Trusting God When Life Changes: Kristen Ellingson’s Testimony
In this personal testimony, Kristen Ellingson shares with Today’s Purpose Woman her journey through illness, loss, uncertainty, and spiritual warfare, bearing witness to God’s faithfulness in every season. We share her testimony as a reminder that even in life’s hardest moments, God remains present, purposeful, and faithful to carry His people through.
This season of my life began with an unexpected, life altering shift. I stepped into a reality I never imagined, living as a disabled woman and learning how to navigate a new normal where I could no longer work, my days looked entirely different, and my sense of purpose had to be rediscovered.
I went from being active, working consistently, and earning a steady income to living on disability. With debilitating medical conditions, I faced the terrifying possibility of paralysis. There were moments when I feared I might never walk again. I was hoisted by machines, spent long days in the hospital, and lived with deep uncertainty. In those moments, I knew the enemy was trying to cripple me, but I also knew the power of my words. I chose to speak life.
I recognized the spiritual battle to steal, kill, and destroy, and I made a decision to fight. I took authority, resisted the devil, and declared that I would not accept a future confined to a wheelchair. I came out of agreement with fear and surrendered my hope and identity to God.
My body endured more than I ever imagined through many surgeries and procedures, including two neck fusions, an intrathecal catheter lead, and the implantation of a pain pump. Each step required perseverance, strength, and faith beyond what I thought I had.
Eventually, I began intensive rehabilitation at Courage Kenny, an experience that quite literally gave me my life back. Through that program, I regained strength, confidence, and a level of independence I once feared was lost forever. It restored not only my physical ability, but also my hope.
This season has been marked by countless doctor appointments, ongoing physical therapy, and daily reminders that life looks different now. There were many quiet moments of crying out to God, asking, “What now?” while grappling with the reality that I could no longer work and that my income had been drastically reduced. Yet through it all, I am learning to walk forward by faith, even when the path looks nothing like what I once knew.
Being a woman of faith has required me to fully trust and surrender God’s plan, not my own. Many times I ran ahead of God because I thought I knew what was best, which led to consequences. I had always believed in God, but I did not truly follow Him until my thirties, when I hit rock bottom and everything fell apart. I turned my life over to God because I knew His way was better. Life was already hard, and my way was not working. I let go, and I let God, and I continue to let Him do the work in me.
When God called me to move to the town I now live in, about an hour away, I posted on Facebook that I was looking for a Christian couple to rent from. Shortly after, a Christian couple reached out, and I felt an instant connection. I moved, began settling in, and started a new job. Two weeks later, my mother passed away unexpectedly.
Our relationship had been strained. She lost her parental rights when I was seven, yet I always tried to remain connected to her. She lost her battle with addiction. Before her passing, God nudged me to send her a piece of diamond art I had been working on, along with a note reminding her of God’s love and His plan for her life. Six weeks later, while cleaning out her belongings, I found a journal where she wrote about God, her baptism, and accepting Jesus. That moment confirmed God’s grace even in the midst of grief.
Afterward, grief overwhelmed me. I was angry with God and questioned why reconciliation had not come sooner. During that vulnerable season, I made an impulsive move that turned out to be a setup from the enemy. What followed was harassment, fear, and a wrongful eviction attempt. I found myself hours away from homelessness, overwhelmed and crying out to God.
I gathered my prayer warriors, and we prayed. Within thirty minutes, everything shifted. Housing opened, my background check cleared immediately, and my credit score increased so I did not need an extra deposit. God also provided the finances needed to move through victim services. He made a way where there was none.
Since moving into my apartment, loneliness and rejection have been difficult. Chronic illness, neurological issues, severe disc disease, and more surgeries followed. With little family support, I often felt isolated. Yet God has been teaching me that my validation must come from Him alone, not from people. He has reminded me again and again that I am not alone and that He has not forsaken me.
What keeps me anchored is starting each day with God. Quiet time with Him, prayer, deliverance, healing, and learning to bring every thought captive have transformed my walk. I am learning to choose peace, to be slow to speak, and to trust Him in every storm.
One of the scriptures God has anchored me in is Proverbs 3:5–6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” I have learned that exhaustion does not mean failure. It means I carried more than one person was meant to carry alone.
God has shown me that my story is not just for me. I am involved in peer to peer mentorship and advocacy and serve as an ambassador for the Global Lyme Alliance. I also lead a Facebook wig community where women support one another through hair loss with confidence and dignity. Through sharing my testimony, I continue to speak up because God has shown me that my voice matters.
I believe God is calling me to use my voice through media, speaking, advocacy, and legislative work for those living with disabilities. I will continue to fight for those who need support, resources, and hope.
To any woman facing similar struggles, I want you to know this: you matter. You are seen. God sees you even when you feel invisible. You are not alone, and your life has meaning.
Even when life breaks you, when the world feels silent and support feels impossible, God redeems what feels lost. Your scars are not the end of your story. They are the beginning of your testimony. Redemption is real. Hope is alive. And your life can shine brighter than you ever imagined.
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