Category: Hope

Don't give up on God

Even if You Feel Like You Should Give Up on God – DON’T!

Posted on by Evangeline

This is a RELOADED post–one that I originally shared a year ago. Lately I’m meeting more women who are on the verge of hopelessness. They’re ready to give up on God and His promises of fertility. Are you feeling like those women? Take a moment to read and remember this promise from God:

You shall be blessed above all peoples;
there will be no male or female barren (childless, infertile) among you.
Deuteronomy 7:14 AMP

Now, read on for some additional encouragement!

The enemy would like nothing better than for us to give up on God.  To give up on His love. To give up on our God-given desires and goals.

When we feel like God is not following through on His promises…

When we don’t see the results we anticipated…

We need a plan. A plan that we can count on to pull us through the tears, the fears, and the dread that comes when we experience delay. I think the best plan for maintaining hope and for changing any circumstance in our lives always needs to include the power of God’s Word. The Word is what helps us remember that the God of the universe loves us without fail and is always on our side. The Bible makes it clear that God loves us with a no-matter-what love. Incorporating His promises into our plan makes it an effective battle plan so that we maintain hope and strongly resist giving up.

The Alternative to Giving Up

David encouraged himself when he was on the verge of giving up (1 Samuel 30:6).  You could do the same, couldn’t you?

Here are 4 examples from Scripture that you can use as a part of your battle plan to ultimately live as the victor God created you to be. Use them to keep yourself encouraged about experiencing what God has promised:

  • “But as for you, be strong and do not give up.” – 2 Chronicles 15:7
  • “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial.” – James 1:12
  • “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” – Mark 10:27

  • “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then.” – Ephesians 6:12-14

Bottom line, don’t give up on God!

What other scriptures would you add to this list? Please share one in the comments! 🙂 

The Word is what helps us remember that the God of the universe is on our side and loves us with a no-matter-what love. It makes our plan into an effective battle plan so that we maintain hope and strongly resist giving up. Share on X

God is Saying, “I See You!”

Posted on by Evangeline

Do you ever feel overlooked or dismissed by others? Or find yourself telling yourself your life doesn’t seem to carry much value?  Or worse than that, do you feel overlooked by God Himself? Hold on to this…God is saying, “I see you!”

Let go of the kind of thinking that makes you feel ignored and isolated. Because the truth is that God Himself sees you, loves you, and values you. The story of Hagar found in Genesis 16 (Message Bible), gives us reason to be assured of that…

Sarai, Abram’s wife, hadn’t yet produced a child. She had an Egyptian maid named Hagar. Sarai said to Abram, “God has not seen fit to let me have a child. Sleep with my maid. Maybe I can get a family from her.” Abram agreed to do what Sarai said.

So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took her Egyptian maid Hagar and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife. Abram had been living ten years in Canaan when this took place. He slept with Hagar and she got pregnant. When Hagar learned she was pregnant, she looked down on her mistress….Sarai was abusive to Hagar and Hagar ran away.

An angel of God found her beside a spring in the desert; it was the spring on the road to Shur. He said, “Hagar, maid of Sarai, what are you doing here?” She said, “I’m running away from Sarai my mistress.”

The angel of God said, “Go back to your mistress. Put up with her abuse.” He continued, “I’m going to give you a big family, children past counting. From this pregnancy, you’ll get a son: Name him Ishmael; for God heard you, God answered you…She answered God by name, praying to the God who spoke to her, “You’re the God who sees me! Yes! He saw me; and then I saw him!”

 

Hagar was an Egyptian slave, and likely worshipped Egyptian idols. And yet, God saw her. He poured out His mercy on her. And He encouraged her. He displayed the attributes of one of His descriptive names, El Roi, the God who sees.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, “how much more” will God see you and do for you? (See Matthew 7:11)  He wants you to hear Him saying, “I see you!”

Hagar chose to not run away from the problem. Instead, she received His instruction and accepted His help. She realized that the God of the universe did indeed notice her and cared about her situation.

I hope you will too.

If you’re needing more encouragement,
consider Christian coaching that helps you focus on the right thing.
www.iHopeCoaching.com

hope or hopelessness

Seeking Hope – Where Are You Looking For It?

