Sarah Cooley’s Story: Learning to Trust God with Open Hands

When Sarah Cooley reflects on her giving story, she sees a journey marked by both faith and surrender. Raised in a Christian home, Sarah grew up watching her parents give faithfully and joyfully. Generosity was simply part of how they lived—a visible expression of their trust in God. Later, when Sarah got married, giving continued naturally as part of her family’s rhythm.

But life took an unexpected turn. After walking through a difficult and unforeseen divorce, Sarah suddenly found herself navigating a new reality—emotionally, spiritually, and financially. While sorting through her finances, she discovered that their giving had quietly stopped two years earlier. It was one more area that needed rebuilding, and the thought of restarting it was daunting.

“At a time when everything felt out of control,” Sarah recalls, “the idea of giving away part of my income felt like intentionally making myself vulnerable.” Yet, in that tension, she found herself face-to-face with a crucial question: Was she going to trust God or not?

Through the years, Sarah has seen God’s faithfulness again and again. Still, she admits that each time she recommits to giving, the temptation to “negotiate” with God resurfaces—a reminder of how easily money becomes tied to control. “It’s ridiculous to negotiate with a God who owns everything,” she says, “and who doesn’t actually need my money.”

For Sarah, giving has become an act of worship and trust. It’s not about what God needs from her—it’s about what He wants to form within her. By living with open hands, she’s learning to release her sense of control and to rest in God’s faithfulness.

As she puts it, “He’s got it all in His hands, and I can trust Him with that.”

For Sarah, giving doesn’t just meet needs—it changes hearts. And it has changed hers.