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Renee Swope

Encouraging and equipping moms to parent with God's grace and confidence.

Read An Excerpt: Chapter 1 & 2

You’re An Overcomer

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: Sara Torbett - Sunflower

 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

You're Going to Be Okay Cover

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 Swope
 

ENTER 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!}

Comments

  1. In all these things, even in my relationships, but primarily with this MENOPAUSE!!! and all the frustration and confusion that comes along with it, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me. I just have to keep reminding myself that this is hormonal, it is not me! Very difficult time right now. Thanks for praying for me, I really need it!

  4. What a blessing to read this my heart has been very heavy with the many things going on in my family. Thank you for sharing it. Cindy

  5. In all these things, even in my husband leaving me, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me. God has great plans for me. I am looking forward to seeing what He will do in my life.

  8. In all these things, even in my darkest hour, I am more than a conquerer through Him who loves me.

  9. When the song Overcomer came out I was so elated. Because I am an overcomer and I am not the things I have done or that has been done to me. This reading from this new book is awesome. Thank you.

  10. In all these things, even through divorce, loss of love and raising young children by myself, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me.

  11. In all these things even in my lonely empty dead marriage I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me. Allowing God to totally break me through my desire to exit this marriage, going through the wretched pain that I can’t take any longer, through the fiery time of day after day of painful tears! I went many many times in tearful prayer and saw as I closed my eyes a glimps of the pain and sin Jesus took on the cross. I then knew I am going to be ok, He will like Moses get me out of this Egypt and lead me into the land of milk and honey. I am holding on to that promise as I surrender to His will and not my plans and desires of this dead marriage. Holding Jesus tight to my heart and rebuking Santans whispers in my ear you will never make it, I am going to take you down. Nope, no no no no, begone devil man He who is in me is stronger than anything or anyone of this world. God loves me Nancy, I am a dearly loved child of God and. He speaks to me through his words not my circumstances and I through the power of Jesus will not allow this dead marriage to define who I am in Christ another day of my life in this world. Praise and glory to The Lord in heaven! I am ever thankful to P31 ministries as well a place where I am empowered and encouraged!
    May God continue to richly bless this ministry:)

  12. I needed to hear this. I am separated and should have been years ago. Met someone that I thought was my soulmate and I gave every part of me. He broke my heart and broke me. I never had never let or understood how a man could do that to a woman until now. I believe he took advantage of me in a vulnerable state and knew it. I don’t know if I I will ever trust or love again. I feel worthless and can relate to that woman. I am a very outgoing, energetic person and I feel like he sucked the life right out of me. Desperately trying to get me back.

  13. Wow such honest and heartfelt comments. Thank you everyone for sharing so deep.
    I feel hopeless and sad at times that at my age, I’ll never change and my life won’t have mattered.

  14. I’m struggling to the point where it seems like there are days when I can’t go on! But I know that God will get me through even though I don’t always feel His presence! Dealing with a Mom with Alzehimers, friends who have turned their back, there are days when I feel so alone! Thank you for the reminder that things will be O.K. Even when that seems impossible! Prayers for all the ladies that have posted! Life is hard. I’m thankful for God’s hand on us even when I seem overwhelmed with pain and depression!!!! Thank you for your ministry!!!

  15. Thank you the reminder, to just stand before The Lord with honest heart.
    In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Rom. 8:37)

  17. Wow, I was in the midst of a tough time … recently divorced and my brother was killed in a car accident and my dad had a brain tumor removed. I vividly remember telling a friend, ” I just need a hug and someone to tell me everything will be ok.” This is a book I really should read.

  18. In all these things, even being homeless with my children, I am more than a conqueor through Christ who loves me and my children.

  19. I can barely type this through the years. I do desperately needed to read this encouragement today. I can only imagine what a whole book of more of this would do for my spirit. Thank you for sharing this and being such a blessing to do many

  20. I would love to win this book for a friend who is going through divorce. She is so beautiful and she is an overcomer, but she could still use the encouragement from this book.

  21. Hello everyone, Nothing is too hard for God (although it may seem way too hard for me). I cannot believe that people in the world survive their trials and tribulations without God. “Made to Crave” is showing me that like David I can go to God with anything. I can praise and worship God in the midst of the crisis. I am trying to keep a notebook of all the wonderful things God does for me so I can refer to it when I need more miracles. Laurel

  22. I too often feel so alone and rejected that sometimes it paralyzes me and keeps me from moving forward, but I am more than a conqueror through him who loved me.

  23. In all these things, even with having a chronic illness with lesion on my brain and the enemy constantly saying give in & give up I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me. Thank you Renee for sharing this from your friend book very encouraging considering I was on my knees last week begging God to heal me and have mercy I was so dizzy I could not see or barely stand. Thanks again

  24. I often feel defeated! As a parent, as a teacher, as a friend, in loneliness, in pain, through my divorce! Thank you for the reminder that I am more than a conquerer through God’s love for me!!! Thank you!!!

