When tragedy happened, our guest Hope Tally – wife, mother, and Christ follower – made a choice. Please join us as Hope shares her surrender story. From a near-death experience, Hope allowed her thoughts and actions to become fluid with God as she fully depended on Him. Hope encourages us to walk in freedom by surrendering control to God and sharing the love of God with others. *****
Kimberly Hobbs Welcome to Empowering Lives with Purpose. And I’m your host, Kimberly Hobbs. I am the founder of Women World Leaders. Ladies, we are so grateful that you have joined in with us today. And I would love to welcome our guest, Miss Hope, Mrs. Hope, Tally, hope, welcome.
Hope Tally Thank you, Kimberly, I’m so blessed and excited to be here with you today.
Kimberly Hobbs And we’re so excited to have you. And today, ladies, and we are just here to encourage you and empower you. We all have a beautiful purpose that God has just for us. And it is our hope that through hearing some of the stories of the women that we have on as guests, that you would be empowered to walk further into your beautiful purpose. And I want to share scripture with you I love to share some of these inspiring scriptures that show us that we have purpose. But God says in Philippians 213 That he is working in you giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him that should make all of his excited because he’s putting that in you ladies giving you that desire, giving you that power and strength to do it. So just trust Him, just trust Him. And as you listen to some of these stories, and you hear some of the words, the focal words, like today, we’re gonna focus on the word surrendered. You may start to think about your own life and how and what can you surrender to the Lord? How can you walk forward into that beautiful purpose. So today, our guests, I’d love to share a little bit about our guests before we get started. And today, our guest hope Talley she’s from Asheboro, North Carolina. And she is I’m excited to say part of our women, world leaders team. And hope is coming on board with us to serve with her gifts and talents for the Lord. And we are just so just blessed to have you hope. So today’s story, as I said is one of surrender. And hope was raised in a Christian home. She learned about God in church. And she was called at a very early age to serve Him. As Christians, we’re all supposed to submit to the will of God and do what pleases Him pursuing truth and righteousness above everything else. Hope as we open up here with your story, you have shared with me about being married, you’re happily married, you have two small children. And we got we get to talk ladies before we do these interviews, and I get to know the women and some of their story. And so she’s hope is married. She has two children and her story is one of tragedy, something happened in her life. And that’s where she’s gonna start here with sharing a little bit about her story. So hope do you want to open up with your story?
Hope Tally Sure, Kimberly. And the the tragic part of the story starts on back in August of 2014. I was driving my children to their first day of school, when another driver made a decision that just in a few seconds time completely changed and altered our labs. I was air flighted to a local Trauma Center and our children followed by ambulance, I really don’t remember a whole lot I remember bits and pieces and voices was kept fairly well sedated for a few days for a host of reasons. My skull had been fractured in six different places. My spine was fractured in five places, had an open wound fracture to my left femur and a whole host of other fractures and sprains. And basically, the the open fracture to my skull was concerning because the swelling that it was causing, if it continued would disrupt your my carotid artery. And the ER doctor told my husband that this is as bad as it gets without additional internal organ damage. And so in the beginning, no one knew if I would survive the brain trauma. And I know without a doubt that God performed a miracle or protection and healing in my body that they are while I was going through that in the beginning. But I think sometimes it’s The aftermath of that, then, is the hard part. And he taught me so much about surrender during that time. It included physical, mental, mental, and emotional, hard stuff. And we all have that in our lives. That’s the part that took the courage in the middle of the fear. And that’s the part that took strength in the middle of what felt like overwhelming defeat. And that’s the part that took endurance that I didn’t have on my arm. And so it took, basically, about