This past December, Laura House and her husband, Ryen, moved their family of seven back to Scottsbluff, where Ryen accepted a job as the new youth pastor at Grace Chapel. Laura graduated from Scottsbluff High School in 2008 before playing soccer for WNCC, marrying Ryen, heading off to Bible college, and joining the mission field. Her childhood was wrought with trauma, which she did her best to ignore. But because of God’s love for her, He helped her to face her past and heal from the pain. Now, she’s excited to help others who have faced similar struggles and tell them about God’s love.
AMANDA HOVSETH
Nspire Today! Feature Writer
SCOTTSBLUFF – Psalm 23:1-4 (ESV) says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
When thinking back on her life, one specific word repeatedly comes to Laura House’s mind – fear. For her, the truth presented in the above verses – that God has been and is always by her side, looking out for her and loving her – was life changing.
“I remember being left home alone a lot at a very young age and there was a lot of fear in that,” said House. “I don’t know if that came from the instability that I had with my parents – I know that some kids can be home alone at younger ages – but it was affecting me differently. Even during the time I lived with my grandma, I’d wake up scared and go sleep in her bed with her. Fear has just been a constant part of my life.”
House grew up knowing there was a God but not really understanding who He was.
“I grew up in a home that was considered to be Christian, but there was a lot of hypocrisy,” said House. “I remember a lot of drinking and fighting, sometimes physical, with my parents. As a child, I have vivid memories of just hanging out in a bar. I didn’t understand who God was at all. I was taken to different types of churches, and it was always confusing and, also, separated from my everyday life. I thought I was supposed to do good things to please Him, but I didn’t care and my life didn’t reflect that belief.”
You can read the entire story in the February 2025 issue of Nspire Today! magazine. A one-year subscription (12 issues) is only $20. You may sign up for a subscription by sending $20 to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363, or you may pay with a credit card by calling 308-220-8907.
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