Don Wickstrum
12 min read ⭑
“I’ve been blessed to do so much in life—from designing robots to building multimillion-dollar systems and from racing some of the world’s fastest cars to preaching in other countries and sharing the gospel on a mountain. … But no matter what I do, my obsession is that people know hope.”
QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT
There’s much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?
Asking me for a favorite meal is like asking a parent who their favorite child is—they don’t have one, but whomever they’re with at that moment is the one they cherish and enjoy. They don’t even think about who their favorite is.
So I think I should instead remember my favorite meal event. This would be my birthday a year after I was told I wouldn’t be here due to my cancer diagnosis. I normally dreaded my birthdays, but that year (and, frankly, every year since), I really was excited to have a birthday, to be here another year in a place where God could continue to use me.
I remember asking my wife a few days before my birthday, “Hey, what are we going to do this year for my birthday?” She looked at me puzzled because I normally would never ask a question like that. I typically try to let my birthdays slip by quietly—well, as quietly as one could hope when they have a super amazing wife and kids.
My wife said, “For your birthday? Well, I thought you wouldn’t really want anything special. Why? Do you have something in mind?”
I then told her I wanted to celebrate every day for a week because I was here, I was still alive and my birthday was a milestone, not a hedge stone! She was shocked. We celebrated that whole week, but to kick things off, she made a grilled steak dinner. I remember that steak tasting so good—in part because she cooks so well and because I was alive, still here, still being used and molded! My favorite meal was that steak with my whole family and a year past my expiration date.
Don Wickstrum
QUESTION #2: REVEAL
We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So what are yours? What so-called “nonspiritual” activities do you love and help you find spiritual renewal?
I own a few cars, and each one is very different—be it a 1931 Ford Model A or a 2011 Porsche or something in between. I find that driving a car creates space for me to get lost. Let me explain that a little.
Someone once asked me, “What’s your favorite car?” I said, “Whatever I’m driving at the moment.” Cars for me represent something more than just a complicated mess of metal, plastic, and tires. They’re a place where I can get lost. I think it all started when I was a kid. My dad and cousin were gearheads, and if I was having a bad day or was feeling sad or lost, they would take me out in a vehicle and we would drive. Sometimes we would talk a lot, sometimes we wouldn’t—but there was always the wind whizzing by and the sun in the sky. I think those moments helped me let go of whatever worry or problem I had.
As an adult, I can still get lost while driving a car. I may have a million problems, have a hard time focusing, or be filled with anxiety or depression, but within a few miles, things begin to fade and blur, and I begin to lose myself in prayer or Scripture meditation as I watch the yellow lines pass by.
I typically start the journey by rolling down the windows if the weather permits, and then I take off. The hum of the engine fills the atmosphere along with the wind that whips around the car and windows. I start to thank the Lord for the breath in my lungs, my family, my calling, my ministry, and for his Son, Jesus. Then I just quiet my heart and mind and begin to share all the issues I’m facing or the answers I need. I say to God, “I’m not big enough to figure these out or overcome them, but I know you are, and I refuse to try to play God by going it alone. You’re the one I need.”
I then pray over these things, recite Scriptures I’ve memorized, and allow the Holy Spirit to speak. I continue to drive with the white noise of the car engine, tire roll, and wind scroll. At this quiet, reflective moment, I look around in awe at God’s majestic creation all around me as I slip on down the road. These have been the most special times for me when it comes to hearing from God.
QUESTION #3: CONFESS
Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?
I think most superheroes have just one kryptonite, but I’m no superhero, so that may explain why I have several. The question is: Which one has caused me the most harm? I think not trusting God first in the dealings of my life. This was such a huge struggle for a long time, and I finally got a major breakthrough. However, I do notice that when it rears its ugly head, it's tough.
What I mean is this: In my life—and particularly regarding my company—I always felt I had to figure everything out first and continue trying to do so until I had exhausted every worldly solution possible. Only at a point of complete collapse would I “bother” God with my issue. I always felt that God gave me a brain for a reason, so I should use that first before I bother him with my problem.
