Tag: Miracle

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Salathiel DeLoach, The Lupus Warrior

Hi Faith Travelers!

This month we are doing something a little different. We are debuting our first Faith Traveler Feature of the year. In light of May being Lupus Awareness Month, what better way to celebrate the resilience and strength of those living with lupus than to share the faith journey of one of the most resilient and faith filled lupus warriors I know, Salathiel DeLoach.

This feature is near and dear to me because what you didn’t know is that Salathiel was my very first friend, best friend even, growing up in the early 90s in Savannah, Ga; living with my grandmother only a few doors from each other. Salathiel and her family welcomed me into their lives leaving me with a lasting impression that she didn’t just treat me like a friend but her and her family treated me like family and that has stayed with me til this day. Sadly, we loss touch during middle school and no longer lived in the same neighborhood. It wasn’t until God randomly (not random to Him of course) reconnected us in November 2016, just a year after I started my own journey with the Lord and she had been faithfully walking with God in her own faith journey. As we met, over an early dinner May of 2017, after a God ordained encounter and conversation, we knew that God had perhaps reconnected us for such a time as this on purpose for purpose.

Salathiel is the founder of the DeLoach Lupus Foundation Savannah Ga Inc., a nonprofit focused on lupus warriors, their unmet needs and educating the community in which they serve. Salathiel is an advocate and successful entrepreneur through her podcast, her book and her voice (Learn more at https://www.speakupdeloach.com/ ) but her journey didn’t start with promise; it started with pain and a process that people seldom are prepared for but she didn’t allow the pain to steal her joy or her voice.

This is her story…

“From an early age, I believed I was created to bare hardship- Pain seemed like a constant companion I was meant to endure, but nothing could have prepared me for what was to come. I always felt different like something about me was never quite normal. I couldn’t put my hand on it and as I grew older life became more confusing.


As a young teenager, I began experiencing medical issues that would shape my understanding of womanhood in ways I never expected. It all started when I was introduced to my menstrual cycle early in middle school. I had heard my sister, and cousins talk about her experience – cramps for a few days and those infamous seven days of blood – But what I encountered was different from what they described. This wasn’t what I had been prepared for. It was the beginning of a journey into women hood that would reveal far more than just the physical challenges.


These cramps felt like punishment. Instead of just being sent to my room, these cramps commended me to spend days curled in the fetal position, crying for relief. I bled for weeks on end, never knowing when it would end. The bleeding some days would be so heavy that I would pass out from blood loss. My mom, not knowing what to do to help me made an appointment with the OBGYN to explore my options. This was where I learned there was a name for what I was experiencing Menorrhagia. The doctor suggested birth control as a solution. Birth control… clearly this guy didn’t know who my dad was. There was no way my God-fearing dad was having that. Eventually a decision was made where I was allowed to begin depo injections. Thank goodness no more issues…so I thought.


As time went on, something else I couldn’t explain started happening. I begin falling asleep at the drop of a dime. My parents assumed I had become lazy, but quickly realized that it didn’t make any sense. One moment I would be fully engaged and the next I would be knocked out cold. My mom became worried and wanted to understand why. She took me to a doctor who suggested I undergo a sleep study. Like yesterday, I can still remember the hospital visit – being led into a small glass room with only a bed and a machine. They put a lot of stickers on me all connected with cords to a machine that would monitor me sleeping or lack there of through the night. When I awoke the following morning, I felt like I hadn’t slept at all.


At the follow-up appointment, the doctor told us that I had narcolepsy. Yet another thing that I could barely pronounce. While no one else in my family was ever diagnosed I watched my grandmother fall asleep regularly so I didn’t feel too bad. At least this time I could trace it even if I seemed to fall straight in to a deep sleep and couldn’t be awakened. He prescribed medication that was supposed to help me stay awake, but I was detrimental not to like my life relying on meds so there were days I would test my body and just not take them. Here I was thinking I had it under control – until one day in class, I drifted off to sleep and the teacher couldn’t wake me up. It was at this moment that determined my fate of my high school years and I was placed on home school.