two and a half weeks in the hospital one week in intensive rehab and 24 hour care lined up to get me home. We had, basically, they were having to treat me as a stroke victim, because I was broken from head to toe, on the left side of my body. And when you can’t do anything for yourself, it really changes your outlook on a lot of a lot of things. It took on three surgeries, and two different types of fitted braces. So once we got past, the, I guess, survived the brain trauma. And then it was while I walk again. And I was told by some of the medical professionals that even 10 years prior, I probably would have lost my leg altogether. So it took three surgeries, two fitted braces, but I’m now walking the Lord. So all of that is, you know, his healing? Absolutely. But he taught me so much. Through the aftermath of that it took two years just to heal my brain, basically. And in the beginning, I remember I knew people by their voices more than anything, I couldn’t see very well, I’m just moving my head was very dizzying. for months on end, I don’t even know how to describe what effort it took just to comprehend what people were saying to me. And my memory became almost non existent. And no multitasking had to relearn how to do things in a different perspective. And it took about two years sort of battling back what felt a little bit like a mental breakdown, because I really was broken. And, you know, it’s, it was hard to even describe what I was going through. So that
to even get help from another person. But I learned and the Lord taught me over and overthrow this whole thing that you know, her Jesus is more than fluent in brokenness. And he knows he’s been there. He isn’t just, you know, far off, he’s right here with us. He was became a manual, so you could walk along and walk among us. He knows what it’s like to be broken. And he just showed me so many ways to surrender to him and how he would just help me overcome in the middle of that battle. So that’s the start of the tragic story.
Kimberly Hobbs Yes, yes, you went through so much in that period, as we talked earlier, and God taught you so much as well. And you were telling me, I think it was 1111 months after the surgery, there was this shard of glass that had to work its way out of your skin and you have a little story about that. But that last piece of glass you know, think about this lady’s she was in a major car accident, you know, glass, everything flying all over the place, and her body was broken and all these pieces and all these places. It was broken. And through that period of time. You don’t you didn’t know it then but you know what now there was this teachable time as your body had to heal as you had to relearn things in your life. You had to learn to depend on God rather than yourself. You know, you were no longer in control you had to surrender. So Many things like we can’t even comprehend. She couldn’t walk. She couldn’t even think she couldn’t speak, right. She couldn’t talk. I mean, she was like out, she was out of it. And when she came back to and the swelling of the brain started, all these things had to be relearned and reworked in her body. And she’s still suffering, you know, from things. So the word surrender has stayed with you hope and back when, when I first met her, and I said, You know what, what word reverberates in you that, you know, you feel that this podcast would be talked about, and she said the word surrendered. And I laugh because I’m like, wow, God, this word just doesn’t leave women world leaders this year. And there is no coincidence that our book being written this year is titled surrendered. So many women are writing and voice of truth, our magazine, talk about the word surrendered. And here we are, again, and another podcast talking about the word surrendered. So ladies out there, and must have a message for you today, because here we are on this word surrender, and again, so as I was saying that 11 months, that last chart of class was working its way out of your body, and, and this word surrendered, is being taught to you over and over and surrendered ladies means accepting the battle has been won, not on your terms, not on our terms, that you are willingly giving your life over to the authority of the winning side, you are taking the humble position and embracing what is over how you would have it right. So you’re surrendering that to God, because God is the winning side. Galatians 220 says, I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me, the life I now live in the body. I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Hope, how did God teach you over this time that followed?
