About
Glad I Didn't Know
Lessons Learned Through Life’s Challenges and Unexpected Blessings
About the Book
Glad I Didn’t Know showcases the transformative power of adversity and uncertainty, emphasizing that the true purpose of life’s challenges often becomes apparent only in hindsight. The common thread in each story lies in the revelation of what the individuals are grateful they didn’t know during those trying times.
Follow along as one person leaves a beloved and lucrative career with no idea what’s next, only to encounter a series of hardships within three months, like a child’s severe injury, a house flooding, and the loss of a parent, while elsewhere a couple retires to help others and enjoy life only for the husband to be diagnosed two weeks later with cancer that was so severe the doctor suggested he go home and prepare his will. Each story delves into the emotional turmoil, anxiety, and uncertainty experienced during these challenging times, followed by an “Aha!” moment where the author reflects on the divine intervention and lessons learned.
Glad I Didn’t Know encourages people to persevere through difficulties, offering a lens through which to view personal situations and see how a sovereign God has worked behind the scenes in unseen ways. By navigating the highs and lows of various life stories, Glad I Didn’t Know serves as a guide to help individuals avoid bitterness, doubt, and worry, fostering a realization that they serve a God who orchestrates all things for good.
What People Are Saying...
"According to social scientists, there is an anxiety epidemic in our country today. Yet in Scripture, Jesus constantly told his disciples, "Do not be afraid." You see, God never promised our lives would be free of hardship, but he did promise to walk through those valleys with us and use them for good. In Glad I Didn't Know, Vonna Laue takes us on a journey from anxiety in our lives to trust in our God, who sees and knows what we do not. Glad I Didn’t Know will lift your spirits, make you laugh, and encourage you to let go of your fears and entrust them to Jesus. You’ll want to read it at least twice - and maybe twice a year!”
-Rich Stearns, President Emeritus of World Vision US,
author of Lead Like It Matters to God and The Hole in Our Gospel
"In Vonna Laue's book, Glad I Didn't Know, she connects us to the real-life situations that we all face at some time or another. It's those times when love, care, and commitment meet us with a timeline that never aligns with ours, and the sacrifice of the situation can't be anticipated or measured until you are on the other side. Through her stories and those of others, she pulls from a deep well of experiences. Full of candor and truth, we find that even the most challenging roads are marked with hope. If you are heading into it, in the middle of it, or viewing life from the other side, Glad I Didn't Know will touch your heart and encourage you to give thanks and keep going!"
-Tami Heim, President and CEO of Christian Leadership Alliance
"God makes wonderful promises about our future but leaves out a lot of the details we would like to know. Thank God for both - be glad about the promises and glad not to know the details."
-Leith Anderson, President Emeritus, National Association
of Evangelicals, Washington, DC
"Glad I Didn't Know is a deeply human reminder of how finite and small we are. Vonna Laue does an excellent job of weaving together stories from people in all stages of life, reminding us that none of us know what tomorrow will bring. Through each story and the principles learned, your faith will be strengthened and your discipleship deepened. Vonna's book puts our lives into God's perspective and helps us find joy as we receive the plan that God has for our lives, even when we don't know what the plan is."
-Justin Burkholder, International Director of TEAM