When Faith Becomes Personal
Some stories remind us that faith isn’t proven on the mountaintop, but in the pit.
For Anne Graham Lotz, that journey didn’t begin on a stage. It began in a quiet moment as a young girl. After watching a film about Jesus, she understood for the first time what the cross meant to her personally.
“I watched a picture about Jesus on TV and knew when He went to the cross that He had died for me.”
In that moment, her faith became her own.
Not inherited. Not assumed. Personal.
“God doesn’t have grandchildren. Just because I’m Billy Graham’s daughter doesn’t mean I’m a child of God.”
Listen to the full conversation between Crystal Thornton, Anne Graham Lotz and Rachel-Ruth Lotz in the podcast below.
When Life Falls Apart
That personal faith would be tested in ways she never expected.
In a short span of time, Anne lost her husband of nearly 50 years, then her father, and soon after faced a breast cancer diagnosis.
Yet even in the middle of grief and uncertainty, her response remained anchored in trust.
“I knew God is in control ... if I have breast cancer, then I know God has allowed it for a greater purpose.”
Her pain didn’t disappear. But her perspective shifted.
“Bad things happen to those He loves ... and when they do, He doesn’t forsake us. He is with us ... and He will bring us through.”
A Crisis That Changed Everything
For her daughter, Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright, the pit came suddenly and without warning.
What began as a routine stress test turned into two rare heart attacks. In one terrifying moment, she knew her life was slipping away.
“I lost feeling in my body and I knew I was dying.”
Her final prayer was simple:
“Lord, please take care of my girls.”
But God had other plans. Though doctors could not explain it, blood flow returned to her heart.
“God just put blood in my system ... it’s such a miracle.”
The Long Road of Healing
The miracle didn’t end the struggle. It marked the beginning of a new one.
Rachel-Ruth spent the next several years navigating pain, recovery, and severe PTSD.
But even in that season, God was working beneath the surface.
“I had to trust the Lord ... and He took me through this process of deepening my trust with Him.”
It wasn’t instant.
It was daily.
And it was real.
Book: God Won’t Leave You There: Joseph’s Story
Understanding “Pit Seasons”
Together, Anne and Rachel-Ruth point to the story of Joseph, a man whose life changed in an instant.
A pit season is that moment when everything shifts.
“You feel like there’s no way out ... you’re stuck ... you’re just hopeless.”
But even there, God is not absent.
“I’m telling you, God is there ... and He will get you out. He’s got a plan.”
Faithfulness in Every Season
Joseph’s story is powerful not just because of what he went through, but how he responded.
He didn’t become bitter.
He didn’t give up.
“Everywhere he was, he just lived for the Lord in whatever circumstances he was found.”
Pit. Prison. Palace.
His faith stayed the same, and that faithfulness prepared him for purpose.
Fighting the Lies in the Dark
In seasons of suffering, the battle isn’t just physical or emotional. It’s spiritual.
“The enemy’s going to tell you God doesn’t care about you ... He’s forgotten about you.”
But those voices are not truth.
“You can’t listen to that ... you have to turn to who Jesus is through His Word.”
Choosing Faith Over Feelings
There are moments when God may feel distant.
But faith doesn’t depend on feelings.
“I don’t live by feelings. I live by faith.”
Because the truth is steady, even when emotions are not.
“Whether you feel His presence or not, He’s there.”
The Power of Forgiveness
One of the most powerful lessons from Joseph’s life is forgiveness.
After everything he endured, he chose to release what could have held him captive.
“It’s the power of God that gives us the ability to forgive.”
And sometimes, forgiveness doesn’t start with a feeling. It starts with a decision.
“Forgiveness is a choice we make.”
You Are Not Forgotten
For anyone walking through their own pit season, the message is clear and steady:
“You are not forgotten. God is faithful. He cannot be less than Himself.”
And even in the waiting ...
even in the questions ...
even in the pain ...
“God loves you ... your life is not a whim. It’s not an afterthought. It is very intentional.”
Because what feels like a pit today ... may be preparation for purpose tomorrow.
Closing
I’m Crystal Thornton, and this is God Stories — where every story points back to the One who changes everything ... and reminds us that even in the hardest seasons of life, God is still near.