Hope Heals founders see opportunity for redeeming ‘new normal’ in wake of COVID-19 hardships

The idea of the world finding itself in a “new normal” in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis was an overarching theme in Friday’s Convocation with Jay and Katherine Wolf, who created their organization Hope Heals after adjusting to a new normal of their own.

Liberty University Senior Vice President for Spiritual Development David Nasser introduced the conversation, which was streamed online, by posing the idea that the Wolfs’ story and message can apply to the dramatic change in the daily lives of much of the world, stating that God can use this time of uncertainty to refine perspectives on life.

The couple was three years into their marriage and had welcomed their first son only six months before Katherine, who described herself as “a totally normal 26-year-old,” suffered a massive brain stem stroke caused by a birth defect she didn’t know she had. As a result of the stroke, Katherine now lives much of her life in a wheelchair and her face is partially paralyzed.

The couple explained that their hope in God has guided them throughout their lives, offering them the outlook that the trials of life are opportunities for God to redefine what it means to live for Him.

“In the midst of a crazy ride in our early marriage we managed through God’s grace to move into a new season where we have a ministry called Hope Heals, with an incredible camp for families with disabilities,” said Katherine, who added that multiple Liberty students and alumni have volunteered at the camp in Nauvoo, Ala. “We’ve had so much incredible hope in the Lord and a way of viewing the world — a way of redefining it — that has made the difference for us.”

Jay and Katherine Wolf and Senior Vice President for Spiritual Development David Nasser discuss the positives of living life with a ‘new normal.’

Speaking from their shared experience of striving to remain open to God’s direction, Jay said the fear of the future and unease in regard to COVID-19 has given countless people an opportunity to be reshaped by God. For those who define themselves by things like their abilities or their occupation, there is now a chance to begin to define oneself as a believer in God.

“We have found in our own life that we’re all defined by something, we come into this world defined, and then suffering comes into all of our stories, and right now we’re experiencing that collectively in a way that redefines us whether we like it or not,” Jay said. “We see this crossroads and this opportunity to become refined on the other side of suffering — and that is through hope.”

Katherine pointed out that we are not promised a painless life by God and that suffering is not a curse but can instead prompt us to lean in to God’s power and provision.

“John 16:33 says that in this world we will have trouble, but you can take heart … because (God) has overcome the world,” she said. “We all get to be a part of disrupting the idol of a pain-free life.

“A pain-free life is not the only life where there can be joy; life can be hard, but it can be good at the same time,” Jay added. “We can hold strength and suffering together, we can hold joy and sorrow together, and on this side of Heaven that is the Gospel, that is the ministry of Christ.”

The struggles and pain of today will not last forever, Katherine noted, and the healing and life found in God will be eternal. In times of trouble, the tendency is to wish for better or different things, but God has given us what we have for a reason.

“Instead of wishing for this or that … it’s (asking), ‘What has God put in my hands, what has He assigned to my life and how can I steward it well during my time on Earth?’” Katherine said. “It is saying, “God has given me this, for some reason He has assigned it to my story, and I’m going to live it well for Him.”

Jay reflected the idea by saying the dark times are not the end, and the unknown moments of life will lead to something better.

“So much of our anxiety right now is because we don’t know what’s happening; we don’t know dates, times, the impacts of all of this,” he said. “But we do know the end of the story. We know that suffering is not the end of our stories and that it’s a new beginning.”

The Wolfs said their story will be adapted into a feature film by the director of “Soul Surfer,” Sean McNamara, in the near future.

For more information about Hope Heals, visit www.hopeheals.com