June 18th, 2026
by Casey Stanfill
by Casey Stanfill
It Is Well - A Father’s Day Testimony
On June 1st, I became a father. It is so surreal. Ezra has brought so much joy to our family and friends, and we cannot wait for him to grow up at FBC Union City! Cheyenne and I are extremely grateful for the outpouring of Godly love from our church family. Thank you for all the gifts, cards, text messages, phone calls, and meal trains!
This Sunday is my first Father’s Day, which only reinforces the joy that little Ezra has brought to our household! I cannot wait to spend it with my new family!
While I’m filled with joy, I’m also reminded of how Father’s Day has brought some “high highs” and “low lows” for me in years past.
On June 20th, 2019, just after Father’s Day, my grandfather, Frank Stanfill, passed away. (Ironically, June 20th 2026 was Ezra’s due date) This was my first taste with real grief- the first time I experienced loss. I remember my parents and my brother were at Beta Convention in Oklahoma City, meaning I was home alone when I heard the news. Fortunately, my best friend came and spent the day with me. All in all, despite the grief, our family was at peace because we knew that he was in heaven with Jesus.
Fast forward to June 16th, 2024 (the day of Father’s Day); I proposed to Cheyenne. It was a bit spontaneous, and it was nothing fancy- just the two of us in our shorts and t-shirts at Beech Lake at sunset. We had only known each other for 8 months, and we had no idea what our living situation was going to be. But when God clearly and irrefutably calls you to something, He doesn’t always give the details. So, we stepped out in faith, and God has blessed us immensely!
Fast forward one year later, we learned that we had miscarried our first child. This was perhaps a worse grief than losing my grandfather. Besides that, I was very concerned for my wife. Here she was, losing a child after already losing a husband. But we both had to deal with it in our own way. Nevertheless, God brought us through the valley like in Psalm 23.
Fast forward to Father’s Day 2026, and I’m at a loss for words. I’ve looked at Cheyenne and said, “Babe, we have a son,” countless times over the last two weeks. The amount of joy and zeal that she and I have felt is indescribable and vastly outweighs the pain of the past.
Over the years, Father’s Day has been a day of grief, pain, and darkness, but also a day of joy, life, and happiness. God is sovereign over all of it. Out of one of those dark seasons came my favorite hymn, which says this:
“Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say: it is well, it is well with my soul.”
No matter what we go through, we can find peace in knowing that we belong to Christ. Psalm 23 reminds us that Jesus, our Great Shepherd, leads us through the valley.
Gospel singer William Murphy said this about Daniel 3:
“You’re gonna be in the fire, but when you come out, you won’t smell like smoke. You’re gonna be in the fiery furnace, but when you come out you won’t look like what you been through!”
Sometimes, it’s not our circumstances that need to change; it’s US!
After all, our heavenly Father works all things together for our good because He has predestined us to be more like Jesus Christ (Romans 8:28-30). He has a plan to use all of your good seasons and bad seasons to make you more like Him.
I know that Cheyenne and I would not be where we are today emotionally, mentally, and spiritually if God had not inflicted us with those trials. Our trials have taught us to cherish what we are blessed with now and to trust in His sovereignty over all things.
So, remember, saint: Jesus is still Lord when times are hard. And when you come out the other side, you will look more like Him!
To God be the Glory,
Bro. Casey Stanfill
On June 1st, I became a father. It is so surreal. Ezra has brought so much joy to our family and friends, and we cannot wait for him to grow up at FBC Union City! Cheyenne and I are extremely grateful for the outpouring of Godly love from our church family. Thank you for all the gifts, cards, text messages, phone calls, and meal trains!
This Sunday is my first Father’s Day, which only reinforces the joy that little Ezra has brought to our household! I cannot wait to spend it with my new family!
While I’m filled with joy, I’m also reminded of how Father’s Day has brought some “high highs” and “low lows” for me in years past.
On June 20th, 2019, just after Father’s Day, my grandfather, Frank Stanfill, passed away. (Ironically, June 20th 2026 was Ezra’s due date) This was my first taste with real grief- the first time I experienced loss. I remember my parents and my brother were at Beta Convention in Oklahoma City, meaning I was home alone when I heard the news. Fortunately, my best friend came and spent the day with me. All in all, despite the grief, our family was at peace because we knew that he was in heaven with Jesus.
Fast forward to June 16th, 2024 (the day of Father’s Day); I proposed to Cheyenne. It was a bit spontaneous, and it was nothing fancy- just the two of us in our shorts and t-shirts at Beech Lake at sunset. We had only known each other for 8 months, and we had no idea what our living situation was going to be. But when God clearly and irrefutably calls you to something, He doesn’t always give the details. So, we stepped out in faith, and God has blessed us immensely!
Fast forward one year later, we learned that we had miscarried our first child. This was perhaps a worse grief than losing my grandfather. Besides that, I was very concerned for my wife. Here she was, losing a child after already losing a husband. But we both had to deal with it in our own way. Nevertheless, God brought us through the valley like in Psalm 23.
Fast forward to Father’s Day 2026, and I’m at a loss for words. I’ve looked at Cheyenne and said, “Babe, we have a son,” countless times over the last two weeks. The amount of joy and zeal that she and I have felt is indescribable and vastly outweighs the pain of the past.
Over the years, Father’s Day has been a day of grief, pain, and darkness, but also a day of joy, life, and happiness. God is sovereign over all of it. Out of one of those dark seasons came my favorite hymn, which says this:
“Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say: it is well, it is well with my soul.”
No matter what we go through, we can find peace in knowing that we belong to Christ. Psalm 23 reminds us that Jesus, our Great Shepherd, leads us through the valley.
Gospel singer William Murphy said this about Daniel 3:
“You’re gonna be in the fire, but when you come out, you won’t smell like smoke. You’re gonna be in the fiery furnace, but when you come out you won’t look like what you been through!”
Sometimes, it’s not our circumstances that need to change; it’s US!
After all, our heavenly Father works all things together for our good because He has predestined us to be more like Jesus Christ (Romans 8:28-30). He has a plan to use all of your good seasons and bad seasons to make you more like Him.
I know that Cheyenne and I would not be where we are today emotionally, mentally, and spiritually if God had not inflicted us with those trials. Our trials have taught us to cherish what we are blessed with now and to trust in His sovereignty over all things.
So, remember, saint: Jesus is still Lord when times are hard. And when you come out the other side, you will look more like Him!
To God be the Glory,
Bro. Casey Stanfill
Posted in Articles
Recent
Archive
2026
February
March
April
Perspectives of the Empty TombForging the Family Man: Psalm 112The Days Following the ResurrectionA Journey to Joy – Lessons from John PiperJ.S. Bach, Luther, and the PsalmsOur Eternal GodThe Lord of The Longbeards – Proverbs 12:27The Winds of CompromiseRock N Roll, Rock of AgesWhen Sin Becomes Abomination
May
2025
July
January 6, 2025January 13, 2025March 31, 2025June 30, 2025June 23, 2025June 16, 2025June 9, 2025May 26, 2025May 19. 2025May 5, 2025April 28, 2025April 14, 2025April 7, 2025March 24, 2025March 17, 2025March 10, 2025March 3, 2025February 24, 2025February 17, 2025February 10. 2025February 3, 2025January 27, 2025January 20,2025July 7, 2025July 14, 2025July 21, 2025
No Comments