Hope Tally Oh, wow, so many ways can really the another verse that that is very similar to that that come always comes to mind during this time is Second Corinthians 515. And it says, And he died for all that those who live should know, should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for them and rose again. And I think, you know, my pride was completely stripped from me because you can’t do anything for yourself. And you either, I guess you could hold on to it, it just doesn’t work very well. And so I had to learn to let that go. And allow God in so many humbling ways. But you know, I think if we get when we allow our pride to come to the forefront it erodes away that humility that he needs to further his kingdom, you know, and and it were so many times I did not in any way form or fashion walk this through the storm perfectly. I was so human through all of this. But um, you know, there were times when the weight was just felt in, just like it would never end. And there were times when the hard and the painful stuff just got to me. But I think one of the things that he taught me to surrender was in the middle of the weight and in the middle of the heart, and the pain and the suffering. I think a lot of times when we’re walking in the middle of anything, but especially something hard. God wants him to be my answer first. Wow. Yeah, he taught me that. That, you know, do I crave him more than the pain. I crave him more this stuff more than the suffering enough to say, Lord, if this suffering fulfills your will in someone else’s life, then don’t take the suffering away. But let me overcome. Let me bear through it with you with your strength. And I think that’s one of the things he taught me the most. And that’s one of the things I tried to keep in mind. And I journaled a lot of stuff throughout this just so I can remember because we will I’m talking about myself here we we are very forgetful creatures, or I am at least and I think I always need so many reminders just to remember what he’s done and what hMaene’s taught us. So I can continue in that. But,
Kimberly Hobbs Amen. You did you had to survive. under so many things, and one of the things was, you know, physically, yeah, you had brain injuries, you suffered a lot. And you were used to doing things of your own accord, and on your own and just going because you know, that’s how God created you and designed you, you, you did a lot of things. But now things are different, they look different. And so you have to write things down, you have to journal things to remember them, you have to just rely on God. So you’d surrendered things over to him. And you told me to the more you read the word that the more you saturated yourself in reading it over and over and over the power, God was able to work through you and you were able to release things to him that you couldn’t control anymore. You just couldn’t do it. And ladies listening, there are things in your life right now. That you you just can’t control anymore. And you’ve tried to hold it all together, you’ve tried and tried and tried. But you know what God is saying? Give it to me, release it to me, surrender that word needs to. It’s not on your terms anymore. You know what? God can do this. And you can do all things through Him who gives you the strength, but three surgeries later, my dear hope, every part of your body needed strengthening. And you talked about going through that period of time where you had to have surgery upon surgery. And you needed that strength. You asked God, God, how strong Do you want me to be? You know, like, you seriously just cried out to him? How strong Do you want me to be? You talk about that.
Hope Tally And, you know, he taught me through this time as well. He can handle what we throw at him. If was frustrated, if we’re angry, and we’re weary, and we’re worn out, he can handle it. And he knows that, in fact, I think he’d rather just be honest about it and be upfront and him work on it with us then to just pretend like it’s not going on. And that’s one thing I did, I cried out. And I said just how strong Do you want me to be? It was after a day of grueling physical therapy, it didn’t seem like anything was working. And I just didn’t have much of a good outlook. And he whispered back to me through His scripture. And it was Second Corinthians 12 Nine, and it says, My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in your weakness. And he was heard back, and he pretty much just said, I don’t my strength is made perfect in your weakness, not the other way around. And so um, and, you know, I’ve seen, I think it’s through my weaknesses that I’ve seen, the Lord reveals his power and reveal his sufficiency to me.
And he’s taught me our savior is has always promised and promises to lead, strengthen and guide us.
And sometimes when the disappointments and the hard stuff and the darkness closes in, and it sort of feels like you’re suffocating. He says, Give it to me. And it’s back to that surrender thing. Give it to me. And when I would surrender it to him, and put Him first, he always provided everything I needed to overcome right in the middle of that battle. You know, it might just be that battle. But that’s all it needed to be. It doesn’t have to be all the battles that I’ve got to fight for the next two years. It just needs to be this one step this one battle. And he always showed up and he always provided everything I needed right then
Kimberly Hobbs Amen. Amen. And that scripture James for 10 says, humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up. And think about that word surrendered. You surrendered yourself before the Lord. And He lifted you up hope. Absolutely. Ladies, think about that. Think about that scripture. That’s again, James for 10 humbling yourself before the Lord and it’s not easy to do. It’s not easy to do when you’re fighting against your flesh. Right, right. And we want to take all that control but that’s why it’s so important. Ladies, saturate yourself in the word keep words on index cards, if you can’t remember them, you know, look up these words and scriptures that have to do with what you battle in the flesh. And put those scriptures around your house. They are so important. There’s power in the Word, it will change your life. So hope again, in closing now. We want to just really pour into these women You said something to me. I want to give another scripture here before I share this, but James 122 says, Do not merely listen to the word. And so deceive yourselves, do what it says, right? Don’t just listen to God’s word, ladies, you have to do what it says you have to put action on your faith, your reading, hoping to find these nuggets of truth in there. You can’t just what James 122 says, Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves, right? The enemy wants to deceive you with everything going on around you. But do what the Word says put action on your faith. So you said to me hope as a wife and a mom, we often control because we women want to take that control you we often control the House, which becomes a trap. So can you talk about that? Can you talk about how it traps you?
