Monday’s Marinade- Your Life is Shaped by Your Words

Posted on by Evangeline

It’s been a while since I’ve shared Monday’s Marinade. I hope this encourages you to speak life to your circumstances!

This is a means of “soaking” yourself in the hope-filled Word of God at the beginning of your week. Marinate and season your week with hope and a confident expectation of good things happening. Start by meditating about how your words can bring transformation. Whether you believe it or not, your words have an impact on your life. Let the voice of your soul speak out! Use God’s Word to make the connection to what you’ll experience on a daily basis. 

Here’s your spiritual marinade to so that you can positively change your life with your words:

Monday's Marinade -Life and Your Words

victory over infertility

3 Reasons to Believe You Will Get Pregnant

Posted on by Evangeline

Has it been difficult to believe you will get pregnant because you’ve been trying for a while and nothing has happened?

It’s so easy to believe all the negative reports about infertility. We humans are trained through our normal, everyday situations to focus on and remember the negative circumstances of life. But what if there were powerful reasons to believe something radically different from the medical reports and the advice/counsel you get from friends and family? Would you believe?

Believe What God Said

Here are three reasons to believe that you’ll get pregnant and that you are already blessed and empowered to overcome infertility:

  1. God said none should be barren/infertile, not male or female [Deuteronomy 7:14].
  2. God said ALL things are possible with Him [Luke 1:37] and impossible without Him[John 15:5].
  3. God said He is always with you and His Spirit bears witness to the Truth (what God has said) because His Word is truth[ 1 John 5:6; John 17:17].

We’re told in 1 Kings 8:56 that “not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises He gave.” God is truly a promise keeper. Believe what He has said.

Questions

It’s time to be honest with yourself:

Do you believe that God loves you the same way He loves Jesus (John 17:23b)?

  • Yes or No

Are you making requests based on His promises and then expecting Him to do what He promised (1 John 5:14-15)?

  • Yes or No

Are you speaking His Word out loud because He said that it is medicine to your body (Proverbs 4:20-22)?

  • Yes or No

Will you continue to praise Him in advance of seeing your desire come to fruition, trusting that His answer is always YES to anything He has promised (1 Corinthians 1:20)?

  • Yes or No

I hope you answered YES to each of these questions. If not, it’s okay. That just means you’ve got some spiritual homework to do! 🙂

Take time to read all the Scriptures included in this post. Read them out loud to yourself more than once. Read them repeatedly and frequently over the next few days so that they begin to resonate within you. Look for other scriptures that speak specifically to your situation.

Then ask God to show you how to trust Him more. He’ll be sure to say YES.

To help you get started, download my special report, 12 Affirmations of Faith for Fertility. It’s available to you when you request to join our private Facebook group, A Seed of Hope.  It’s a support group of like-minded women, looking to walk this season of infertility with a perspective of faith and hope. I’d love to see you there!

 

 

God's Armor - eph 6

God’s Armor: Real Protection for Real Life

Posted on by Evangeline

In Ephesians 6, the armor we are to put on is not our own and it’s not made by human hands. It’s God’s armor.

The Armor of David’s Choice

When David decided to face the giant Goliath, King Saul wanted David to put on his royal armor for protection against the powerful enemy. But David told Saul that he’d prefer not to put on the king’s armor. It was unfamiliar and uncomfortable. David had no confidence in that armor.

He was accustomed to God’s protection. God had protected him when he fought against a bear and a lion while he watched his father’s flocks. As he talked with Saul, he recalled how God had come through for him so many times. Reminiscing about what God had done increased David’s confidence in God.  He chose to trust God in his impending battle against the giant.  David refused man’s mode of protection– he didn’t want to fight in his own strength.  Instead he put on God’s armor. He had faith in God’s love for him and he was confident that God was willing to protect him  (1 Samuel 17:23-46).

” We must all be aware that our defeats have mainly come from one of two errors– the one being that of fighting in our own strength and the other being that of leaving unused our God-given power.”  