I spent most of my days sleeping, only waking up to do assignments, using the restroom and eat. Thankfully I had a friend who was also going through her own issues with health and wasn’t attending school either. We talked and slept on the phone all day, which made me feel a little less lonely. During this season I found myself in the word of God and our conversations shifted from pain and random foolishness to what the bible meant to us. Just like my conversations, life began to improve. I learned to manage the meds well enough to return to school.

At 17, I graduated from high school in 2001, a monumental achievement considering the many curveballs life had thrown my way during my youth. I worked in retail making pretty decent money for my age and ready to move on to a greater path of life. I was looking forward to life in college and my body had other plans.


It started with severe stomach pains, which I assumed were cramps. As if my body was now rejecting the depo because I’d been on them for so long. I had plans of dinner and a movie, but in the battle of body vs agenda, my body won as it always has. When I got home, I tried to eat, epic fail. I changed my clothes, flopped on the couch to watch basketball and drifted off to sleep.


In the middle of the night my dad woke me up and sent me to bed and the next morning I could barely move. My feet were so swollen they looked like footballs. I tried to walk but my legs were not having it and I began to drag myself across the carpet, crying out for my parents. I remember my mom finding me and calling out for my dad. Instead of going to work they convinced me to go to the hospital.


I was diagnosed with lupus. My legs and arms were swollen my stomach tender to the touch and a butterfly-shaped rash on the left side of my face. The doctor immediately suspected lupus. He gave her some pamphlets and ran tests to confirm his thoughts. When he returned, the diagnosis was clear: Lupus. The pain became increasingly worst by the moment resulting in me flat lining for a moment due to kidney failure requiring me to be admitted.

Effects of Lupus


I spent what felt like months in the hospital, battling days of lupus attacking my body. Recovery took time and everyday I begged to go home. Eventually I lost my insurance because I wasn’t in school, and that led to my release. But the journey didn’t end there, I continued to face complications to include losing the use of my limbs due to medication where the doctor told me it was all in my head.


Sitting on the couch became my daily routine, and it came at a heavy price. I went from 150lbs soak and wet to 300+ lbs and I felt like I was only a memory of someone who once was. My parents became my caregivers; they were my legs when I couldn’t walk, my hands when I couldn’t feed myself, bathe, or do anything that required movement. As a teenager, This was one of the most depressing and humiliating periods of my life. I was once independent, and excited about my future, but here I was lost and completely dependent on my parents. Boy was this a hard space to accept.


My parents prayed for me, encouraged me, and tried to keep mentally positive. They reminded me that this season would pass. It was here in this season that I begin to get to know Christ for myself. In my youth, I played church but here life was real and all of those people I played with were gone. I was now calling on Him because I genuinely needed Him. I wasn’t shouting anymore, this season required me to sit still and wait for answers with no real idea of my own what I was listening for.

Effects of Lupus…But God


Through this journey with this diagnoses, I’ve learned more about myself and others than I could have ever imagined. I began by asking God, why me? Why was he doing this to me? Why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this? I didn’t understand why I had to experience so much pain in my life. I knew I was flip with my mom but certainly this wasn’t it, she was the one who was always helping me, so it was hurting her too.


But God had other plans. He chose me for something greater than I could understand at the time. These things weren’t something He was doing to me, they were things that He allowed to happen because He knew who He created me to be and these hardships would introduce me to Him and the version of me that He wanted to use for His glory.


As my health slowly improved, I was able to walk again. I remember the first time that I went to the bathroom alone. I hadn’t seen myself in so long I had no idea what to expect. I washed my hands and glanced at myself and quickly looked away. Tears begin to form in my eyes because I didn’t recognize who was staring back at me. He face was swollen, lips were tiny and puffed up like a fish and the scars were everywhere. Who was this girl I saw staring back at me? I felt ugly and refused to look again. I didn’t like what I saw.