Posted on by Evangeline

When life challenges you and your circumstances make you feel like the situation is hopeless, where do you find yourself seeking hope?

When I went through dealing with health challenges, whether my own or those of a loved one, I found it harder to get through when I sought hope from sources other than the Lord. But, when I addressed the spiritual aspect of the challenge, it was very helpful to seek hope through focusing on God’s healing Word. Even now, as I’m pressured by external sources, looking to Jesus becomes easier when I concentrate on His promises of goodness and health. For instance, an affirmation of Psalm 107:2,20 reassures me:

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so; He has redeemed me from the hand of the enemy. He sent his word, and healed me, and delivered me from my destructions. (emphasis mine)

Feeling Hopeless?

If you find that you’re feeling hopeless about something today, remember that you are not alone. Abraham felt a deep sense of hopelessness about having the child that God had promised him. However, instead of giving in to that hopelessness, he held on to the Promise. Romans 4:18 TPT gives us insight about that:

Against all odds, when it looked hopeless, Abraham believed the promise and expected God to fulfill it. He took God at his word…

I find that scripture so encouraging!

No matter what you’re facing, choose to find and believe God’s promise about it.  God always keeps His promises so expect it to be fulfilled because.

As we enter into the holiday season, a time when hopelessness can begin to raise its ugly head, I encourage you to be seeking and finding HOPE in God’s Word. It’s the best Source of hope that I know!

My friend, where have you been seeking hope apart from Him?

 

Be an Optimist – 5 Benefits of Daily Optimism

Posted on by Evangeline

There is increasing evidence that being optimistic about life has measurable benefits, not just for your mental health, but your physical well-being too. Scientific studies have shown that as you become more optimistic, your life will improve in all sorts of ways. You’re even likely to have a longer life, just from being more hopeful and positive.

God’s Word encourages us to be hopeful/optimistic:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~ Romans 15:13

Here are some of the many benefits of being optimistic:

Optimists are healthier

Optimists not only rate their own health and wellbeing as better, but studies have also shown that optimists have better mental and physical health than pessimists. In a study of the effects of positive psychological well-being, optimism was found to be the biggest predictor of improved heart health. Optimists also have lower blood pressure and cholesterol and a lower risk of developing heart disease.

Optimists live longer

A study by the University of Pittsburgh found that of the 100,000 women studied over eight years, optimists were less likely to die from any cause than women with a more pessimistic outlook.  That was confirmed by a later Harvard study that showed the women who had a positive outlook had a much lower risk (nearly 30% less) of dying from serious illnesses.

Optimists are happier

It might seem obvious that an optimist would be happier than a pessimist. But, it has been shown that optimists are not just sunnier in their dispositions, but they are measurably happier in their relationships, jobs, and life in general. They deal better with stress, are more resilient in bad times, and produce less cortisol, the stress hormone that leads to inflammation and a lowered immune system.

Optimists have smoother career paths

Researchers from Duke University found that the optimistic MBA graduates they studied were more likely to find a job, earn a higher starting salary, and have more frequent promotions than the pessimists in the group. Optimists also deal better with negative feedback, seeing it as an opportunity to improve and increase their chance of promotion in the future.

Optimists roll with the punches

Life’s adversities do not crush an optimist; they remain hopeful about the future. Optimism helps you deal with whatever limiting beliefs you have developed and shows you a way out. Being positive about life’s possibilities means you focus on what you can do. It boosts your confidence and makes you more likely to look for constructive solutions. It stops you feeling stuck or at the mercy of other people. If you’re optimistic, you know you can do it!

 

giving up

When You Feel Like Giving Up

Posted on by Evangeline

The enemy would like nothing better than for us to give up on our God-given desires and goals.

When we feel like God is not following through on His promises…

When we don’t see the results we anticipated…

We need a plan. A plan that we can count on to pull us through the tears, the fears, and the dread that comes when we experience delay. I think the best plan for maintaining hope and for changing any circumstance in our lives always needs to include the power of God’s Word. The Word is what helps us remember that the God of the universe loves us without fail and is always on our side. The Bible makes it clear that God loves us with a no-matter-what love. Incorporating His promises into our plan makes it an effective battle plan so that we maintain hope and strongly resist giving up.

The Alternative to Giving Up

David encouraged himself when he was on the verge of giving up (1 Samuel 30:6).  You could do the same, couldn’t you?

Here are 4 examples from Scripture that you can use as a part of your battle plan to ultimately live as the victor God created you to be. Use them to keep yourself encouraged about experiencing what God has promised:

  • “But as for you, be strong and do not give up.” – 2 Chronicles 15:7
  • “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial.” – James 1:12
  • “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” – Mark 10:27

  • “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then.” – Ephesians 6:12-14

What other scriptures would you add to this list? Please share one in the comments! 🙂 

The Word is what helps us remember that the God of the universe is on our side and loves us with a no-matter-what love. It makes our plan into an effective battle plan so that we maintain hope and strongly resist giving up. Share on X
Waiting

Waiting with Hope is the Best Way

Posted on by Evangeline

How long have you been waiting to get pregnant? Does it feel like FOREVER? And, now that Covid-19 has invaded our world, it might feel like the birth of your child will never happen.

However, no matter how long you’ve waited, I want to challenge you in the midst of that kind of thinking and feeling. I challenge you to wait with hope.

Waiting With Hope

How can you wait with hope? Psalm 130:5 tells us:

“I wait for the Lord, I expectantly wait, and in His word do I hope.”

When you EXPECTANTLY wait, meaning that you are looking for Him to keep His word, you’ll experience hope in the midst of the problem.

You live expecting your breakthrough, all because His Word brings you hope.

When you are waiting with hope, your soul is sustained because you trust in His word.

Your soul awaits rescue as you count on Him and put your hope in His transforming word.

So take time to think about what you’re thinking about. Keep your thoughts on a path of trust. Have confidence that God loves you, wants to help you, and that He keeps His promises. He said so in Isaiah 45:19 NLT–

“I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the LORD, speak only what is true and declare only what is right.” 

That’s why you can wait with hope — because God always keeps His promises.

 

 

 

hope - a healthy habit

How Will You Enhance Your Life and Fertility with Healthy Habits in 2020?

Posted on by Evangeline

What are some of the healthy habits you resolved to develop/keep during 2020?

Did you know that when you have hope it operates to enhance your fertility? Researchers say that positivity– having hope– directly impacts the function of our biological systems. This means that maintaining a higher level of optimism may possibly affect your fertility in a positive way.

Optimism is a healthy habit!

One way to stay optimistic is to use scripturally-based affirmations that fill you with hope about God’s promises of fertility. Here are a couple:

Deuteronomy 7:13,14—”And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock.”

“God’s desire is that I be fertile and not barren. I live in the delight of His desire and His faithfulness to keep His Word.”

Hebrews 11:11—“Because of faith also Sarah herself received physical power to conceive a child, even when she was long past the age for it, because she considered God who had given her the promise to be reliable and trustworthy and true to His word.” [AMP]

“Through faith and confidence in Jesus’ love for me, I receive from God the physical power His Word imparts to me to conceive a child.”

Repeat these out loud on a consistent basis, along with others you develop. It can be helpful to write them and put them in a place where you’ll regularly see them. They’ll be a visible reminder to affirm God’s Word and to stay focused on hope-filled thoughts about your fertility.

More Fertility Affirmations

If you need some suggestions about other Scripture-based affirmations to use that are specific to your fertility, check out my Bible reading plan on YouVersion. I’m thrilled that there have been thousands of readers that have used it as they look for victory over infertility.

Blessings to you as you add this to your arsenal of healthy habits. What else do you do as a healthy habit?

feeling hopeless choose hope

Here’s Help if You’re Feeling Hopeless About Your Fertility (or Anything Else)

Posted on by Evangeline

If you’re feeling hopeless about the status of your fertility, you can find help in many ways and from many sources. Sources like your gynecologist, a fertility doctor, a close friend, your parents, books, online forums, etc. But one thing I’m sure of (from personal experience)– the best help will come from God. When you address the spiritual aspect of infertility, you are increasing your opportunity to overcome infertility. And that’s reason to be hopeful!

