In today’s episode of The Signpost podcast Kasey and Lauryl Redfern share their story on how they know that God is good even in the midst of a shocking and devastating diagnosis. Both Kasey and Lauryl are proud parents, proud business owners, and fitness gurus. Whenever they are not running their Marquee Light and coffee businesses, you can find them in the local F45, where Kasey is also a coach. You rarely see Kasey, Lauryl, and the two boys without a smile because of how much they love and cherish life.
Around the time of a family trip to Disney World in the spring of 2023, Kasey began noticing some differences in his ability to do mundane tasks. At the recommendation of a Nurse Practitioner friend, Kasey went to the emergency room where he was dealt an unimaginable diagnosis. At the hospital, Kasey was told that he had a mass on the front side of his brain and that it was most likely Lymphoma. This is an extremely rare diagnosis for anyone that is young, but especially someone as in shape as Kasey. In this moment, Kasey and Lauryl found themselves in the midst of a storm that no young dad and mom ever dream of.
We find in their story of how being grounded in the faith played an integral role in their response to a diagnosis that seemed insurmountable. Kasey and Lauryl truly embody a couple who have lived out Psalm 23 by walking the valley of the shadow of death. Listen to their story as they explain how they know that God is good, even when the world would say there is no reason to believe such a thing.
James 1:2-18, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