My life was already unrecognizable and now I was fighting with my image which also impacted my mental health. I just didn’t seem fair. What did I do to deserve this. Most days I walked with my head down trying to avoid engagement with others. Hiding in plain sight.


As time went on, I returned to work, and despite some difficult days. I’ve been working ever since. I went back as a part-time worker and worked my way up to regional management. Even though I didn’t get to go off to college as I dreamed of, I did attend college. I earned my associate’s degree in Computer Information and, a few years later, a bachelor’s degree in Management- something I use daily in my current career. This journey was not easy due to health complications. School was stressful, and stress triggers lupus flares but I was determined to pursue and complete my goals. There were semesters where things went smoothly but others where I had to drop out. Obtaining these degrees took much longer than expected. Truth be told there were days I wanted to give up but this was something I truly wanted, so I pressed.


Along this new path, I endured much physical pain and experienced the loss of things and people that once felt familiar. These losses shaped me into a better person. Over time, I grew and matured. While I knew Christ, it was through my losses that I truly found Him for myself and where I began to learn about the version of me that He created me to be. In Christ, I found healing for a disease that doctors said would either kill me or be with me forever. Every day, I look in the mirror and I see the evidence of lupus in my scars, but my faith is stronger than what I see. My faith reminds me that what I see is bigger than me. I am evidence that God still heals.


I still have rough days, and when I read the Bible, I’m reminded of John 16:33, which says, “In this world, you will have tribulations. But be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.” Despite the challenges, I find peace in Knowing that God chose me for this journey from the start. As I grow in Christ, I notice changes with myself. I’ve always been an introvert, but I began to speak to strangers, and often, they approached me first. That never used to be the case, people were always afraid to approach me or at least so I thought. Some were struggling with their self- image, depression, feelings of loss, desires to harm themselves, or were newly diagnosed with lupus and even other diseases. Others just needed someone to talk to. In these moments, I would share my story or simply encourage them to keep moving forward, to live life as fully as possible.


At this stage of my life, I refuse to hide who I am. Instead of asking, “Why me?”, I’ve changed the question to Why not me?” The more I embrace that question, the more I desire to encourage others to live fully, even after a diagnoses or life- altering event.


Through this experience, I’ve learned that healing requires the whole person- Mind, body and soul. The thoughts I think, the words I speak, what I eat, how I rest, whether I choose to exercise, who I surround myself with, and my relationship with God- these things all play a crucial role in the healing process. I often say that I don’t “have” lupus: I’ve just been diagnosed with it. This distinction is important because “having” something suggest ownership, but I know my diagnosis is just part of the process that God is guiding me through.


Healing isn’t always visible on the outside or marked by a change in diagnosis. For me, healing is how I see myself, what I believe, and what I speak over myself. I seem myself; alive with much to give, and I choose to speak life into my circumstances and to become all that God has created me to be. I am grateful for each day and choose to live it fully to honor Christ. I may not feel well every day, but I’m still here. I choose to be thankful in all things and to trust God’s process, knowing that although He allowed this journey, He knew the end from the beginning.


Through every illness I’ve faced, I can trace back to see that God is there with me. In the blood, He covered me like He did the people of Egypt, increasing my faith like the woman with the issue of blood, When I pass by thee and saw thee polluted in your blood. Live, In my sleep, He granted me visions and dreams, just like He did for Joseph, and now those things are coming to pass. And with lupus, He allowed, the old me, to die so that He could make me a new creature, I am forever grateful that God saw strength in me to endure everything He has placed before me.


Even as I write this, I’m experiencing pain from the deterioration of the bones in my neck, caused by lupus and its treatments over the years. My C3, C4, C6, and C7 vertebrae are all causing pain, but I’ve made a choice to press on because all of this is part of the process—a process that’s bigger than me. It’s a process to help others. God is using everything in my life to get glory, and I’ve surrendered to His will, refusing to turn back. My body may hurt, but my life has purpose.