Alexander MacLaren

Putting on God’s Armor

Putting on God’s armor means having an attitude of dependence on Him. This provides a higher level of confidence in His power. It makes it easier to have an expectation of the fulfillment of His promises. As we draw closer to Him and commune with Him, we rest and receive His power. It’s all about receiving Him. It’s all about receiving His love.

Hear Jesus encouraging us, “Be of good cheer, I have already overcome the world [the troubles that we face].” If He has already overcome whatever we are facing,  why would we try to defeat an enemy who has already been defeated? If He has already finished doing everything it takes for us be more than conquerors, why would we try to complete a work that’s already been completed? He wants us to rest in His victory.

Jesus accomplished the vanquishing of every foe on our behalf (Colossians 2:15). He stripped them and disarmed them, publicly shamed them, and triumphed over them on the cross and through His resurrection. That’s why we can now stand as more than a conqueror. He did all the work in order to let us enjoy the spoils of His victory.

Would it make sense for a soldier to only wear one piece of armor and then expect to enjoy complete protection? No! A soldier can expect complete protection only when wearing the entire armor provided. It is likewise with God. We’re instructed to put on the whole armor of God (in its entirety) so that we can experience all the blessings He has planned.

Your Pieces of God’s Armor

  • Put on the helmet that your salvation provides so that your mindset is one of belief in God’s love for you.
  • Put on the breastplate that your righteousness in Christ provides so that your emotions will reflect the knowledge that you have been made “right,” in God’s eyes.
  • Put on  the belt that the Truth provides so that God’s armor is securely fitted on you and you can believe that His Truth is protecting you at all times.
  • Put on the shoes that the peace of God provides through the promises of God, equipping you to stand your ground erect and to move forward.
  • Pick up the shield that faith provides. Faith believes and speaks the Word of God in order to quench the devil’s fiery tactics. Faith enables you to take hold of God’s strength, so that you can rest from trusting in and using your own strength.
  • Pick up the sword that the Spirit provides so that you can make preemptive strikes and enforce the victory Jesus has given you by telling the enemy what God says about your situation.
  • Pray consistently so that your attention is on the One who is able and willing to dissipate and dispel any fear caused by the enemy.

Photo courtesy of Sattva | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

overcoming infertility

Overcoming Infertility: A Real-Life Story (Part 2)

Posted on by Evangeline

Amanda is a 21st century overcomer. Last week, many of you were so excited by her story of overcoming infertility that you couldn’t wait to read “the rest of the story.” Well here it is! 🙂  And in case you missed Part 1, you can read it HERE.

I know her experience in coming out of the season of infertility will encourage you!

Overcoming Infertility: Amanda’s Story (Part 2)

I had the opportunity to attend a fertility retreat hosted by Evangeline and meet her in person. I had been trying to figure out the scripture from Exodus 23:25-26 for months by the time I attended. The part I got stuck on was, “You shall serve only the Lord.” I felt like I was already serving “only” the Lord, so then why did the promise of “no miscarriages”, not apply to me? Evangeline shared a picture that hit at the truth. She said, “you have truths in your head that you read or hear and believe, but they don’t connect with your heart and thus don’t “feel” real. But the thing between your head and your heart is your mouth. You’ve got to speak His promises.”

Speak God’s Promises of Fertility

God wants us to partner with Him. That’s why He gives us promises that belong to us because of what Jesus did for us, but He wants us to own them by speaking them. Equally true, we can speak lies that feed our hearts as well. I started this journey by speaking over myself the lie that “I’d be better off not being a mom, because I’d screw them up” and later agreed with the lie that I had “bad eggs.” To answer my above question, the truth was I probably wasn’t serving “only” the Lord, because I was doing things (seeking answers) in my own power, but more importantly I wasn’t standing on His truth. There were things that I knew about His character, His love, His plans, His timing, but didn’t “feel” them as real and thus I turned to worldly science instead of Him.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. ~2 Corinthians 1:20

If He has made a promise, His answer is “Yes” in Christ, but we have to agree. God has promised us our hearts desires if we take delight in Him (Psalm 37:4). What better way to do that than to agree with Him? If you haven’t already, look at the number of times that God promised that we won’t be barren and the number of women throughout history who stood on these promises and overcame infertility. It is truly amazing!

Armed with New Weapons for Overcoming Infertility

I left the retreat with a new arsenal of weapons to use against the enemy. I started seeking out God’s promises and speaking them over my life. Instead of questioning Exodus, I just started declaring that the promise of no miscarriages was for me. I fired the infertility clinic and found a new believing doctor that heard my story and the first thing he said was “well it looks like we’re getting closer each time”, a shockingly hopeful statement. I took a full-time job, because I figured based on my previous track record, it would be a while before I got pregnant. God had different plans.

The Blessing Manifested

I tested positive at the beginning part of August 2014 and fear set in hard. It’s easier to speak out truth than it is to walk it out and I entered into a full on war with the devil. I stood on Exodus, shaking, tears flowing down my blubbering face on more than one occasion. We held off on blood work and ultrasounds until 9 weeks, because we didn’t want any “fact” to interfere with God’s truth. If there was going to be life, there would be evidence without doubt by 9 weeks. That was the longest 5 weeks of my life, but on September 10, 2014, there was a beautifully strong, pounding heart beat and a little bean with nubs wiggling away on the screen. Four weeks later he had grown full arms, legs, hands, fingers, feet and toes and the reality finally kicked in, this was my promise. On April 13, 2015, Samuel David Roberts was born  8 lb.-11 oz and 21 inches long.

He has since blossomed into a gentle, joyful, and BIG boy. He just turned one, is weighing almost 30 pounds, and is just shy of 3 ft. tall.

He is amazing. My husband and I are repeatedly lost for words about how awesome he is. He gives us a reason to be thankful every single day and now we get to be thankful for his sister who is due in September. 🙂

Overcoming infertility-Amanda's ultrasound
Evangeline’s reaction: “Baby Girl looks like she’s being cradled in Jesus’ hands!”

Final Thoughts of Encouragement

I’ll leave you with this: I know the choke hold that the lie of infertility can have on your faith, your trust, and your ability to fight. I know there are times when you think there is no fight left, but if I can encourage you with one thing, it is that God knows and He’s not done! The enemy might get to have this season for a time, but if you have a desire to be a mother, God gave it to you and He has a plan to make it a reality. Stand on and speak this truth over your life!

Many blessings to a home filled with the pounding of little feet and squeals of laughter throughout.

Overcoming infertility-family pictureWith Love-

Chris, Amanda, Samuel and Baby girl Roberts

 

Overcoming infertility is possible! For more encouragement so that you can stand on God’s promises, read
A Seed of Hope: God’s Promises of Fertility. 

Overcoming infertility-A Seed of Hope

victory over infertility -breakthrough - sticky note

Your Breakthrough is Right HERE

Posted on by Evangeline

BREAKTHROUGH.

Everyone needs a breakthrough every now and then.

If you’ve been wondering when your breakthrough will actually happen, maybe your focus needs to be on the SOURCE of your breakthrough instead of the result itself. Check out where Hebrews 12:2 tells us our focus needs to be…

We do this [endure until we see breakthrough] by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the Champion…

Where’s your focus today?

 

Original image by Boykung | FreeDigitalPhotos

overcoming infertility

Overcoming Infertility: A Real-Life Story (Part 1)

Posted on by Evangeline

Overcoming infertility…sometimes it seems impossible. But, with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). I’m a living witness that it is possible and I know others who have done so. Some of the ladies in my Facebook Group requested that I share more stories of women who have overcome infertility.

I’m T-H-R-I-L-L-E-D to share Amanda’s story.

