Episode 171 :: Gary Miracle :: Stories of Taking Heart, Persevering in Suffering, and No More Bad Days

Gary Miracle is an author and a speaker who passionately believes in the power of storytelling and how it unites us and spurs us on when life is tragically hard, and also reminds us who we are and who God made us to be. In this episode, he shares his story of growing immersed in church culture on Sunday but then suffered from an identity crisis the rest of the week as he chased perfection, and changed personas in order to be affirmed by anyone and everyone. Finally, later in his life and career, now a married man with kids, Gary reached his breaking point and reached out to his friend Bart Millard of the band “Mercy’s Me” who began to disciple Gary and guide him to a life-changing and intimate relationship with Jesus. Not long after, in December 2019, Gary went from celebrating Christmas with his family feeling a little under the weather to being on his literal deathbed on New Year’s Eve. The first week of 2020 Gary’s life hung in the balance as teams of doctors worked on him and cared for him, and his loved ones stormed heaven for him. On January 10th, 2020, Gary opened his eyes, alive, but his body would never be the same, and his limbs were dying. Gary shares his journey of his 107 days stay in the hospital, reentering into his life without his legs and hands, and how God met him in all of it in our time together, but he goes more in-depth in his book No More Bad Days: Trading the Pursuit of Perfection for the Gift of Grace. Gary is passionate about choosing to truly live instead of just being alive and doing that authentically with others. We were made in the image of a communal God, and as we face the intensity and heartbreak of our lives, He provides people to walk through hard things with us. However, that call to live in community requires risk and humility, but as Gary reminds us, when life is at its lowest moments, people God gives us can echo hope back to us. This is a message for anyone who needs to know there is more left for them in this life. This is a message for those who need to remember God is still in the business of miracles. This is a message for someone who is walking through horrible circumstances but needs to be reminded that God still has good for them. You matter, and your story matters. Connecting with Gary: Book Facebook Instagram Website   Please consider joining our Patreon community. If you have enjoyed what you have heard on the podcast today or from other episodes, we would so appreciate your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return. If you feel you cannot financially commit at this time, would you please consider leaving us a star rating and/or review on Apple Podcasts? My family and I are so grateful for each of you and how you are part of our story.    Scripture References:  Romans 10:8-9, John 1:12-13, Galatians 4:4-6-,  There’s nothing I can do to make Jesus stop loving me Galatians 2:20- It is no longer I who lives, but Christ in me 1 Samuel 17:36-54- David wrestled with lions as a shepherd before he faced Goliath  Lamentations 3:22-23- His new mercies are new every day  Job 1:21- The Lord gives and the Lord takes away Job 42:5- All of my life I’ve heard about You, but now I’ve seen you with my eyes John 16:33- In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world  Luke 18:19, 1 John 1:5- God is truly good Ephesians 3:16-19- I pray that He would strengthen you with power according to Jeremiah 29:13- seek me and you will find me if you seek me with all of your heart  John 3:16- For God so loved the world that He gave us His son 2 Peter 1:3- God has given you His power, and authority to live this life  John 10:10 - The enemy is coming to steal, kill and destroy, but Christ came to give us life to the full  Matthew 24:36-Nobody knows the day or the hour Revelation 21:27- The Lamb’s book of life John 14:3, Acts 1:11, Revelation 22- We’re going to Heaven Exodus 3- Moses’ story in the Bible, he struggled to speak Romans 6:17, chapter 7 Grace is not a license to sin Romans 6:1-7-We are no longer slaves to sin Psalm 139:14- Still fearfully and wonderfully made Psalm 27:13- What would have become of me if I had not believed I would see the goodness of the Lord  Revelation 19:10, and 12:11  A spirit of testimony Philippians 1:6- God is not finished with me  Exodus 14:13-Stand firm and you will see the deliverance of the Lord Psalm 27:14 (AMP), Isaiah 40:30-31- I will hope, I will wait, I will long for the Lord  2 Corinthians 12:9-11-I am weak but Christ is strong  Ephesians 1:18-  This is the hope to which we’ve been called  Jeremiah 29:11- God has plans for hope and a future Micah 6:8- help us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God  Mark 2:17, Matthew 10 Jesus came to heal the sick, and save the lost  2 Corinthians 10:5- Take every thought captive   References: Skillet Audio Adrenaline  Bart Millard  Mercy Me “I Can Only Imagine” movie “Say I Won’t” ECMO Machine God kept transforming David’s life (The Uriah and Bathsheeba incident, leading Israel, strife and conflict in his family…)  The Blue vs. Gold dress debate Jada Edwards The study I mentioned is When You Pray Mark Stuart The Christian shirts of the 90’s “Almost Home” by Mercy Me “Take heart” that Jesus uses is the same term “tharseō”  that Moses used with “stand firm”  Ben Roethlisberger Pat Riley Shaquillel O’Neil Kobe Bryant Toby Mac’s Dove Awards acceptance speech  Other ways to hear Gary speak Gary speaking at his daughter’s graduation   Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog