Ryan Stevenson - Eye of the Storm: Experiencing God When You Cant See Him

Table of Contents

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Verses marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Cover design by Faceout Studio

Interior design by KUHN Design Group

Cover art Bodor Tivadar / Shutterstock

Eye of the Storm

Copyright 2020 by Ryan Stevenson

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97408

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-7977-1 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-7978-8 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

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T here are so many people whom I need to thankwonderful people who have been with me in different seasons of my journey. There are too many to count, and I know Im going to forget some of youand for that Im sorry. Looking back at how Ive been helped, Im so honored and reminded of how God has woven our stories together. The fact that we get to share seasons of life and memories is priceless. Im also reminded that God does whatever He wants and uses whomever He wants. Hes a master of surprise and loves to blow our minds.

To my wife, Kimberly: You are my rock, and theres simply no way I could do any of this without you. Thanks for never giving up on mefor being the best friend, wife, and momma. Love you!

To Toby McKeehan: Youve been inspiring me for many years. Thank you for literally saving us and for giving me a space to grow and dream. We are forever grateful. Its been an honor to walk with you.

To Lara Eustermann; Youve never owed me a thing, yet your generosity, love, and support have changed my life. Im so happy we met that day on the side of a stormy hill. The Lord has used you in profound waysnot only to reach so many people, but to change me. Love you!

To Bryan Fowler; Thanks for bringing this song to me. It wouldnt exist without you. Im so grateful for your friendship and how weve been able to walk together through exciting and intense seasons these last several years. We have a special bond that I cherish, and Im forever grateful to create music with you that touches the world!

To my family (Mom and DadPhyllis and Jamesand Janay). Dad and Janay, I love you so much! Mom, I wish you were here; I hope I make you proud

To my editor, Terry Glaspey, who shaped and smoothed my words, and to my entire Harvest House family. Its been a blast working together!

Also, special thanks to Sandy and Bill DeJong and Richard, Willem, and Susie; Greg and Evelyn Thomas; Chris and Michele Marsden; Joey Elwood; Brad Moist; Paul Wright; Paul Young; Damon Thompson; Ray Hughes; Bryan Fowler; Gabe Patillo; Chris Hauser; Matt Ingle; Chris Stevens; Brian Smith; Martin Lovelace; Dave Wagner; Derek Bruner; Wes Campbell; Mike McCloskey; Ben Courson; Lee Raner; Tyson Paoletti; Scott Huie; Ken Brown; Steve Marlow; Ada County Paramedics; Northwest Christian University; Jeremy Jerry Wilson; Jeff Pru Pruitt; Mandy Dizzle Barnes (yes, Mandy, I said Barnes); Ian Townend; Scott Pergande; and my Christian radio family all over the country.

Ryan has a unique and compelling story to tell, and his life has been an adventurous journey! I first got to know Ryan when we wrote Speak Life together. Now I know him as a friend and an artist. I am truly impacted by who he is as a person and thankful we now walk together through this world. Ryan cares deeply about the things that matter, and he lives them out with passion. I am truly blessed to call him friend.

TobyMac , award-winning artist and producer

Ryans story is captivating and uniquenothing short of miraculous! I loved reading about his journey and seeing the Lords hand on his life. This is a beautifully compelling story, and Im excited to see what the future holds for him.

Bart Millard , lead singer for Mercy Me

Ryan is deeply committed to the honesty of the journey. I am honored to be a witness to his courage and determination and his wholehearted pursuit of authentic truth-telling and creative craft.

Paul Young , bestselling author of The Shack

Ryan is quite possibly one of the best storytellers Ive ever had the good pleasure to work with. From the moment I met him and we talked for nearly three hours on the couch of my office, he mesmerized me with the tale of his journey. I know we listened to music at some point in that meeting, but it was this story youre about to read that I remember most in that first meeting. Ryan is an amazing musician, songwriter, and performer, but I think God gave him that Mark Twain quality of telling a tale that seems so familiar yet so fantastical that youre not sure if fact is fiction or fiction is fact, but you know that you just cant put the book down.

Joey Elwood , president and cofounder of Gotee Records

Our family and Ryans go back many years. His mother and I became best friends, so our families ended up spending a lot of time together. His musical abilities did not start coming out until he left for college, so who could have known that he would end up where he is? Only God! We are proud of him and his success. He will always remain one of our kids.

Sandy DeJong , owner of Langell Valley Dairy

Ryan Stevenson literally saved my life with his abilities as a paramedic, his value for the sanctity of life itself, and most importantly prayer. Within these pages lie not only stories about Ryans journey but also messages of hope, persistence, and love that will become a part of your soul. I have a special place in my heart for Ryan, and I believe that once you get to know him through his story, youll make a place for him in yours as well.

Lara Eusterman , lightning strike survivor

O ver the years, when people have heard my story theyve often told me, You need to write a book. Honestly, I never gave that much thought. Writing a book seemed like an Everest I had very little interest in climbing. It seemed a little scary and would require me to be a lot more vulnerable than I thought I wanted to be.

Sometimes, though, it is good to do something scary, so Ive done it. As I wrote these pages, I remembered what a pastor friend once told me: Always err on the side of vulnerability, because vulnerability creates more trust, not less. With that in mind, I have written the tale of my own life, with all its unexpected twists and turns. And the hero of the story isnt me, but the One who is the author of all our stories.