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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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
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.
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
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!!!
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.
In all these things, even in marital hardships & feeling alone, I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me.
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
In all these things even in spiritual renewal I am more than a conquer through Him who love me.
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!!
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…
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.
I would love to win a copy of Holley’s book!
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.
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.
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.
In all these things, even in divorce, I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me. Amen
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.
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.
In all these things, even in food addiction, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me.
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!