jesus after her long battle with breast cancer.
Kara’s husband, Jason, was hired by our church, Village Seven Presbyterian Church, in 2013 to plant a church in Colorado Springs on the west side of town. Shortly after their family moved to town, they were forced to evacuate their new home due to the Waldo Canyon Fire. They soon returned home; their house had been spared. Just a few weeks later, Kara received her cancer diagnosis. She underwent aggressive treatments over the past two years and in December of 2014, went into hospice care. On March, 22, Kara met Jesus, and her sick, fragile body became strong and healthy once again.
I interacted with Kara several times, but was not a close friend of hers. A dear friend of mine, Corrie, was closer to Kara, so I always felt like I kind of knew Kara through her. And, of course, if you follow Kara’s blog, Mundane Faithfulness, you feel like a close friend from reading her posts.
Kara was never shy about her cancer on her blog; in fact, she was very honest and open from the start. She certainly isn’t the first woman with cancer, but she is one of the few who have shared openly along the way and allowed the world a glimpse into what that life is like. She honestly lived her life in front of millions of followers and showed her love for her husband, her children, and her God in a beautiful way that was just her own. From the moment she was diagnosed, Kara was quick to say that God was still sovereign and in control of her life. He loved her with an everlasting love and would carefully keep her until He called her home. That isn’t to say she never struggled with the story God had given her. She definitely had hard days, but never once did Kara blame God for giving her cancer or lash out at others in the midst of her pain and suffering. No, Kara continued loving big to everyone she came in contact with. She loved with her whole heart and would always, always point her family, friends, and readers to Jesus at every turn.
Kara spoke at our church’s women’s retreat last October and I had the honor of leading worship that day. As I started planning music months earlier, I knew I wanted to hear Kara’s heart and vision for the retreat. I sat down with her one day to hear what she hoped to cover that day and what music she would like to include. Kara had some specific ideas about music for the retreat and I was so glad. Sitting in her living room, I so enjoyed hearing her talk about what God had been teaching her and what she wanted to share with the women.
The retreat day came and Kara had an amazing amount of energy. While very sick, God sustained her and she not only spoke in three different sessions, but she also signed books for several hours. Much of what Kara shared that day came from her book, The Hardest Peace, which released the same month – October – Breast Cancer Awareness month. Kara is an honest, funny, and likable speaker. Everyone who comes into contact with Kara loves her. She spoke some hard truths that day and the women sat intently listening to her every word.
The worship that day went very well. As our team practiced months prior, our prayer was always that the women would see and hear Jesus at the retreat and not us. We wanted to be prepared musically, but we also wanted to get out of the way so God could speak to each heart there in a special way. And He did. It was a beautiful, glorious opportunity to be a part of it and to witness it. God is so faithful to hear our prayers, and we were grateful that the worship was meaningful and ushered women to Jesus.
As Kara’s condition declined, I only heard updates through her blog and other friends. This past week, Corrie texted quite a bit more sharing updates and prayer requests. Every time my phone dinged with a new text I would hold my breath, knowing that sometime soon I would hear that Kara had passed. When I did hear that news, I was sad, but also relieved. Kara had met her Jesus and was no longer in terrible pain – that was news worth celebrating! But when I think of her husband and four small children, my heart is grieved for them. I feel a twinge of guilt as I look upon my own family that I still have and am privileged to serve. I realize God’s plan is perfect and this hard that He set out for the Tippetts family will be clothed in grace. He will show up and He will provide the strength and grace they need to get through.
2 Corinthians 12:9
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Throughout Kara’s book she spoke many truths, but one that has stuck with me and so many others is, “Suffering is not the absence of God’s goodness.” That is sometimes hard to swallow, isn’t it? Especially in the midst of suffering and pain. But, it is true. God is already there in our hardest moments and He is ready and waiting to give us infinite grace to handle it. Will we trust Him with our hard? Will we lay down the biggest burden we’ve ever dealt with and let Him have it? Will we trust that He knows best? His plans are perfect; who am I to think I know best?
Jeremiah 29:11
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 hope and a future.
So why devote an entire blog post to someone I’ve met only twice? Because Kara impacted me. Following her blog, talking with her, and reading her book, she impacted my heart and for that I’m grateful. Kara reminded me to enjoy the small moments in life, for these are the big moments in life. The snuggles and kisses with my kids, the walks together and talks about life, listening intently to my kids’ stories which seem to go on forever, looking them in the eye when they speak – these are the big moments with our children. Her story has put my story in perspective. Why am I upset with the kids for such small things? I’ve been given time with my kiddos and her time was cut so short. Will I be grateful and thank God for that grace or be bitter and nag them about little things? Will I choose snuggling and reading with them or demand that we get the house cleaned up instead? I’ve really started thinking about my choices more through her eyes and it has helped tremendously. If my time were to be cut short on this earth, what do I want my kids remembering?
Kara’s service is on Saturday and it will definitely be a packed church. I know that Kara’s life will be celebrated and it will be a glorious time of rejoicing that she is now with Jesus.
If you think of the Tippetts family in the coming weeks and months, will you pray for them? Pray for her husband, Jason, and their four children: Eleanor Grace, Harper Joy, Lake Edward, and Story Jane. Pray that God would not only comfort them and give them peace, but that He would also strengthen their relationship with Him. That while walking through this hard, they would turn to Jesus and see Him walking right beside them.
