"Pray without ceasing." 

Kayla Mueller spent her young life serving others. Even when she was captured by ISIS in 2013, her faith remained strong! And now, ISIS has ended this very special life, but they couldn't stop her message of FAITH from being spread. Her last message to her family of her FAITH is so inspirational and should be shared worldwide!

'Pray without ceasing.' This is what 1 Thessalonians 5:17 instructs us to do. And as you read the rest of this story about Kayla Mueller, the beautiful and strong 26-year-old American woman from Arizona, killed by ISIS, keep praying.

 

"Kayla was a compassionate and devoted humanitarian. She dedicated the whole of her young life to helping those in need of freedom, justice, and peace," the family said.

And even in the toughest time of her life, the letter below clearly expresses where Kayla placed her hope and her future - In Jesus Christ.

Read the words below that her family has offered to share and please be in prayer for the Mueller family as they grieve the loss of the daughter. May God bless our country and place a hedge of protection around all of us and our government as we continue to fight this evil.

Kayla's family released this handwritten letter that they say she wrote while in captivity in spring 2014:

Everyone, If you are receiving this letter it means I am still detained but my cell mates (starting from 11/2/2014) have been released.

I have asked them to contact you + send you this letter.

It’s hard to know what to say.

Please know that I am in a safe location, completely unharmed + healthy (put on weight in fact); I have been treated w/ the utmost respect + kindness. I wanted to write you all a well thought out letter (but I didn’t know if my cellmates would be leaving in the coming days or the coming months restricting my time but primarily). I could only but write the letter a paragraph at a time, just the thought of you all sends me into a fit of tears.

If you could say I have “suffered” at all throughout this whole experience it is only in knowing how much suffering I have put you all through; I will never ask you to forgive me as I do not deserve forgiveness.

I remember mom always telling me that all in all in the end the only one you really have is God. I have come to a place in experience where, in every sense of the word, I have surrendered myself to our creator b/c literally there was no else….+ by God + by your prayers I have felt tenderly cradled in freefall.

I have been shown in darkness, light + have learned that even in prison, one can be free. I am grateful.

I have come to see that there is good in every situation, sometimes we just have to look for it. I pray each each day that if nothing else, you have felt a certain closeness + surrender to God as well + have formed a bond of love + support amongst one another…

I miss you all as if it has been a decade of forced separation. I have had many a long hour to think, to think of all the things I will do w/ Lex, our first family camping trip, the first meeting @ the airport.I have had many hours to think how only in your absence have I finally @ 25 years old come to realize your place in my life.

The gift that is each one of you + the person I could + could not be if you were not a part of my life, my family, my support. I DO NOT want the negotiations for my release to be your duty, if there is any other option take it, even if it takes more time.

This should never have become your burden. I have asked these women to support you; please seek their advice. If you have not done so already, [REDACTED] can contact [REDACTED] who may have a certain level of experience with these people.

None of us could have known it would be this long but know I am also fighting from my side in the ways I am able + I have a lot of fight left inside of me.

I am not breaking down + I will not give in no matter how long it takes.

I wrote a song some months ago that says, “The part of me that pains the most also gets me out of bed, w/out your hope there would be nothing left…” aka -­ The thought of your pain is the source of my own, simultaneously the hope of our reunion is the source of my strength.

Please be patient, give your pain to God.

I know you would want me to remain strong. That is exactly what I am doing.

Do not fear for me, continue to pray as will I + by God’s will we will be together soon.

All my everything,

Kayla

When Kayla was asked WHY she was going on this mission, she said,

"I find God in the eyes of the suffering relfected in mine. If this is how you reveal yourself to me this is how I will forever seek you."

Our prayers go out to this brave woman's family. Please share your own prayers for Kayla's family in our comments section below.

h/t: CNN

Featured Image Credit: Youtube