If you feel hopeless, it’s not because there’s no hope available in your life. It’s because you feel there’s none.

Put an End to Feeling Hopeless

When it feels hard to find hope, look for ways to change things. In the Bible’s account of Abraham and Sarah’s infertility, we see how in spite of hopeless circumstances, Abraham chose to maintain hope.

When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do. And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples. Romans 4:18 MSG

There are always actions we can take to move past hopelessness and feel better.

  • If a hopeless thought comes to your mind that things are never going to get better, remember a situation in your life when things looked hopeless but did improve. Doing this simple exercise will remind you how feelings will typically pass over time.
  • Express gratitude regularly. Appreciating the present moment will take your attention off of feeling hopeless.

So it boils down to making a choice. You can choose to pay attention to your feelings and have an attitude of hopelessness or, you can choose to focus on God’s love for you and what He has said in His Word. Yes! God has spoken about infertility. He’s even made promises about fertility. Here’s a good one to know:

And He will love you, bless you, and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your body…there shall not be male or female barren among you. Deuteronomy 7:13-14 AMPC

Therefore, choose to remember these thoughts when you are feeling hopeless: You are deeply loved. You are empowered by God’s Word. In Jesus, you are a recipient of the outcome of His promises.

Those are all reasons to be hopeFULL! 🙂

Feeling hopeless about your fertility? Focus on God's love for you and what He has said in His Word. Yes, God has spoken about fertility! Share on X

Let God Do What Only He Can Do

Posted on by Evangeline

wait with confidence - let go and let God

 

So many times we get stuck. The more we look at our circumstances and our lack of progress, the more we become impatient with God’s plan. Then we feel even more stuck. And being stuck causes us to gradually stop trusting God and stop having any hope that He will keep His promise.

This is a “rerun” of a post from a year ago. My hope is that it will help you see beyond your circumstances. Focus on God’s willingness to do what it takes to help you reach your destiny that He planned for you.

⇒⇒ [Check out the new exciting offer at the end of this post!] ⇐⇐

Have you ever been able to really “let go and let God” do the work that only He can do in your life? Psalm 138 provides motivation to let God do the work– to allow Him to bring to fruition all the good that He planned for you. Here is that Scripture in its entirety:

1 I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You.

2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.

3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me, [And] made me bold [with] strength in my soul.

4 All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD, When they hear the words of Your mouth.

5 Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, For great [is] the glory of the LORD.

6 Though the LORD [is] on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.

8 The LORD will perfect [that which] concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, [endures] forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

 

Look Closer

Verse 8 is the particular verse I want to call your attention to. As you probably know by now, I enjoy reading various versions/translations of Scripture. Here are some other ways of stating verse 8:

The Lord will work out his plans for my life. (TLB)

Will you trust Him to do so, in His way and His timing?

Finish what you started in me, God. Your love is eternal—don’t quit on me now. (MSG)

Will you decide to not give up on His love for you?

Adonai will fulfill his purpose for me. Your grace, Adonai, continues forever. (CJB)

Will you choose to live enjoying His abundant grace every day?

You will do everything You have promised. (GNT)

Do you believe He’ll keep His promises for you?

Which version resonated with you? It’s clear that God wants to work on your behalf and to bring His promises to fruition in your life, no matter what the obstacles may currently be.

Believe His love. Allow Him to do what He does best.

Exciting Offer!

borrowed hope- let God Sarah found herself stuck in infertility for decades. She reached a point where she tried to do what only God could do. That failed miserably and created a whole new set of problems. BUT, she discovered that when she stood on God’s promise to her, she was able to wait with confidence.

If you feel stuck in infertility, I have an exciting new resource that may help you. It’s a book I’ve co-authored with Angela Williams. The title is Borrowed Hope: Sarah’s Story of Triumph Over Infertility. It will be released in September 2018! 🙂 

Don’t miss it!

Want to receive notification of when Borrowed Hope is available? Let me know by filling out the form below.