Trusting God Through Tragedy: Melissa Harris

As a Cedarville University graduate in athletic training, Melissa Harris '02 believed she had a clear calling — serve student-athletes and be a light for Christ through her profession. But God had an unexpected direction in mind, calling her instead into recreation ministry — a shift she hadn’t planned but embraced in faith.

That same willingness to trust God when life took an unforeseen turn would become crucial when tragedy struck years later. During what was supposed to be a peaceful family hike in Hocking Hills State Park, a horrific accident nearly claimed the life of her youngest daughter, Mia.

In an instant, the joy of the outdoors turned into a nightmare. As emergency crews raced to respond, Melissa and her family were left clinging to prayer, unsure if Mia would survive. Yet even in the chaos, Melissa describes a peace that defied logic. “There’s no explanation for it,” she shared on the Cedarville Stories podcast. “It was Jesus — He calmed my fears and reminded me of eternity.”

The months that followed were filled with recovery, reflection, and raw faith. Melissa realized that their story wasn’t just about surviving trauma — it was about surrendering control and trusting God in every unknown. The same God who redirected her career path years earlier had now walked her through the darkest valley of her life.

It was during this healing season that Melissa felt a quiet but clear prompting from God: Tell the story. Melissa wrote her book, Rewrite This Tragedy, not to spotlight tragedy, but to proclaim God’s presence during it. “Even if He hadn’t saved Mia,” said Melissa, “He was still with us. That’s what carried us.”

Her story reminds us that faith isn’t about having a perfect plan — it’s about trusting the One who does.

https://share.transistor.fm/s/4f0baf7c

https://youtu.be/Xh6UhtUBA2M