You can do it, you can take it, you can make it. Don’t you give up .

“There was a season of my life that I couldn’t do this. Lupus robbed me of my sound but because I didn’t give up you have a chance to hear me do one of the things I love to do the most…sing.”


I’ve learned to take the time to do the things I enjoy, like worship, spending time with family and friends, traveling, singing, modeling, writing, speaking at engagements, advocating for lupus patients, and working with my hands—whether it’s photography, crafting, restorations, planting, or sewing (when my neck agrees). These activities not only give me joy, but they also serve as therapy for my hands. This journey has ignited a desire in me to help others and spread awareness about lupus around the world.


This desire has produced the vision that I saw in my sleep during that season. I started a 501c3 non-profit organization called the DeLoach Lupus Foundation Savannah GA Inc. where I advocate and help other warriors. I have the honor to use my journey and apply the lessons learned to help others and provide assistance to those in need- a resource that was not available when I was in need.


In addition, the journey fanned the flames of the fire that led to me beginning Speak Up DeLoach LLC. Through this platform, I’m honored to take on speaking engagements, host my podcast The Light, Lupus, and I, work as a voice-over artist, and recently, become a self -published author with Chosen for This Journey: A 30-Day Devotional Guide to Turning Pain into Purpose, which is available on both Amazon and Barnes and Nobles (Click Here to Support). Speak Up DeLoach isn’t just a business—it’s a part of my journey, and I’m here to use it to spread awareness, empower others, and walk boldly in the purpose God has for me.

I’m fully committed to following wherever God leads me in this mission to raise awareness and educate others with lupus and their families as well as every other health challenge I’ve faced. My heart is set on collaborating with schools, churches, community centers, organizations and business that are both local and abroad, and government officials to reach students, parents, members, and staff.

I believe God allowed lupus to become a part of my life because He knew He had created me to be a helper and a voice, one that would not be afraid to speak out. I didn’t know this at the time. All I wanted was to live quietly and die peacefully. But God has been doing a new thing in me. He’s opening doors and calling my name in rooms that matter before leadership—rooms where real change can happen. And I know my purpose in these spaces is to give Him the glory.


No opportunity presented to me is about me; I am simply His chosen vessel to spread awareness not only of diseases but, more importantly, of Him. I believe God will provide all the resources and support needed to make this organization—and everything He places my hands to—become everything He created it to be. I believe that God wants to partner with me to bring change to the medical industry, and I trust Him and the plans He has for me.”

Click Play to Hear A Word from the Voice of Salathiel DeLoach

I hope Salathiel’s faith journey has blessed you as much as it has blessed me. To the woman whose voice was shaped through pain, refined by purpose, and released through faith; Thank You for honor of featuring you and for taking us on your faith journey.

If you are local to Savannah, Ga, USA, her foundation will be hosting a Lupus Awareness Run Walk Event this weekend on May 16th, 2026 (See Above Flyer). For those willing and able to support, please share and support what God is doing in and through Salathiel’s Foundation, Book, and Business for His Glory.

Until the next Faith Traveler Feature…

To be a part of the movement, share your own faith journey Here!

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Discipleship Emotional Healing Faith Forgiveness God is Good God Still Heals God Still Speaks God's Love God's Promises God's Voice Healed Healing Intimacy With God Jesus Mental Healing Miracle Obedience Peace of God Prayer Presence of God Preserverance Protection Purpose Redemption Restoration Salvation Testimony Trusting God Uncategorized

Fresh Perspective

Hi Faith Travelers!

I want to start this month’s blog post off with a question to you…

Have you ever hoped, prayed, and believed for something so deeply just to end up disappointed with the outcome? The job you believed God for didn’t work out, the situation you hoped would get better got worst and the ill person you prayed total healing for ended up passing away. That level of disappointment, unmet expectation and failed hope can be enough to rattle someone’s faith to it’s core. I know personally because I’ve experienced it and I am here to tell you, don’t lose faith because GOD ALWAYS HAS A PLAN even when the variables surrounding you don’t make sense.

Here we are only four months into the year and I find myself a few days post op from a 2nd surgery that didn’t yield the outcome I was really hoping and praying for; unrelated to the first surgery 1 had just two months ago. In addition, I am working the corporate job that the Lord blessed me with, yet its starting to feel life draining and joy stealing. Meanwhile, I have been seeing people I know and love leave this world in high numbers and I just don’t understand. I found myself hurt, frustrated, weary and disappointed. I told myself, “this can’t be it…this can’t be apart of God’s plan.” While I recognize there is a very real enemy (satan) who comes to steal, kill and destroy (See John 10:10) at play in this fallen world, I couldn’t help but feel like this is not how it’s supposed to be.

Coming back to reality of things, I remembered this world, we as believers live in, is a battlefield not a playground, so even when we give our lives to Christ, that doesn’t mean things will get easier. Honestly speaking, it sometimes means it will get harder because when you are living out God’s purpose and plan for your life, persecution and suffering comes in attempt to delay or halt that plan because satan doesn’t want to see the Gospel shared, lives saved or the line to hell shortened.

Let’s take a look at Paul in the Bible. Once a fervent persecutor of Christians who had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus (See Acts 9:1-9), one that would lead to his radical conversion to Christianity. He went from persecutor to Apostle, sharing the Gospel wherever he went. Paul did great things for the kingdom of God but it wasn’t without its trials. Paul was whipped & flogged on multiple occasions by Jews, beaten with rods, stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked multiple times, bitten by a venomous snake, deprived of sleep, food, water & warmth, betrayed by false believers, chained, imprisoned multiple times and dealt with a mysterious affliction he called a thorn in the flesh. Paul went through all of that yet his perseverance and walk with God led to the establishment of the Christian theology foundation; emphasizing salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. He also expanded the gospel to the Gentiles and wrote 13 of the 27 new testament books. Though he dealt with constant persecution, attacks and trials, God’s plan for his life prevailed.

Now let’s look at Jesus, He suffered the ultimate persecution but His sacrifice wasn’t in vain, there was purpose behind even the last moments of the crucifixion. In Matthew 27:46, while Jesus was dying on the cross, “Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” The NLT version states “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?” Shortly after, Jesus cried out again and gave up His Spirit, dying on the cross. To the onlookers, this looked like the end. It looked like the Father had abandoned/forsaken His Only Son but God already had a plan. A plan of resurrection and ascension that forever saved us so that we could continue God’s will here on earth as it is in Heaven (See Matthew 6:10).

When we choose to go after Jesus, we have to give up our own way, take up our own cross and follow Him (See Matthew 16:24). If you have been going through trials and disappointment, much like myself, you may feel like you are on that very cross that you’ve taken up, uttering the very words that Jesus cried out to the Father, “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?” Here’s a fresh perspective for you, if the act of Jesus dying, being resurrected and ascending to be with the Father healed the brokenness of humanity, offering a direct path to God then that means the same way God had a plan for Jesus amid persecution, He certainly has a plan for us amid our circumstances. So don’t lose faith! God’s plan won’t always look like ours, but it will always lead us where we need to be (Romans 8:28).

Selah.

Until the next Faith Message…

To be a part of the movement, share your own faith story Here!

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Starting Anew

Hi Faith Travelers!

If there is one thing that I have learned in my walk with God, it’s that you have to Keep Listening. We should never take a piece of the puzzle that God gives us and assume that is the full picture. After all, if He gave us the full picture all at once, we probably wouldn’t do it in the first place. Everything God does is always bigger than us, requiring full dependence on His strength and His ways versus our own (See Isaiah 55:9).

Take this faith blog for instance, the Lord gave me the idea back in 2015. I officially started in 2020 and there have been different rhythms of blogging based on how the Lord has led me. There was a time where it was 1-2 posts a year, a time when the posts were weekly, a time when they ceased or were very sporadic and then monthly. Transparently speaking, there was a moment when I wanted to add my own aesthetic regarding the website and the day of the week the blog was posted (good thing but not a God thing) and that worked for a good while (i.e. Faith Fridays). But now God is doing a New Thing (See Isaiah 43:19) and if I try to stick to an aesthetic, I could miss God; who He wants to reach, when He wants to reach them and How He wants to reach them through this blog. I recently realized that by only posting on a specific day, I was pigeon holding the move of God as well as adding undue pressure to myself to get something done on a day that God didn’t even directly tell me to post on. We have to be mindful of allowing our own intellect to take charge or dictate our direction in doing the God things. So here we, right smack dab in the middle of the “New Thing”, moving with God fully on how He wants to do things as you are receiving this post on a Big Ole Tuesday on the last day of March and I am ok with that.

Over this past month, I’d encountered a series of undesired events, one being surgery. This led to me being off work for a few weeks. My first thought immediately went to “now that I am off work, I can work on my God projects and get more things done before the hustle and bustle starts back”. Well God had other plans! He told me to REST! While most people would jump to that rest opportunity; given the amount of work things, business things and, most importantly, God Things on my plate, I felt I didn’t have time to rest. Who says they don’t have time to rest after surgery, you guessed it….Me! Even in my prayer time as I sat with the Lord recognizing there was chaos going on around the world, I went into intercession mode and the Lord stopped me. Yes, He literally stopped me from praying. He told me “I don’t need your prayers right now, I just want you to sit with ME.” It was in that very moment that I realized I was so used to being on the front lines as a prayer warrior, a server of my community and an overall get it done type person, that I realized I didn’t know how to just rest and be God’s daughter.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you will know that I didn’t grow up a Daddy’s girl. So not having that experience affected how I approached my relationship with the Lord in the beginning. It started out more like that of a soldier. My thoughts were, “give me my assignment Lord and I will do it”. I didn’t know any other way until God nurtured and loved on me, showing me what it was truly like to have a perfect Father. It wasn’t an overnight process and I can honestly say I am still learning but after this past month the Lord has exposed something in me that needed to not just Heal but needed to Rest (See Matthew 11:28-29).

I say all of that to say, don’t be afraid to walk in the New Thing that God is doing even when it doesn’t make natural sense. Even when it goes against all natural intellect and even when it feels wrong. We have to learn to be ok with God leading and guiding every moment of our Faith journey because being aligned with the Lord is the best and the safest place to be. So embrace the new and start anew in the God thing journey that He has in store for you.

Until the next Faith Message…

To be a part of the movement, share your own faith story Here!

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Love Never Fails

Hi Faith Travelers!

Happy Faith Friday!

Have you ever thought about Love? I mean of course you’ve thought about love because it’s all around us and we experience it in one way or another, whether from a significant other, parent, child, relative or friend. But have you ever thought about the origin of Love, the depth of Love and the power of Love. Some of us don’t think that deep about it so let’s take some time to understand L-O-V-E.

Some of you may say what does love have to do with a faith blog; well I’m going to tell you. To understand faith is to understand God and to understand God is to understand and experience Love. Not just any love, but Agape Love which is the highest form of love, representing God’s selfless, sacrificial, unconditional and divine love for humanity.

We often associate Love with feelings, emotions, affection and commitment. While Love is, in fact, associated with those things, that is not the core of what Love is. In order for us to understand Love we have to first understand the creator and first demonstrator of Love, God Himself (1 John 4:8). God is Love.

