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!}
Would love a copy for my friend and I to read together!
God is never failing., He is right on time. He never let us down. This book looks great.
The book Confident Heart I am almost finished reading and I will pick this one up after that.
Tammie Taylor
Lord make me more than a conqueror in my chaos & confusion because You are my Victor & You have brought me to a Faith community where we can claim Your Victories together!!!
Amen.
Thank You Lord Jesus!!!
“Even our Savior left this world with scars.” When I read this I just had to stop and breathe it in . . . our Lord God knows what we are going through. Thank you, Jesus!
Thank you for writing this post! It’s exactly what I needed to hear at exactly the right time. God bless you!
I have been battling illness for years.I know God can heal me and brings people into my life to lift me up.
One person God uses as a vessel is my husband. He even stays with me while I am in the hospital.
I have heart disease and Healing that is not too big for God.
Sometimes I just get depressed because I can’t do many of the things I use to do.Even.at my lowest time I know God is with me. Your prayers would be appreciated!
Even going through tough times with hubby being diagnosed with cancer, losing our home and vehicle due to no income while we waited for disability to kick in and then having a cancer scare with our 13 yr old daughter, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me.
In all these things, even in the process of a divorce from my alcoholic husband and raising our daughter whose earthly father is not present in her life, I am more than a conquerer through Him who loved me.
God is our strength. She has a Heavenly Father who will never leave or forsake her.
I will praise God through ALL my circumstances.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Even in dealing with my anxiety and panic attacks and dealing with things from my past and working on forgiveness, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me.
My marriage is coming to an end after 14 years together and a year and a half separation. We have two beautiful daughters. My husband served three military deployments and they changed him and our family forever. I have so much regret over my own mistakes, of not loving him enough, or being enought of what he needed. I have said again and again that I would walk thru fire to save my marriage. But My husband has no hope for us; and just wants to move on.
The feelings of rejection and failure are paralyzing some days. But I will not let myself stay there. I believe with all of my heart that The Lord will work this out for His glory and my good. The days are hard. But my hope is in Him. Jeremiah 29:11.
Would love to read your book.
God never leaves us and provides us with everything that we need. I am so thankful for His grace and mercy!
God can bring good things out of what is meant for evil.
I have overcome so much but still the enemies whispers tell me that I am not enough. The truth of it defeats me some days. I am not enough, through Christ I can be. The truth I usually retort with, if you’re faith was stronger you wouldn’t struggle, he whispers…
if I don’t win this book…I will buy it when I can because I need it. I have an autoimmune disease that taps me at home most days and I don’t have many friends. I need this not just for me, but I have an infant daughter who will learn to know God through me and I am daunted by that. Will she see my victory through Christ, or Satan whispering whispering in my ear…
Sounds like encouraging words we all can use!
Even in the chaos of my seriously crumbling marriage and struggling family. I am more than a conqueror,through Him who loves me. Thank you so much for this blog. I so desperately needed this today. Santan has a stronghold on my husbands heart and he is about to walk out on our marriage and possibly even lose His job. We are also dealing with a lot of issues with our 13 year old son Sam. Sam is completely out of control, he’s failing school, refuses to do his work and has a very negative outlook on everything. We also have a teenage daughter and two younger daughters who so desperately need to see how a marriage should be and what a man of God is. Lately, through all this,I’ve felt very defeated like everything is spinning wildly out of control, as I sit and watch my family and marriage being destroyed by santan. God bless you for speaking truth to me today.
Oh my, my, my Lord…..do I think of myself as very much defeated as me, the one who had a stomach by-pass, 2 knees replaced, 2 shoulders fixed, abou 6 back surgeries )the airport loves me) and the pain, pain, pain that I go through whether it is real and it is, and the pain I put myself through thinking I am a failure, I cannot do this…let alone overcome it. I do have one friend from my home town who always says “Joyce, you will get throug this” and I just say ya, ya…. but now there is this book that really hits me between my eyes. I need this book to set along with my BIBLE.. I need it and I shall overcome!
My how we all need such beautiful words on our “bad days”. After losing my dad to suicide a year ago, my mom, sisters and I have struggled and struggled. We always come back to one thing: GOD. He is our peace and comfort. I plan to purchase this book and share it with my mom and sisters. Thank you to the author for being God’s vessel.