Amanda and I met when she attended my very first iHope Fertility Retreat in May 2014. She flew to Phoenix and participated whole-heartedly the entire weekend. She and I have kept in touch since then and I am honored that she keeps me posted on the development and growth of her family. Amanda has given me permission to share the details of her season of infertility and how she experienced breakthrough despite multiple miscarriages. I know her story will bless you!

Overcoming Infertility: Amanda’s Story

My name is Amanda Roberts.  I’m 35 years old and I have battled the lie of infertility. Many of you have been blessed by Evangeline stepping out in her calling to walk with women who are in this battle for creation.  I am one of them.  Two years ago I was crawling out of a very dark place. Finding the words that the Lord lead her to write, and later meeting her in person, was life changing.  She has asked me to write a “short” recap of my story in hopes of encouraging you where you are at now.  I love words and I verbally process everything, so this will likely not be short, but I pray that it is encouraging.

So, I guess I’ll start with sharing where I believe this story really began.  I gave my life to Christ in February 2004.  There was a lot that happened really quickly after that, including moving away from the only home I had known in Minnesota and settling in Washington State.  By the time I had married my husband Chris in February 2009, I thought the Lord had cleaned my closets bare of all of my old “stuff”, but like for many, marriage uprooted a lot of fear I thought I had overcome.  The way it took ground the strongest was being terrified to be a mother.  Filled with self-hatred, I was confident “I’d screw them up” and I spoke this over myself quite regularly.  My husband on the other hand, had a way with children I had never seen before.  He was truly born to be a father.  Like Jesus does though, He pursued me, encouraged me and softened my heart to my true heart’s desire, which was undeniably a desire to be a mom.

Trying to Start a Family

Chris and I truly started trying for a baby in April of 2011.  Month after month I had the evidence of our failed attempts.  My family doctor recommended we see a fertility specialist if we were not pregnant after 1 year, but almost like clockwork in April of 2012 I tested positive.  We were so excited.  I almost instantly headed to my first consignment show, bought a changing table, a bottle warmer, books and clothes.  We sent cute notices to the grandparents out-of-state and announced it to our friends. 

A week later (5 ½ weeks in) I found black blood in my underwear and soon after had a negative pregnancy test at the doctor’s office.  They called it a “spontaneous abortion”.  The next month, I started having similar symptoms and went in.  The blood work confirmed a pregnancy, but this time the levels started dropping before I had a missed period.  We prayed about going through with infertility testing and it wasn’t until after I met Evangeline that I remembered what the Lord said….”all things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial.”  I wanted answers so bad though, that I disregarded what God was hinting at and dived in head first. 

Overcoming Infertility Didn’t Seem Possible

We had the full workup and long story short, we were told I had more bad eggs than good eggs.  We spent the next 9 months doing everything the doctor recommended, including agreeing with the “diagnosis”.  That is the one thing about worldly knowledge–it can distract you from what God said. The blood work confirmed a problem, but NOTHING is above the Word of God.  Of course, you have to choose to agree with Him. When you are handed knowledge that contradicts His truth, it’s easy to get sucked in to speaking what feels tangible.  It was easier to take pills, give myself shots and tell people I had “bad eggs” when they asked me why we hadn’t had kids yet. 

We’re pretty sure we miscarried again in October, but only based on similar symptoms as before.  My body didn’t respond to the drugs the way they were supposed to except for making me “crazy” and when I didn’t ovulate at all with our second IUI treatment, I came off the drugs and found my mind clear again.  That was enough for us to decide to put treatments on the top shelf.

A Clearer Mind

I wish I could say that with a clearer mind, God’s truth overpowered the lies of the enemy, but unfortunately I continued to accept the “bad egg diagnosis” as truth and speak it regularly.  As Mother’s Day usually is for those battling infertility, 2013 wasn’t any different, until the test taken later in the day came back positive.  I was pregnant without help. The blood work at the infertility clinic proved it and I thought my dry season was finally over. 

