Have you ever had a friend whose words felt like a hug? It is a rare jewel, but one I have found in my friend Holley. Last week she released a book I’ve been eagerly waiting for because I couldn’t wait to share it with you! I’ll share more of my thoughts about it, but first I wanted you to hear from Holley’s heart: 
Photo Credit: Sara Torbett
Her shoulders slump as she slides into a chair in my counseling office. Her eyes and face speak volumes before she ever says a word. “I feel defeated,” she whispers. I nod. It’s understandable. The battles she’s faced. The way she’s fought. The war waging in her world. I dare to smile just a bit and say, “You may have lost some skirmishes, but that’s not who you are. You’re still an overcomer.” She leans forward, smiles back, shakes a little of the tension off her shoulders. She looks stronger already. When we have a weak moment, a bad day, a tough year, the enemy of our souls taunts us. “You’ve lost,” he hisses. But that isn’t true. The reality is, we can’t lose. In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Rom. 8:37) Oh, we get knocked around in this life. We have bumps and bruises. Even our Savior left this world with scars. But that doesn’t mean we’re defeated. This matters because it changes how we fight. Imagine being a soldier who’s going into battle. Your commander tells you, “We have already won. All you have to do today is go in there and obey my commands. Victory is sure.” You would fight with less fear and more faith, less hesitancy and more certainty, less regret and more intensity. This is what’s true of us. Even when the disease returns. Even when our spouse decides not to stay. Even when we relapse after promising we won’t ever again. I don’t say that lightly—oh, how those blows hurt. We ache. We feel the pain. We are human, and that is inescapable. Yet we don’t have to let our wounds define us. What happens to us is not who we are. Even in those moments and circumstances, our identity remains secure. What has happened to you that has made you feel defeated? Now add God’s perspective to your answer above. In all these things, even in ________________________________ (the answer you just gave), I am more than a conqueror through him who loved me. Defeat is not your destiny. What we are called to do is simply this: to stand {Eph. 6:10-17}. Not to conquer the world. Not to be the greatest warrior ever. Not to never feel weak or afraid. Just stand. Stand on God’s promises. Stand on faith. Stand on the hope that victory is sure. You have already won. You can’t be defeated by anything in this life or the next. You are an overcomer. XOXO Holley Gerth
On the back cover:If you need a friend to walk with you through the hard stuff in life, to cheer you on with encouragement, to help you find strength and joy in the midst of life’s difficulties – this book is for you! God writes love and assurance on the canvas of hearts through the hands of Holley Gerth.In each chapter you will learn how to hold onto hope, hold on to who you are and hold on to all God has promised – knowing and believing that no matter what, “You’re going to be okay!” ~Renee SwopeENTER TO WIN (This giveaway has ended, but I’d still love to hear from you!) a copy of Holly’s new book, “You’re Going to Be Okay” by clicking “Share Your Thoughts” under today’s post. You can share your heart or simply fill in the blank: In all these things, even in ________________________________, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me. {I’ll be praying over you by name today!}
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Even in loss of my dad and job, I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus, my Lord. In Him, I am an overcomer.
indeed, standing firm in the promises of our King! thnx
In all these things, even in all my struggles and failures, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me!
even in, my rebellious children, I am more than a conqueror
In all these things, even in healthy living, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me.
Even in unemployment, financial need, loneliness and isolation I am MORE than a conqueror in Christ Jesus, my Lord!
In all these things, even in this place that I feel so alone and lonely, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me.