Now, though, I know that God is not bothered by us seeking him for help as long as we’re not treating him as a genie. For so many years, I was exhausted and worn out, sleeping only a few hours a night and working all the time. But in my mid-30s, a shift happened. I began to get sick and couldn’t operate at the same level. At this point, my frustration, worry, and questions were at an all-time high, and my body finally gave up.
Then I had a dream that deeply touched me. I dreamed I was carrying a lot of logs in my arms down a narrow path. I was looking at the logs, and they had names on them, like that of my business, different employees, customers, my kids, my wife, my church, and several others. It was getting hard to carry them, and I was so tired. All of a sudden, I bumped into someone. It was Jesus, and he looked at me and said, “Don, isn’t that heavy and tiring?”
I responded, “Yes, my Lord, it is.”
He said, “You know, you can lay those down at the cross. I can carry them for you, and you don’t need to keep picking them back up.”
I looked at him and realized that he could do a far better job of fixing the problems I had than I could. So I began to give them to him. I kept trying to play the role of Jesus with my everyday life issues, and it was notworking.
After this dream, I started saying, “God, I am going to hand this log off to you, putting it at the foot of the cross, and I will wait for you to tell me if I need to pick it up or leave it. For you alone know so much better than I do, and I’m waiting for you to show me what I need to do. If you tell me to pick it up, I will. If you tell me to leave it, I will. I no longer need to worry about things first but rather trust you and how you are going to work things out.”
Mathew 6:33-34 and this thought process have taught me a lot about Jesus being my first line of defense—not my last resort.
QUESTION #4: FIRE UP
Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?
My obsession is sharing with others my documentary with I Am Second called Chasing Hope. The film tells the story of how, after receiving a colon cancer diagnosis, I fulfilled my childhood dream of speeding to the top of a well-known mountain in a racecar. But even more importantly, it shows how I discovered what matters most.
You see, I’ve been blessed to do so much in life—from designing robots to building multimillion-dollar systems and from racing some of the world's fastest cars to preaching in other countries and sharing the gospel on a mountain.
I’ve been blessed to do such things, but no matter what I do, my obsession is that people know hope—not just the word but the source of eternal hope that can only be found by accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ.
There are so many things I’ve done and devoted so much time and money to. I’ve seen a lot of good come through those creations and endeavors, and I’ve felt some fulfillment in using and stewarding what God has given me in terms of talents and gifts. However, none of those things mean as much or have as much of an eternal impact as carrying the gospel to other people and seeing their lives forever changed by the power and hope of Jesus Christ. In all I do, I constantly look for those who need that gift, and I’m continuously humbled that God uses me.
QUESTION #5: BOOST
Cashiers, CEOs, contractors, or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?
I could write about a great book that motivated me or how my favorite Scripture really speaks to me when I apply it. But I don’t think any of those things inspire me as much as when I’m out sharing the gospel with people, praying for others, and encouraging other believers.
Second Corinthians 5:17-21 tells us we become two essential things when we believe in Christ: new creations and ambassadors. This means each of us is a new creation and is called to be an ambassador of the King’s message! It’s no mystery as to why, when I share the message with others, I begin to feel the Holy Spirit move and see him use me in ways I could only imagine.
Getting there sometimes requires death. I have to die to myself, my comfort, and my expectations in order to do what feels scary or uncomfortable. On the flip side of that is the reward of freedom, being no longer bound by the world’s worries and fears but rather invigorated by the truth of the gospel transforming people’s lives! The result of these things intersecting is a pruning process that helps me become more Christ-like.
QUESTION #6: inspire
Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied actions that open our hearts to the presence of God. So spill it, which spiritual practice is workin’ best for you right now?
In my journey of battling health issues and the enemy, I’ve found that many of us have lost sight of a very useful tool in hearing from the Holy Spirit and seeing him move in our lives—fasting. Often, when I go to the Father through the act of fasting, I see my attention to the Holy Spirit sharpened.
