Sometimes a message comes into your life at the exact moment you need it most. Recently I received an email from Charmaine Allsop, who picked up The Jackrabbit Factor after it had been sitting on her shelf for over a year.

The timing was no accident.

Here is her story, shared with permission, in her own words:

“Less than a week ago, when leaving the house, I grabbed a copy of Jackrabbit Factor from where it had been lined up on the back of my kitchen desk (with a dozen plus other books) for a year or more. The timing of reading it is no small miracle.

After nearly six years (four with legal help) of trying to work with a huge builder to remediate defects in a new home, our daughter’s case is finally being arbitrated this month. It has been a long, painful, and expensive process. In addition, my husband and I have been experiencing challenges on several other fronts; health, tragic deaths of loved ones, tough business decisions / pressures…

While my faith was never in doubt I did find my closeness with the spirit (which I was accustomed to feeling) waning in a big way. It left me sad, but didn’t feel I had the spiritual energy to do what I knew needed to be done in order to draw closer to that spirit.”

Charmaine described how she recognized she had been “doing all the things” — scripture study, prayer, temple service — but not with her whole heart. As she began to engage more earnestly, her spiritual energy grew. That led her to BYU Education Week ... where she felt the unmistakable impression:

“Do not be afraid. Only believe.”

A Deeper Lesson

Charmaine shared how her journey took her through the difficult realization that trusting God meant trusting Him regardless of outcomes:

“At first that felt so good - I knew things were going to work out how I’d hoped! But then I had to admit that trusting God meant trusting Him regardless of the outcome (Do you have the faith NOT to be healed?). That was scary - terrifying even!

After walking through the fear of each dreaded outcome a realization began to dawn. It didn’t matter what the outcome was - all that mattered was that I never let go of my faith in, trust in, and commitment to Jesus Christ. That is where I’d find everything necessary to survive.”

This insight didn’t come easily. Letting go of control, she explained, is still a daily practice.

“In some ways letting go is still a daily battle because it’s too easy for me to go from, ‘Phew - it’s going to be okay!’ to begin counting on things in a way I feel myself trying to take control again. There’s a constant need to turn afresh toward trusting Him, but as I do there’s an unusual sense of understanding what to do and when/how to do it.”

A Growing Assurance

As she continued, she expressed gratitude for discovering Rare Faith resources and how they confirmed and deepened her own spiritual impressions:

“Everything I heard from you resonated deeply as truth. My own experiences - both past and present - align with them. I’m trusting more the feelings that have been clearly telling me not to be afraid and only believe.

Thank you again for your genuine and open acknowledgments of faith in each of your works. It has allowed me to feel comfortable seriously pondering what you say and compare it to experiences I’ve had, as well as the understandings I’ve come to through those experiences. It’s also moved me forward more quickly, and with greater assurance, than I would have on my own.”

An Orchestrated Outcome

After I responded to Charmaine’s email, she kindly gave me permission to share her words. She later wrote again:

“There may be a Part 2 [coming] .... The last few days have been quite astounding. It’s as though I’m witnessing an unfolding of sorts - like an understanding of what seemed to have been somewhat isolated circumstances and details ... coming together and laying themselves before me as part of an orchestrated outcome that hasn’t happened, but feels true. And I feel God’s hand on all of it, which is wonderful, but also a bit overwhelming.”

Final Thoughts

Charmaine’s words are a powerful reminder:

Faith isn’t about controlling outcomes, but about continually turning back to God and trusting Him with them, no matter what.

I love that she recognizes that her courage to share her journey strengthens others who may be facing similar struggles. As she beautifully concluded, it is in never letting go of our commitment to Jesus Christ that we find everything necessary to endure, and to thrive.