It’s not a cliché.
Life can change quicker than you can take a breath; sooner than you can finish a thought.
I’ve been there many times.
Like the time my eyes scanned the computer monitor, willing it to find our baby’s heart beat, but there no longer was one. Please, my heart cried as my womb remained full, but our baby was gone.
Or the time when my husband and I sat holding hands, knees touching as we faced the doctor, to be told to get our affairs in order because cancer would claim his life.
Or the time no words were said, but the road ahead turned into a sea of red lights; cars and trucks going every which way, and we were powerless to stop it.
In the time it takes to gasp for breath, our lives can change forever. Pain enters in, and everything familiar fades away. Our hopes, our dreams, our plans can be ripped away, leaving in their wake pain, anguish, and unanswered questions.
What do we do then?
Those are the times that our minds are ready fodder for the lies of the enemy; lies that deceive and distort and cast doubt. Those are times when we must pro-actively stand on the truth of God’s word.
He knows that pain. He felt it too. He is well acquainted with our sorrow.
In one last breath, as He hung on the cross, He cried out, “It is finished” and all of eternity changed in that breath.
Despite the pain, the pain that takes our breath away, when we become helplessly dependent on God, we couldn’t be in a safer place.
Where we feel dirty, He sees clean.
When we see broken, He sees wholeness.
When we feel pain, He brings restoration.
When we see scars, He sees healing.
The enemy would like to keep us hidden behind the shame of our dirtiness, while God reminds us that Christ’s shed blood has already made us clean.
The enemy would like us to believe that our pain is permanent, but truth declares that “by his stripes we are healed.”
The enemy wants us to see our brokenness as something to be ashamed of, but God uses our brokenness as a vessel for His light to shine through.
The enemy would like us to focus on our scars, to see their ugliness, but God delights in showing us that scars no longer hurt because healing has come.
In suffering we find how temporary our grasp is on this life. Our hope is not in this life. Our hope comes from the assurance of life spent in glory with Him, where there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more goodbyes.
If our suffering causes us to refocus our attention upward, consider it a good thing. He is the only thing that matters. Because in that one breath, He changed our lives forever.
Can you trust Him in your suffering?
Because of Him, Hope Prevails!
A short brief about Hope Prevails.
Hope Prevails
Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey through Depression
Dr. Michelle Bengtson
Speaking from personal and professional experience, a neuropsychologist unpacks what depression is, shows how it affects us spiritually, and offers hope for living the abundant life.
Neuropsychologist Offers Hope to Those Struggling with Depression
-By 2020, depression will be our greatest epidemic worldwide
- An estimated 350 million people worldwide suffer from some form of depression
- As with the bestselling My Stroke of Insight, the author experienced the same condition she treats
- Helpful features include personal stories, biblical truths, prayers, and music recommendations
In Hope Prevails, Dr. Bengtson writes with deep compassion and empathy, blending her extensive training and faith, to offer readers a hope that is grounded in God’s love and grace. She helps readers understand what depression is, how it affects them spiritually, and what, by God’s grace, it cannot do. The result is a treatment plan that addresses the whole person—not just chemical imbalances in the brain.
For those who struggle with depression and those that want to help them, Hope Prevails offers real hope for the future.
Hope Prevails is available now wherever books are sold. To find out more, see: https://drmichellebengtson.com/hope-prevails-book/.
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Outstanding message of truth and hope.
Teach on!
Thank you Carolyn. For me it all comes back to truth, hope, and love. With these, we have the victory. Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
SO very powerful! Thank you for sharing from your heart so transparently! This blesses me!!
Oh, P.j. I always try to share whatever message God lays on my heart, hoping that in sharing my story someone else will know that they are not alone. I’m glad it blessed you, as you are a blessing to many!
Yes, I’ve been there too. When I lost my sister, it was the biggest shock of my life. And I too remember wishing to see the tiny heartbeat of my child but wept in an office later when I heard the truth. I love what you said: “when we become helplessly dependent on God, we couldn’t be in a safer place.” These words are what we as believers must learn and know wholeheartedly. Thank you for sharing!