As the weeks progressed, my blood work was climbing too slowly.  They suspected a tubal pregnancy until there was a sack spotted on the ultrasound.  That was all it was to become though and eventually I allowed my body to abort what I believe was my 4th child.  It took 2 months from the time I tested positive until my body finally let it go, so it was very much like a roller coaster of emotions and repeated submission.  We both leaned hard on God during that time.  I read a book on the God of Job, which opened my eyes to a new perspective and though we both fell into a hole for several months after that miscarriage, God was faithful to bring us back to solid ground.

We eventually decided to try again and got pregnant in September.  I had real pregnancy symptoms, my blood levels were climbing and we were sent home to wait for the 8 week ultrasound.  At 6 weeks the symptoms stopped, but we held on to hope.  We cried out to God, we believed and had faith, while my body was screaming “IT’S OVER”.  At 8 weeks there was more than a sack, but no heartbeat and at 9 weeks it was the same. 

Identifying with Infertility

Overcoming infertility began to appear impossible. We both entered into a dark place after that.  My body aborted as it should and I lost my way.  I honestly can’t remember much except I cried a lot.  I had lighter days followed by pure depression.  I stopped going to church, I pulled away from friends and I lost hope.  My only real attachment to God was through music. Songs like “I’m Worn” and “Hope Is What We Crave” kept me holding on to the possibility that God was still there and hadn’t forsaken me.  By the beginning of 2014, I knew Jesus was the answer, but I had no idea how he was going to fix what now felt like an identity.  Infertility was what I had become. 

A few months later, I was shown a verse, Exodus 23:25-26:

You shall serve [only] the Lord your God, and He shall bless your bread and water. I will also remove sickness from among you. No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.

At this point I didn’t “get it”, but it made me want to know more about what God had to say on infertility.  With a prompting to google search it, I found Evangeline’s book “A Seed of Hope – God’s Promises of Fertility”.  God started talking and/or I started listening.  He talked to me through the pages of this book. He also spoke to me through an encounter during a baby dedication (which I had been avoiding quite faithfully for over 2 years), through friends, and through His Word.

[Read the rest of Amanda’s story here next week. Don’t miss it! Get it delivered to your inbox by providing your email address at the top right of this site.]

You Can Smell the Fragrance of Victory

Posted on by Evangeline

This is a revised article about the fragrance of victory I shared a few years ago. I hope it encourages you and that you’ll expect to triumph in your circumstances!

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”  2 Corinthians 2:14 [NKJV]

fragrance of victory

The first part of that scripture, has been one that I’ve believed in and stood on through multiple and various struggles. I frequently have to remind myself of my victory in Christ so that I don’t concentrate on the problem and sink into a pit of despair about my circumstances. I depend on that verse because it contains the word “always.” “Always” means without exception, on every occasion, continuously. When I have consistently put my trust/faith/belief in that victory supplied by Jesus to every believer, I have always see its manifestation.

 

The Fragrance of Knowing Him

But only today did the second half of that verse stand out to me—“through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” Occasionally, I’ve had the privilege to teach Bible study class at my church about the unmerited, unearned favor (grace) of God. Having done so has opened my eyes to an entirely different way of looking at things! Now it’s easier to see that knowing more about Jesus’ perfect and complete work on the cross multiplies the manifestation of His grace in my life (2 Peter 1:2). His grace does not depend on our efforts/works.  It is dependent upon our believing that His grace is for us and that His grace gives us continuous victory. We did not do anything to acquire grace because Jesus did it all. Knowing Him imparts a beautiful fragrance to our lives because increased knowledge about JESUS multiplies grace and peace.

To know Him — His love, His strength, His sacrifice, His work —  is to know victory, and it smells good!

Do you smell the sweet fragrance of victory in the midst of your troubling circumstances?

