Tribulation

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through who, also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

And not only that we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance character and character hope. "

Romans 5:1-4

How many tribulations have you gone through? I would venture to say that we all have had varying degrees of tribulation. Some things that ruin a moment or some that change your life forever. 

How we look at our tribulations is very important. How we deal with them is important as well. From the moment I was told I had cancer all I wanted to do was get rid of it. I made a conscious decision not to let it get me down. 

Easier said than done. As I made it through each milestone something about me changed. 

Chemo, no hair. 

Mastectomy, no breasts. 

Hysterectomy, no hormones. 

Honestly, y'all...,I look like an alien or at least artists renditions of aliens...

Only I am not green. But who knows, radiation might make that happen!! Ha!!

I can't hide what's happening to me. Bald, flat chested woman headed your way!! 

However, according to scripture, these are the things that will build my character and ultimately my hope. I can feel sorry for myself (which on occasion I do). Or I can buck up and move on. Blasting past the emotional and physical trials of this disease 

This applies to ALL of us. We all face trials in this life. We all know things are going to happen. This is where our choices come in. We can either choose to believe our trials are for our demise or for our good. 

I think God allows things to happen sometimes, to see if we will rely on Him and His strength. Every single negative thought you have comes from the enemy. Not God. Every single ounce of despair is fueled by the enemies lies! God has no part of it and wants only to dispel those lies. 

Please don't allow lies to destroy your hope, nor the trials and tribulations of this life. 

Romans 5 continues with verse 5...

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been POURED out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Don't waste the gift of the Holy Spirit, use His navigating, all loving power to move you into great hope!

Monica

Hope

The Hebrew translation of hope is "confident expectation". Oftentimes we use it more like the word wish. Clearly, hope is more than wishing. Hope is so much of what our lives consist of.  

Emily Dickinson penned,

"Hope is the thing with feathers 

That perches in the soul

And sings the tune without words 

And never stops-at all."

It never stops at all. If we exercised hope like the definition implies, our expectation of the outcome would be confidence of fulfillment . I am sad to say most of us, including me, don't. 

Confident expectation. BELIEVING in what you have asked for and BELIEVING it will happen.

Matthew 21:22 was given to me this morning.

"And whatever things you ask for in prayer, BELIEVING, you will receive."

Believing is the key word. My belief is central to my hope...

Not gonna lie. The past few days have been very emotional for me. I return Wednesday to my oncologist to find out my fate. As I opened my devotional this morning...BOOM! TWO pages of why we should still believe in miracles and in Christ's power. Ephesians 3:20, "God is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in you."

He is able. And we should have full confidence in His ability. Not that doubts won't arise, but that when we place our trust in Him, He will ease our doubt and give us the strength and confidence we need. 

God doesn't expect us to understand everything. He expects us to trust Him when we don't understand. Whatever you ask, BELIEVING, you will be given. He will grant whatever you need, but there has to be a foundation of belief... True belief that He is who He says He is and He will do what He promises in scripture. 

Oh, and it may not happen right away. That is where hope comes in. Have the confident expectation that He hears you and will answer you... When He is ready. 

Just wait on Him with hope and trust. He knows what He's doing. He has not abandoned us and He never will. 

Monica