Carrie, I’m so sorry for your losses. Nothing can replace them, but God’s love can fill the emptiness with more of Himself. I don’t know how He does it, but when He comforts us, it does allow us to comfort others with that same comfort. His economy is so upside down and backwards from this world. When we become helplessly dependent on Him, then we truly have everything we could ever want or need. Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
Hope does indeed prevail. This post made me think of one of my fave verses Psalm 30:5 “Weeping may come for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Blessed to be your neighbor at the Inspire Me Monday linkup.
What a timely reminder of a beautifully hope-filled verse Tara! Indeed, #HopePrevails!
By His stripes we are healed … Amen! Thank you for a beautiful post filled with truth and healing.
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Glad you stopped by and enjoyed Lori! Many blessings to you!
“If our suffering causes us to refocus our attention upward, consider it a good thing. ” This is such a true statement. It is in the suffering that we learn so much about the love, care, mercy, and beauty of our Lord. Thanks for this post.
Yes, there is much to be learned in our suffering, Kathleen. I was just telling someone yesterday that I want to be grateful for my current season and learn as much as I can from it, rather than wishing it over, because God uses what the enemy intended to harm us, for our good. Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
Oh Michelle, you’ve been in my prayers. I love this statement, “when we become helplessly dependent on God, we couldn’t be in a safer place.” That’s holy TRUTH. Blessing sweet friend.
Susan, “the prayers of a righteous (wo)man availeth much” and I will never turn down the prayers of a righteous woman! Many thanks and blessings to you, my friend! Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
Continuing to pray for your complete healing and wholeness. #hopeprevails every single time. xoxo
Dear Susan, I am nothing if not tenacious, and my core belief is that #HopePrevails every single time if we are believers in Christ! Many thanks for your fervent prayers!
“But God”…such power behind those words. He rights so many wrongs and undoes so much pain. It can be hard to see Him through the murkiness of trial but He is there and I’m so grateful for that. Blessed to be your neighbor at #threewordwednesday.
Tiffany, “But God…” is what lends us hope. He is the power, the strength, the final authority. We’ve read the end of the book, and He is victorious. He is the source of hope. Because of Him, despite what we see in the natural, #HopePrevails!
Amen! Hope prevails and it’s anchored in Jesus. He is with us so that we can have abundant life despite our trials and the rapid life changes!
I am so frequently reminded of John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Despite the trials that we face, He has abundant life for us if we will just trust Him and hold on to the hope that prevails in Him!
Oh I love this post! So many sad or challenging moments but God is always faithful and true. <3
(Stopping by from the Christian Fellowship Linkup – feel free to come visit me!)
Yes, Shalynne, despite whatever trials we go through in life (and the Bible warns that we all WILL go through them), God is Always faithful and true. We never go through them alone. Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
Inspiring and encouraging words.
Thank you Gayle! Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
This is a wonderful message of hope, Michelle. I especially love this: “The enemy would like us to believe that our pain is permanent, but truth declares that “by his stripes we are healed.”
So important to fight Satan’s lies with God’s truth. I know your life was changed in a breath a few weeks ago, and I do hope you’re recovering fully. Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
Sweet Betsy, we never know when or how quickly things in our life will change, but it’s a reminder to me that we must be firmly established in our faith because when life changes, we must know in whom and what we believe, and where our hope comes from! We cannot fight satan’s lies with God’s truth if we do not know it. Because of Him, my #HopePrevails!
Important and timely message, Michelle. Thank you for sharing honestly about struggles and the hope that prevails!
We will all go through struggles Kristine. The key to getting through them is knowing where our hope comes from. We have to know that ahead of time. Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
A post packed with so much Truth! Thank you. This is a great resource for those moments when life literally takes your breathe away. Blessings!
Your words bless me. I pray this post will bring encouragement to someone when they feel like they aren’t sure how to cope with those trials in life that have taken their breath away. We have a Savior who is well-acquainted with our sorrow. Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
Thanks for linking up to Home Matters Party. #HomeMattersParty http://cu-rio.net/home-matters-linky-party-63/
beautiful. thank you.