Surrendered & Unafraid: The Flourishing of Faith During Seasons of Suffering

By: Mike Rakes

Narrated by: Mike Rakes

What happens when the God of miracles doesn’t give you the miracle? What happens when you pray fervently and God remains silent and unmoving? What happens when God lets you down?

Throughout his career, educator, intellectual, and pastor Mike Rakes has talked and written about the God who does the miraculous and answers sincere, fervent prayers. But when he lost his 27-year-old, worship-leading daughter, Whitney, to an incurable cancer in her bloodstream, Mike was left with only tormenting grief and no miracle. Disappointments, questions, and contradictions abounded, sending him on a deeper spiritual quest to know more about the nature of God. In Surrendered & Unafraid, Mike takes listeners on the blended journey - both Whitney’s and his - of how they came to know the God of mystery in her pain and his sorrow. These sections share both the remarkable faith of a young woman who did not allow a terminal diagnosis to define what life she had left and also the wavering faith of a grieving father who has more questions than answers.

Combining personal stories, theological insights, and poignant depictions of a living and breathing faith, Mike’s words offer shelter to those who are enduring troubles and disappointments of their own. Through looking at the life and death of Jesus, Mike reminds us that God doesn’t promise us a life without suffering but is always present with us, inviting us to trust him and live surrendered and unafraid.

©2021 Mike Rakes (P)2021 Mike Rakes

Honest and raw telling of loss and grief from a loving father’s perspective

I appreciate the vulnerability of such a delicate memory and experience, allowing us to be encouraged by faith in spite of not having the answers we so diligently seek.

Heart Felt

This is a sad story of a beautiful women suffering. But always putting her trust in Jesus would be her Legacy. My heart ached with the pain she would endure but despite the pain, always glorifying Jesus regardless. That is living a courageous life. One day I will meet her in heaven

Amazing book

This book was amazing. I highly recommend this book for anyone who minsters in any capacity. I enjoyed hearing the songs Whitney wrote that were included. It made the book feel so personal. I wept with sadness and I wept with tears of realization that suffering is inevitable but God does promise to be with us. This book does not sugar-coat death or suffering but it brings the reality of the pain and a new perspective on a God who has suffered.

Transformative and Artistic

I was not ready for the beautiful music, depth of theology and beautiful literary journey. Just wow.