Here’s an example. Things began coming apart when I sold my business after being given a very grim cancer diagnosis. Not too long afterward, the pandemic hit. I found myself really wanting to press into God for answers to questions I had about my life, career, and ministry. I remember reading the Bible and seeing so many examples of people fasting in both the Old and New Testaments and how it increased their faith and gave them direction. While the world was in chaos, I chose to ground myself in the presence of the Father and pursue a new level of commitment and awareness through fasting.
For five days, I locked myself in my garage from sunup to sundown and pressed into God through fasting, prayer, and the Word. The first three days were so tough, but then I had a spiritual breakthrough, which completely propelled the Holy Spirit’s presence.
This experience left me grounded and more sure of the promises of Jesus Christ. I had revelation into areas of my life I hadn’t before, and I began to see new gifts of the Spirit working in my life.
To this day, I continue the discipline of fasting before I speak around the nation, race in a car, evangelize at an event, look for answers in my business or career, overcome a struggle, or preach the Word. It has been a turning point for me.
QUESTION #7: FOCUS
Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources—lots of things that have truly impacted our faith lives. But you know about some really great stuff, too. What are three resources that have impacted you?
As I look at things that have really impacted me, I realize I can break them down by areas of life:
1. Christian walk
The first one I think of is the book Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray. I read this book early on in my Christian life after being an atheist. This book really spoke to me and taught me to give all I have to Jesus.
The second would be Bait of Satan by John Bevere. It’s a great book about how to resist the tool of the enemy called offense as well as how to navigate the areas in which Satan likes to play games with us.
2. Relationships and marriage
I’m going to give you two resources for this department: a book called Love and Respect by Dr. Eggerichs and a DVD titled Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage.
Both of these combined helped me reshape the way I tackled my relationship with my wife, not to mention the way I communicate. These were game-changers!
3. I Am Second films
These films are real stories in which well-known athletes, musicians, actors, and speakers share their struggles and how Christ played a role in them. They’re sorted by topic, so it’s easy to find a film I can relate to or that I can use to encourage someone. The varied stories have so many life lessons to learn and be encouraged by. They’ve been a game-changer for me, my work interactions, and my ministry.
We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season—and tell us what it’s done for you.
Right now, I am reading two that have been great. The first, The Pilgrim’s Progress, is a fun read and a timeless Christian classic. It’s helped me refocus on what’s important and reminded me of the Christian struggle and purpose.
The second is Jeremiah Johnston’s Unleashing Peace. I’m reading this book for the second time. If you’ve ever struggled with anxiety, depression, or PTSD or just want to gain a better mental health foundation, this book is great.
QUESTION #8: dream
God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So, give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?
God really has been stirring two things in me that I said I would never do. The first is writing a book. This project is still in the infant stages, but I simply couldn’t shake the leading of this endeavor despite my best efforts. Everywhere I turned, someone was asking for a book, and finally, after prayer and fasting, I’ve given in to the Lord’s leading.
The second is going to schools, universities, jails, and conferences to speak and share the message of hope, and this has led to the Chasing Hope Tour with I Am Second. We are hitting the road this fall to do a tour with Band Reeves to share the gospel and the message of hope.
Full disclosure: In both of these endeavors I feel so ill-equipped and underqualified. However, the fear of not following the Lord is so much greater than the fear of my shortcomings. I’m humbled that God would still use me despite who I am!
Do you ever feel unqualified for something God has asked you to do? If so, you’re not alone. Countless men and women in the Bible and throughout church history have felt the same. But the good news is, God has already given you what you need to simply take the next step in obedience. Scripture tells us:
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3, NIV).
“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29, ESV).
So next time we feel inadequate to do what God is calling us to do, let’s remember—our obedience rests on God’s strength, not our own.
Don Wickstrum is the associate pastor of Grace Church in New Glarus, Wisconsin. His I Am Second documentary, Chasing Hope, details how he fulfilled his childhood dream of speeding to the top of a mountain in a racecar and earned the nickname “fastest pastor”—all while battling colon cancer. Before becoming a racing legend, Don was an entrepreneur. He built one of the biggest robotics integration companies in the country but sold it after his cancer diagnosis. You can read more about Don’s current work at fastestpastor.com.