Victories :: Guest Post

Posted on by Evangeline

In conjunction with the release of my book, Live To Win! 5 Essentials for Victory and Success, I’m excited to have provided a series of guest posts over the last few weeks. These folks are special to me, having coached me in one way or another to achieve my career goals and experience victories at various times and in various areas of my life.

Today’s guest post is the final installment in this series. I’m pleased to share with you the insights from Shelly Ryan. She is a certified life coach who helps people dig into their dreams and take action to make them happen. She helped me to take action and host my first iHope Fertility Retreat. Shelly has experienced many victories in life and shares a few of them with us.

Victories in This Game Called LIFE

When I received my “Thank You for Working for the Federal Government for Five Years” certificate it felt like a slap in the face. I know some people would be thrilled having a comfortable federal job with a Thrifty Savings Plan account, but for me, it felt like a death sentence. I was working long hours, had no work/life balance, was extremely unhealthy and had to drag myself into work every day. I was completely caught up in the hamster wheel…wake up, go to work, come home, watch TV, go to sleep, repeat. I felt unhappy for a while, but my discontent was not strong enough for me to do anything about it. When I read that certificate, I knew it was time to take action.

So I quit! I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that to everyone, but for me, I needed to slow down and figure out what was important and I knew I couldn’t do that while I was still working at that job. It took me a few months to figure it out, but once I did, I haven’t looked back even once.

It hasn’t always been easy, but taking that leap of faith ten years ago has led to so many victories. Here are some of my favorites.

I Love My Work

When I was figuring out what was next for me, I spent time getting really clear about my gifts, talents, passions and values. Prior to that, I applied for jobs that had position descriptions that I thought I was qualified for and found myself fitting into those criteria. I honed some valuable skills and learned a ton along the way, but never did I have a job that fully utilized my true gifts and talents. Nor did I ever work for anyone that was terribly concerned with helping me figure out what those were and how to best utilize them. Once I took the time to figure out what was important to me, I have been able to choose work that is in alignment with my true self and I fully enjoy all of the work that I do!

Victories-Shelly RyanI Increased My Faith

Since I made the decision to become an entrepreneur, I gave up the comfort of a paycheck every other week. That decision brought up a lot of insecurities – can I pay my bills this month; do I have enough money to do the things I want to do; can I give what I want to give; will I have enough to retire? These are all things I worried about even when I had a regular paycheck and were exacerbated when I didn’t. What has been truly amazing is that during these ten years, I have always had enough. I’ve developed a new belief and reliance on God that He will take care of me no matter what. When one project started to get really slow, another would develop. When my savings started to drop, a new opportunity would appear. I tell my clients regularly that you have to be very clear about WHAT you want and leave HOW it will happen up to God. That has become my practice.

I Understand My Worth

I finally learned how to love me. Even though it sounds cliché and that we should all know that, I honestly didn’t know what that meant. I was very reliant on the input I got from my bosses and colleagues to understand my worth. If I got a good performance review, I felt good about myself. If someone asked me to take on a new project, that made me feel needed. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why I was working so many long hours…I produced because I wanted to get accolades to feel better about myself and because I produced, more was given to me. It’s not that feedback and input isn’t important to me now, but I understand that it is just that—feedback. It isn’t me. It isn’t what makes me valuable or worthy. I still produce, but for very different reasons.

I Take Care of Myself

I would never think of missing a 10:00 staff meeting, but I can’t tell you how many times I put a 6:00 workout on my calendar and it would get pushed because of either being too tired, or I had to finish a project. My priorities have most definitely changed since I made that decision ten years ago. I now exercise regularly doing things I never even dreamed of before — hiking, yoga, stand up paddle boarding, meditation and boxing. I’ve learned to eat healthy (green drinks, gluten-free, reduced sugar—seriously???). I take quarterly rejuvenation adventures (just got back from a yoga/meditation retreat in Oregon this quarter and went to Africa last quarter.) And I make a solid effort to get eight hours of sleep every night (in spite of much teasing from my friends that I go to bed at 7:00 pm!) All of these things were nearly foreign to me just a few years ago but are now a part of who I am.

