She has a quiet confidence, takes killer photos of everything from kids and birds to the brilliant night sky, and she loathes ugly fonts and badly designed marketing material as much as I do. Her authenticity is disarming, and her love for youth, undeniable.
Meet Stef…
What’s your story, morning glory?
My story involves both physical and emotional trials that have ultimately brought me into closer relationship with God.
I experienced my first chronic health issue as a sophomore in college (about 9 years ago) when I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. At the time, I thought I was going to be crippled by it but I found a medication that helped to manage my symptoms. About a year later, I started to get stress-based flareups that would bring on widespread, random, pain for two days to two weeks at a time. I came to know Jesus during this time period and prayed, and was prayed over, many times. After basically giving up on healing and accepting that it would be a “thorn in my side” for the rest of my life, I got pregnant with my daughter and haven’t experienced the symptoms of FMS since (that’s 3+ years now). I can confidently say that I was healed…in God’s timing. Over the past several years I’ve experienced gastrointestinal, urinary tract, and allergy issues that have been mysteriously, or rather miraculously, healed as well. Every time something new comes on I know that God will see me through it.
My emotional trials stem from my husband’s struggles with addiction. He went into rehab 2 years before we were married, and through that, re-centered his life on God. Then less than a month before our daughter was born, he was caught in a relapse and lost his job. Needless to say, it was a very stressful time in our lives and our marriage. We worried our house would go into foreclosure and we would go bankrupt, but deep down we knew that God would see us through it. God gave me an overwhelming feeling of peace when I heard the bad news and that peace carried me throughout the experience. God provided in many ways; allowing us to keep the house and start building trust back into our marriage.
What did you discover about yourself during this time?
I discovered that I am very limited. I like to think that I have control over my life, but it’s just not true. God is the one who sees me through every day, whether I sense Him or not. He comforts me, provides for me, and rescues me in my time of need…but also in His perfect timing.
How did it impact or clarify your ultimate mission?
I feel that the negative things I’ve been through have provided me with the opportunity to minister to those who are experiencing the same things for the first time. I have already spoken with many confused wives and mothers about addiction, as well as a handful of women who were recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I know that is part of the good that God has made out of the bad. I am a youth leader and these experiences have also strengthened my testimony to the young girls about how God will always be there for them and that He really does do miracles.
If you could sum up your story in a single sentence, what would it be?
God is good and will always be there for you in your time of need.
What are two things you are loving right now?
Wildlife photography and birdwatching (or ‘birding’, as the in-crowd now calls it)
Where can we find you online?
Instagram: @sdeleeuwphoto