Oh, the story I want to share! The journey I want to bring to life that any other may know we are all “over comers”! From sexual abuse as a young child by my only brother, to the promiscuity which inevitably followed throughout my late teenage life; I know my God was with me. A marriage directly after high school which lasted 17 years in which I was never physically abuse. He was a “provider” but couldn’t meet the desires if my heart, the emotional needs of my soul, or the my desperate need for attention-encouragement-and positivity. Our three wonderful kids (now oldest son is 21-with infant daughter and fiancé, daughter is 19, and youngest son is 14) suffered as I decided to “go outside the marriage” to have my needs met. That’s the church way to put it; I actually had a months long affair! I began to rebel against my beliefs, my faith, my church, my family, and viciously against my husband. I was beginning a desperate downward spiral which would cost me a price I’d never intended to pay. I cheated multiple times, we bounced back and forth doing the quintessential dance of the “trying for the kids” ; and yet, I failed. And in that failure is when I broke again. Mentally, twice I was admitted to a psychiatric ward for suicidal intentions and Bipolar. My earliest memories are not all toys and playing as a three and four year olds should be. They’re mainly dark and afraid. For no reason if which I’m aware. I “hid” both literally and figuratively. I remember hiding four hours in my closet behind all the cloths, singing “Jesus Love Me” and “Jesus Loves the Little Children” until l I’d finally cry myself to sleep. I suffered atypical fear and self hate; even prior to the abuse. I never could, as a young teenager, understand my mood swings. I wrote, I self mutilated (before it was popular and trending), and although I was loved, first by my parents and sibling then by my husband and children, I loathed myself. My bubbly personality would burst into the shattered depths of hell; it is there that death and suicide began courting my mind and soul. since a young child every day i can remember i “heard” and “saw” that i should and how to kill myself by hanging. without any elaboration; this fact is true and tragic. Late into my twenties after a bout of “postpartum” is when I was finally diagnosed and began treatment for Bipolar. All of that information to say, at the end of my marriage to a man I destroyed, I brought another man into my home. Within three months , even under my watchful eye, he annihilated and forever stole not only the last of my innocence but the purity and innocence of my only daughter. He beat me daily, choking, slapping, intimidating while holding a hammer, was nothing compared to the ten minutes he stole from my angel. I had divulged into pills in order to mask my mental disease, his abuse, and my failure. I attempted suicide with an overdose. But, I also grew strong. I removed him from my home and began a job and repairing the mess his presence left behind. It would be a little over a year before my daughter shared her nightmare if him molesting her and threatening to murder me if she told. This one life path haunts me daily when I see her. As time ticks closer to ten years since, the anguish for me is slowly resolving but it will never disappear. (Side note: he has never been charge-however, he’s now facing death penalty for the arson murder of an elderly woman )! As I became stable, God did lead me to a man that knows and love The Lord! We have been together five years and in July will have been married four years. God has a plan!! Quickly I’ll bring “MY STORY” to an end. As Joseph and I began our lives with my three children around the one year anniversary my daughter, 15 at the time became very ill. Over about four months she was found to have a congenital brain malformation. She suffered severe migraines, pressure in her head, fluid draining from her ears, she would vomit at the peak of the pain, and then she began to stumble. Gently at first; as if she just stubbed a toe. Next, was the breaths she felt as if she couldn’t get. After three week long hospital stays she had brain surgery. It was during her diagnosis phase that I was randomly injured at work. A wrist, back strain and muscle spasms; all of which has resulted in multiple procedures, painful tests and exams, and two major back surgeries. Oh! Did I mention the initial injury occurred directly prior to my daughters surgery? GOD IS GOOD AT USING LIFE CHANGING EVENTS TO PROVE HE IS ACTIVELY PURSUING US! I lost my career and will never nurse again which is my passion. But, I have a home, my children, my sons fiancé, my GRANDDAUGHTER- CHARLOTTE who’s almost 9 months old–all living input home. We suffer financially, gifts are rare, dates are even more rare, BUT LOVE…it lives here. GOD WILL PROVIDE HE WILL PROTECT and trust me….OUR LORD WILL PURSUE YOU.
Thank you for allowing me just to share with others parts of my journey. I want so badly to write…but I’m ignorant regarding these “blogs” and have no idea where to start or if my story would draw someone who needs to know his love.. Could you give me direction. Love in God!!