  25. I was having a very rough morning…feeling defeated AGAIN. I Google searched scripture for when you are feeling like a failure. I read a few different things but this devotional affected me the most. I’m getting ready to go back and read it again. Thank you for your encouragement. I needed it badly. I am more than a conquerer in trying to give up smoking and get healthy again through Jesus Christ.

  26. In all these things, even in marital hardships & feeling alone, I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me.

  27. It’s not God’s will for us to suffer but through it all, as we fight the fight of faith, we are overcomers through Christ who loves us. Let’s not allow the devil to steal our peace, our hope nor our lives – Christ came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly. This devotion is just what I needed today. In all these things – even through Marital problems, I am an overcomer

  29. In all these things, even in my doubt and unbelief, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me.

    Thank you for sharing this post!!! I am on a journey to confidence in The Lord and who he has created me to be!!! Thank you for the encouraging word that my defeat does not define me!! Powerful truth!!

    Blessings to to on this amazing Monday!!

  30. I so needed to read this today… I struggled so hard to find a job then God gave me a job… It was such a blessing because I witness how God moved and placed me in favor to get this job… Now nine months I saw how new management moved me out of the picture and I was let go… I was devastated to say the least… God how could you let this happen??? Well God gave me that one and He can do it again…. But it’s encouragment like this book that help me stay focused on these truths… Thanks Renee…

  31. I am 62 and what a blessing this book would be. I love to read Holly’s books. I have been through a lot in my life and I know that even in the bad times that the Lord was with me and those bad time are what lead me to a closer relationship with our Father. So to read this book would just add to the love of God for me. And I know the Lord has blessed Holly in all she does.

  33. In all these these things, Satan and his daily pounding on my self confidence, self worth, and oh so many other things that cause me grief, even I am more than a conqueror through Him that loves me.

  34. I have a friend who believes with all her heart that she is an overcomer, but her heart is still breaking as she deals with her current circumstances. I would love to give her this book as a daily reminder that God loves her and is causing all things to work for her good and his glory.

    • The battles rage on, even in old age. To find such hugs and encouragement from a book would be good medicine.

  35. After reading all these women’s struggles, mine seem so trivial even though I allow satan to rob me of my joy through my thought life. I have a dear friend who recently confided in me a horrible childhood. She had only told her husband. Her husband has an addiction to porn. Her adult, college age daughter is a prodigal and my friend feels God is punishing her. This is so not true. She is not responsible for their choices but she is living with the consequences so I am trying to be an encouragement to her. This book sounds like a treasure of hope for her.

  37. I walked the shame and fear of unplanned pregnancy at age 20. Now 20 years later, I get to do it again. This time through my own daughter, after pouring into her life so that she would not have this legacy to leave to another generation. I cannot describe the utter devastation that my family has walked through. We’ve lost “friends” and family. People think it’s so cute to call a 42 year old “granny”. Don’t they know how they’re ripping me apart with it? God help us.

  38. Even when I don’t know where or how I fit in my church family..
    I am more that a conqueror through Him who loves me.

  40. In all these things, even when I was raped by an acquaintance and made of fun in high school because of it, I am more than a conqueror through him who loved me!!! How people have treated me doesn’t define me! Christ defines me!

    God bless!

  41. In all these things even through chronic pain associated with osteroposis at a young age I Am an overcomer through Jesus Christ my Lord Amen!

  42. Even in being put down by dear people at church, I know I am a conqueror
    through Christ whose love holds me firm and steadfast, so I can press on
    and love, forgive, seek to do better or different, and keep listening intently
    to the LORD’S voice so I can honor and please Him who loves me and
    gave Himself for me.

  43. My struggle now is insomnia. Very hard to try to live normally with no sleep . Please pray I can find a solutiom. This devotional was encouraging.

  44. Oh, how I would love this book for my adult daughter. She has been going through a trial with some friends for over a year and she whispers these words to herself all the time. She needs to hear that these girls don’t define who she is because Satan has been feeding this dedicated Christian woman lies. She desperately needs to hear the message in this book!

  45. In all these things, loosing weight and getting rid of our debt I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me. Sing Praise, I am an Overcomer woke up with that song in my head this morning.

  46. Even in the midst of dealing with a daughter in a homosexual relationship, I am more than a conqueror.

  47. I have been incredibly blessed by a friend that is so much like what you describe in Holly. My friend’s name is Cathy, & I tell her all the time that we didn’t “meet”, we just finally found each other. She is beyond a doubt my soul’s sister. ♥.
    Our family is facing really extreme financial hardships right now. But we are overcomers. As my morning reading in 2 Corinthians pointed out, were we not such fragile jars of clay, the world around us would have no way to know that the power of the light within is from God! I cannot wait to read Holly’s book.
    With love,
    Jessica

  49. In all these things, my daughter’s health and mine, my husband’s cancer, a dear friend who needs to get out of an abusive relationship and have the finances to do what God has called her to do, my life feeling like it’s upside down, I am more than a conquerer in Christ!! Life has been hard and uncertain, but my Father in Heaven hasn’t forgotten me!! I choose to trust Him, and walk through all of this victoriously!!