Christian Mom’s Story Inspires Nation To Pray
Christian writer Kerry Hasenbalg shared how her faith in God gave her strength following the tragic loss of her daughter, Isabella. On January 5, 2008, when Isabella was nearly full term at 37 weeks, Hasenbalg realized her baby had stopped moving. Doctors confirmed that Isabella had passed away in the womb. The next day, January 6—also her husband’s birthday—Hasenbalg went through labor and delivered her stillborn daughter, an experience that deeply shook her faith.
Although she was raised as a Christian and taught to trust in God’s plan, the pain of her loss left her questioning everything she believed. Hasenbalg found comfort in the biblical passage from Mark 9, where a father, desperate for his son’s healing, tells Jesus, “I believe; help my unbelief.” This verse resonated with Hasenbalg’s own inner struggle as she tried to reconcile her belief in God with the immense grief she was experiencing.
In her book The Way of Becoming: 12 Practices for a Thriving Soul, Hasenbalg discusses her journey toward healing and how she began to rebuild her relationship with God. Her honest reflections have inspired many, including National Day of Prayer President Kathy Branzell, who selected a chapter from Hasenbalg’s book to be distributed as a preparation resource for the 2025 National Day of Prayer on May 1.
Hasenbalg also contributed to this year’s official National Day of Prayer theme song, “I Will Stand,” written with Melodee and Juan DeVevo of Casting Crowns. The 2025 theme, drawn from Romans 15:13, centers on the message of being filled with hope through faith in God. For Hasenbalg, the verse represents a “divine exchange,” where brokenness can be surrendered to God and replaced with peace and joy.
She emphasized that while the verse speaks of being filled with joy and peace, it promises that believers will overflow with hope. In her view, hope becomes a refuge amid suffering—a source of strength that human understanding alone cannot provide. Trusting in God, even in the face of profound loss, became the foundation of her recovery and spiritual renewal.