I use that verse.. I am more than conquerors and the verse , I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me… daily… I was very sick and it cause some damage to my body…. so for me to exercise or even to walk distances, is very very painful…. exercise for me is to work all day and be able to walk around…. some nights I come home in tears from being at work and hurts so bad to just get up and go to the bathroom… but in my heart.. I say these things and know God brought me back to share his word.. his love everywhere I go…. and I can do all things thru HIm…… i don’t know how much longer I can work.. but I can still shine for him and maybe teach/ interact online with others and let them know God has a purpose for each and every one of us, and he will never let us down… NEVER!!! I LOVE YOU JESUS
In my parenting failures and insecurities, I am an overcomer through Christ.
Even in my situation, all those things which I do not control. All I control is my response…
Those words really help. It’s tough to believe I’m an overcomer. My 18 year old son has just been diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder and my other son – aged 15 – with depression. It’s hard battling the education system too, so that they can still study. It appears that Holly’s book isn’t available here in the UK. Hope it can be soon. I need to read this!
Praying for all of you who have bravely shared your struggles and encouraged one another here.
Jane
In all these things, even in discouragement about my life, being a single mom for many, many years, fighting addictions, attending 2 bible studies regarding the bad family relationships and secrets about an abortion over 30 years ago, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me. I pray today that God has a plan for me in this life and although I experience emotional times, hard times physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, I will not be defeated even though satan tells me almost every minute. Since becoming a Christian 4 years ago I have felt bombarded by satan with his lies and condemnation. I will not be condemned, I will not be shaken because I am strong in the Lord. I need prayers and reminders of that on a daily basis. I will not be destroyed, I am victorious. God has made that promise to me!
My life is a sink hole and I can’t seem to find perspective.
20 years ago I suffered a spinal cord injury during the birth of my son. Thankfully, he was born healthy. It took me 5 years to walk again without my foot slapping, hip dropping, and limping. But I did it!! I fell a lot in the process, broke my foot many times, tore a tendon, and other minor injuries. I have permanent nerve damage from the waist down, but I can walk. I am so grateful!!
2 weeks ago I was diagnosed with a rare nerve disorder Syringomyelia and there is no cure. I have a cyst inside my spinal cord that is destroying the nerves. I have been sick for over a year and now I know my chronic migraines, severe nerve pain, fatigue, foggy thinking is here to stay.
I’m trying to move past the grief of receiving this news on my 1st wedding anniversary. My fears of my husband emotionally checking out on me are huge. After all, my 1st husband wanted to leave after my spinal cord injury at my sons birth. It was just too much for him. No judgement, just compassion.
So here I sit. Looking around, knowing I’m slipping down the hole of deep depression. I was a survivor 20 years ago, but this seems a little unfair. God got it wrong. Two major medical blows for the same person, can’t he spread it around?
I just don’t know if I can do this, I need strength, hope, preservence in the years ahead. And, I don’t want to look to others for that, it must come from within. I want to go forward with dignity because right now I am a heap in the corner.
Reading this helped remind me that I can overcome all things through Christ. Things seem so hard right now and sometime you just need to be reminded.
I want to win this book! My husband & I are going through a trial with his work situation currently. We both need to encourage one another to be over-comers. We don’t want to just “go through” this; we want to be able to “GROW through” this trial.
SO incredibly excited to read another book from Holley! The words she writes seem to speak right to me and have been such a blessing. So glad to have found this amazing author. Even if I don’t win a copy, I hope to purchase this book for me AND a friend! Thank you for your amazing ministry!
Even though I live in chronic pain the joy of my
Lord is my strength & song.
Even in my fight with Lyme disease and co-infections, and my daughter’s 7-year fight with Lyme and now a life-threatening eating disorder, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me.
Even though I haven’t a clue as to where I will be living next and where my son will be, I have faith that God is going to provide for all and Satan will be defeated once again.