These last ten years have been an adventure for sure! I’ve gotten to travel all across the world, open my heart up for love, care for my father during his battle with cancer…all of these opportunities opened up for me when I decided to take action and make a change. Loving what I do, increasing my faith, understanding my worth and taking care of myself are some of my victories as a result of that change. I can’t wait to see what the next ten+ years have in store for me! 🙂

Victory in life-Shelly Ryan

 

 

 

Sticky Note Thought – Blessings from The Blesser

Posted on by Evangeline

What blessings do you need from God today?

Remember, He loves you and desires that you receive and experience His best blessings in real-time every day! As a believer in Jesus, He has given you the right to pray, believe, and expect His promised results.

 

Blessings from the Blesser

 

Background Image courtesy of Boykung | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Sometimes You Have to S-t-r-e-t-c-h Your Faith for Victory :: Guest Post

Posted on by Evangeline

In conjunction with the release of my book, Live To Win! 5 Essentials for Victory and Success, I’m excited to provide a series of guest posts over the next few weeks. These folks are special to me, having coached me in one way or another to achieve my career goals and experience victories at various times and in various areas of my life.

Today, I’m pleased to share with you the insights from my friend, Kendra Tillman. She encourages women who work from home to apply spiritual principles in order to grow their career. She helped me to stretch my faith and rely on God as I launched out as an author and speaker. Keeping the faith is a way of life that Kendra espouses no matter the challenge or difficulty.

When Victory Feels Out of Your Reach

Live to win - FaithI love to read Hebrews 11. Hebrews 11 chronicles what is referred to as the Faith Hall of Fame. It’s the Who’s Who of the faithful, the persistent, the imperfect, yet, still strong in faith. The lives of Noah, Abraham and Sarah and Moses are all detailed in the Old Testament. Hebrews 11 briefly shares their stories and the stories of several other ordinary men and women who wrestled with the same fears, insecurities and uncertainties we all face.

Do you know the one thing the Bible says all these men and women had in common? In Hebrews 11:13 we are told that “all these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it.” They all died…in faith. They were in faith that what God promised He would do. Yet, they died without seeing the promise fulfilled. In this chapter we are assured we are in good company, when we feel we haven’t received an answer to every prayer we’ve prayed.

Even though they didn’t see the promise fulfilled when they expected, they still believed.

How many days, weeks, months, years have passed since God has spoken a promise to your heart? Has the length of time caused you to waver in believing it will happen? I pray this post will stir your faith.

If we keep reading in Hebrews, God drops another nudge to our faith at the very beginning of Hebrews 12. “We are surrounded by a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith.” Have you ever been to a race? One of the best things about races is the crowd of family and friends that gather along the race route to cheer on the runners. They hold up signs. They yell encouragement. It’s wonderful!

Hebrews 12 tells us there’s a similar crowd that gathers for us in this race of faith that we run. These witnesses are not only the men and women mentioned in Hebrews 11, but all the men and women of faith who’ve lived since. They are waiting to see you cross the finish line. They are there to watch you win! The interesting thing is winning might look different than you expected.

No matter what you are facing today you are destined to win in the race of faith! Your victory may not look like mine and it may not even look like what you imagined, but you will win. I John 5:4 tells us that we receive victory through our faith. This is a promise from God’s word – our faith gives us the victory over the difficulties we experience in this world.

What promise from God seems distant or impossible for you? Surround yourself with people who want to see you win. Strengthen your faith by meditating on faith stories of men and women who persevered in faith. Stretch your faith beyond what feels possible.

 

Victory -Kendra TillmanKendra Tillman is the founder of StrongerThanYouThink.co, a growing movement that energizes working women with resources for making their personal, professional, and spiritual growth a priority. She is also the author of You’re Stronger than You Think.