Hope Tally For me, I think before the accident, and I’m going to I mean, just totally honest, I mean, I still battle this today, you know, this is not something I think, you know, we have to give it over every day. It’s a surrender every day. It’s not just a surrender once and we’re done. But I think because we you know, a lot most of the time, a lot of times, as women, we control the schedules, we control what we eat, we control how everyone gets to where they need to go, we, you know, it’s sort of like we were the master of the rail. Right, but not not exactly, but just just a little bit. And I think in a way that sometimes becomes a trap for wanting to control most things, instead of and I think, sometimes too, when we’re fighting so hard, just to make it through the day, or fighting in the middle of something that’s hard, that we ended up being chained by that control. And it’s the surrender that brings freedom, he taught me that through that accident is that there’s such freedom and surrendering because when we surrender, we handed the reins over to the one who has all the resources that we could never comprehend. And and I think it another verse that comes to mind, just like the one that you said, is Luke 646. And it says, Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you?
Kimberly Hobbs Yes.
Hope Tally And so he was so many times taught me through the aftermath of that accident, that he’s also saying, you know, follow me just like he told the disciples lay down whatever it is lay down your nets, if it’s the control, if that’s the thing that you need to lay down, lay it down. If it’s comfort, I mean, I had to get over that to comfort is not necessarily, you know, that can be something I need to lay down because I might need to get outside of my comfort zone to do what he’s asked me to do. But lay it down and drop those nets and just surrender it to him. And he taught me to do this each day. And I think sometimes as mothers and women, we’re so busy trying to juggle all the balls in the air, and things get crazy. And I’ve had some say to me before, you don’t know how crazy my life is. I have a little bit of an idea. And I think whatever season you’re in, though, however it looks you put him first. It may not mean that every morning you can do a full out Bible study, but pull up one or two scriptures and just meditate on those all day and do that, like you said, do them put them into practice during the day and you will see him show up in ways you never expected when you actually do what he says. And I think a lot of times our obedience is the key to us experience Him experiencing him here on earth. It is when he shows he he’s always here, but it’s when he really manifests and we see his work. We see him working when we obey Him and do what he’s called us to do. And so he taught me to look at each day and just say with open hands, Lord, I’m here. I’m opening my hands. You fill it up with what you need to fill it up with instead of an Yes, there are very important things we need to get done during the day. But Lord of that means that I have to take a break in the middle of something because I see a need that needs to be met. Or I see someone who seems to be not having a great day and needs a word from you, then I stop and do it. Help me to listen to your voice. And just just to do that in a way that furthers your kingdom, you know, and I think that’s part of being surrendered again, you know? And absolutely, it’s just a daily step by step thing that we just, we commit to every day, every step,
Kimberly Hobbs Every day, every day. Yeah, beautiful, powerful words hope that you just shared. And ladies, there is surrendering. There’s freedom and surrendering to the Lord and hope, just share that, you know, through really relinquishing our control, and it allowed you to be fluid with God instead of controlling, you know that. And now you can help others like you said throughout the day, and and you can help others in this world. And that’s what it’s all about ladies as just releasing our own control. It’s all about Jesus. And Jeremiah 1023 says that Jeremiah speaks and says, Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own. He’s confirming that it is not for them to direct their steps. Wow. That’s powerful, right? Yes, not for them. Were to surrender to God. All. All of our health needs to come from him. When you can’t do it on your own ladies, and you may be facing a problem right now, you may be going through something horrible in your life right now. And you can’t do it on your own surrender to God. Matthew 633 says to seek first his kingdom, and His righteousness, just like hope was sharing in that and teachable moment. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So we need to rest ladies in God’s love. Surrender is such an important word in our life. Matthew 1128 I just love to share scriptures, you know, because again, I said, there’s power in the Word ladies, power, power, power. Matthew 1128, come to me, all you who are weary and burdened. Do you think hope was a little weary and burdened in that time to follow those accident? You know, she had to take care of two small children, thank god who lived and survived this accident. Oh, my gosh. God says Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burden, and I will give you rest. Think about that ladies for your own life right now, as you’re listening to this. God tells us to give him your whole heart surrender it to him, and let your eyes delight in his ways, ladies. That’s proverbs 910. Like I said, Put the scriptures all around your house, all around your house because they speak life back into you, and the life that God has intended for you. Your life isn’t your own Ladies, you’re bought with a price, glorify God and what you’re doing, glorify Him. Psalm 5015, call on Him in your day of trouble. Call on Him. And of course, we all love this scripture, Proverbs three, five, and six that says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, ladies, lean not unto your own understanding. Don’t take that control when you are tempted to take it over. Lean, not unto your own understanding, but in all your ways. God says, acknowledge Him, surrender to Him, and He will direct your path, he will. So hope to have a final word to say to the ladies before we close.
Hope Tally I think I just want to encourage anyone who’s going through anything that you know, surrendering to His will, there’s nothing that our God cannot handle, and there’s nothing that he can’t over help you overcome. And, you know, he taught me a whole lot to about choices, because we all have a choice to surrender or not to surrender. But he also told me that every time I chose my way, it was the harder way it was the way that didn’t usually end up quite as quite as good. So I just want to encourage everyone to choose him and choose his way to focus on our Savior and gain his eternal view on whatever’s going on around you whatever circumstance you might be facing.
Kimberly Hobbs Amen. Amen. Good word, hope. Good word. Thank you so much for sharing today for being our guest here. And you know what God is doing in hopes life is just incredible. And in she doesn’t want any focus on herself. But it’s amazing when you surrender to God, and he just takes over and he’s doing amazing things in her life. And God says, when, when you’re in trouble, call on me when you’re in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory. Psalm 50, verse five, and that’s what hope is doing with her life. God gets the glory for all this. She doesn’t want glory for what she’s doing. And let me tell you, she’s doing some amazing things. And I’m not sharing because she didn’t give me permission to share. But just what I know what she does in her job is pretty powerful. And she can do that if she didn’t surrender everything to the Lord. What she does in her ministry is again, Glory to God. She gives all the glory to Him and ladies, that your life to That’s what God wants, you will give me the glory, he said. So think about that. surrender it to him, surrender your life to Him. As we close, just know ladies that we are here for you every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, through these podcasts through teaching through encouraging you through sharing stories like we do every Monday. We are just wanting to help you and empower you to walk with the Lord. So please don’t forget to tune in each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We have other helpful tools through the website, please check out our website. Ladies. We have an amazing magazine that comes out that will encourage you. It’s all about encouraging and scriptures it’s called voice of truth. We also put out books every year through women world leaders. One of the books hope story reminded me of one of the you know a few of the stories here and courageous steps of faith which is one of the books that we put out by women world leaders. Do you need to take that courageous, courageous step of faith ladies, this book might be with for you with lots of helpful tools in it. So think about that. And go to our website and check out some of the tools that God has allowed us to share with you. So from his heart to yours, we are women world leaders, all content is copyrighted by women were leaders and cannot be used without expressed written consent. Hope. Thank you for joining us today. And God bless you and each of you that have tuned in to listen have a beautiful and surrendered day.