Even in dealing with a babies death and the fear of becoming complacient as a single woman, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me.
Overcomer! This devotion and Mandessa’s song “Overcomer,” help, even on the worst of days. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Even in insecurity, depression, and fear, I am more than a conqueror, through him who loves me.
In all these things, even when the storms of life rage, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me.
I find myself in a new job I thought would be the opportunity that I have been working towards for the past 25 years. I felt like God was opening up the doors for me to be here. I think he let me have this opportunity to really show me what is really important in life. That is, not what I want bit what he wants for me. I find myself overworked, stressed, having medical issues and getting depressed. My kids are not happy, my husband is not happy. I’m not happy. I have started to look for a new position but having done the same thing for 25 years and there aren’t any open positions anywhere near where I live, it’s scary having to start over again. Doing my best to put my faith in God that he will open up new opportunities for me.
Even with my husband of 9 years deciding our marriage is over I am MORE THAN a conqueror!
I know God is my armour, but when you are a single mom, and you have to make a decision to either buy groceries or pay the light bill. And you buy groceries and a week later they turn your lights off. Sometimes its like, i cant win in this world. Some of us re meant to struggle so we can call on Him for guidance. I feel thats the life for me.
This looks like a book I need to read. I love
The part about how even Jesus left this world
With scars. Very profound.
In all these things, even in dealing with my spouse having an affair and conceiving a child during the affair and keeping it hidden for almost 4 years, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me!!
Thank You JESUS!!!
I love the reference to the soldier and the commander. For some reason that really hit me today. I need to fight the battle by listening to God’s commands. Blessings everyone!
God never leaves us. No matter how awful, scary or hopeless, He is always there with us. I never felt so frightened and so loved as when my husband was diagnosed with cancer. God did not give him the cancer. But God held me up, placed wonderful people in my path. Doctors, nurses, teachers, daycare providers, anonymous church members who reached out, gave their all, their best. And always at the moment we needed it most. You are going to be ok. You are.
Even in uncertainty, loneliness, marital issues, I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me.
Even in a break up I am more than a conqueror. I’d love to win a copy of this book!
God has used many hard circumstances in my life to refine me and grow me into a deeper dependence on Him. I feel like it is a recurring battle for me to CHOOSE to continue to seek Him and trust Him no matter what. There are times that I allow Satan’s lies to take hold of me. The only One who draws me out of that pit is Jesus, but it is a choice to allow Him to. Thank you for your encouragement, Renee!
Even in unemployment, financial needs , fear , parenting my children, confidence in my self I am MORE than a conqueror in Christ Jesus, my Lord!
This was my prayer on Saturday night that I even posted on my Facebook page….
God. Help or guide me thru my struggles I am going through. I stay tired. Exhausted. Unfocused on things that need to be accomplished. I hide my stress from everyone. My heart breaks with not having the one thing that would make my heart whole. My spirit is weak without the loving guidance from you. I pray with all my might to receive the life that is provided for me. For my boys. My family and friends. I give without taking. I silence my mind just to be at peace. I feel like I look for answers either in the wrong place or not finding them at all. Just let me receive the love and guidance to get through my struggles in the present. I know others will read this and hope they don’t think negative of me. I need your open arms. If I ask too much then I apologize and ask for forgiveness. Help this one in need. Amen…….
….I know through his love and guidance, I will conquer my struggles.
In times of trials, stress from work, heartache, we are more than conquerors, we have Christ who leads us, strengthens us, holds us up. I won’t want to travel this road without Him. Amen.
I was in an abusive marriage for twenty-three years, it not only hurt me it really hurt my daughter, I so want to get her this book because with Christ we can all be overcomers no matter what. Thank ywou for sharing your heart, you are acn encourager.
I am a stay at home wife, mother of two active boys, and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis eight years ago. I feel like God is calling me to more, but not sure what that more is. Yet, I know that through this disease, the stress of everyday life and often overwhelming fatigue, I am more than a conqueror because my Savior reigns and is for me.
In all these things, even in __Sorrow__, I am more than a conqueror through him who loved me.
Great post & reminder to stay strong in the Lord -always needed while walking in this world! Would enjoy the book & more encouragement as I/we endure life’s ups & downs! Blessings 🙂
When we learn to have our confidence in God we are free to tell others.
Thanks for all that you do. God is the great Healer.
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.