Think about how it all started and the mere reason why we all are able to wake up every morning and pursue this thing called life. It’s right there in the staple scripture, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. That is Agape Love; an unconditional and sacrificial choice, not associated with emotion or merit. That is the loving God we serve. “We love Him because He first loved us”(1 John 4:19). He gave His Only Son, Jesus, for us. The same “us” who don’t always choose Him and are often mad at Him especially when things aren’t going our way in life because those are the moments we cry out ” Why God?!”, as if He is the one who comes to kill, steal and destroy and not satan (John 10:10). Even then He still loves us.

At the core of who God is, He is Love and what better way can His love for us be shown than through Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. Because of this we are here today and able to spread our own love to family, friends and the world. Though we don’t necessarily have the capacity to love the way God loves us, we show our love for Him through our faith in Him. We show our love by simply believing in Him and surrendering our lives to Him so that He can accomplish His purpose and plan through us; which is ultimately sharing Him with those don’t know about Him, the Gospel or His Agape Love yet.

The depth of God’s Love is deeper than anything we could ever imagine. It’s so deep that nothing can separate us from it. The scripture Romans 8:38-39 states,”…neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Whenever you have moments where you think God has left you or that you messed up with Him, this is the scripture you need to remember and meditate on.

I once heard the phrase “the power of love”, but I didn’t truly understand the truth behind this phrase until I started studying it in the Word of God. The Bible talks about how “perfect love casts out fear”(1 John 4:17-18). Love actually has the power to dismantle the very thing(fear) that satan attempts to use against us to attempt to counteract our faith. The Bible all says in 1 Peter 4:8 , “…love will cover a multitude of sins”and in Proverbs 10:12, “…But love covers all sins.” This means that just when you thought you messed up for good after sinning, God’s Love has already stepped in and covered it through Jesus Christ.

So how can we love better? The answer can be found in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [a]puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” I am going to share the Expanded Interpretive Translation of this same scripture with you and everywhere you see the word “Love” replace it with your name.

“Love(Your Name) patiently and passionately bears with others for as long as patience is needed; Love(Your Name) doesn’t demand others to be like themself; rather, it is so focused on the needs of others that they bends over backwards to become what others need them to be; Love(Your Name) is not ambitious, self-centered, or so consumed with themself that they never think of the needs or desires that others possess; Love(Your Name) doesn’t go around talking about themself all the time, constantly exaggerating and embellishing the facts to make them look more important in the sight of others; Love(Your Name) does not behave in a prideful, arrogant, haughty, superior, snooty, snobbish, or clannish manner; Love(Your Name) is not rude and discourteous — they are not careless or thoughtless, nor do they carry on in a fashion that would be considered insensitive to others; Love(Your Name) does not manipulate situations or scheme and devise methods that will twist situations to their own advantage; Love(Your Name) does not deliberately engage in actions or speak words that are so sharp, they cause an ugly or violent response; Love(Your Name) does not deliberately keep records of wrongs or past mistakes; Love(Your Name) does not feel overjoyed when they see an injustice done to someone else but is elated, thrilled, ecstatic, and overjoyed with the truth; Love(Your Name) protects, shields, guards, covers, conceals, and safeguards people from exposure; Love(Your Name) strains forward with all its might to believe the very best in every situation; Love(Your Name) always expects and anticipates the best in others and the best for others; Love(Your Name) never quits, never surrenders, and never gives up; Love(Your Name) never disappoints, never fails, and never lets anyone down.”

After reading that with our names in the place of the word Love, I am certain we all have some work to do when it comes to displaying love. It’s a great thing that we aren’t required to be ready made perfect before God but it’s an even greater thing that we have The Example of Love to not just model ourselves after but to trust that God’s Love will never fail when it comes to us.

I will leave you with 1 Corinthians 13:13 “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love”. God is Love, Love never fails so we can trust that God will never fail nor will He fail us.

Until the next Faith Message…

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God is STILL…

Hi Faith Travelers!

Happy New Year & Happy Faith Friday!

It’s the last Friday of the first month of a new year and honestly speaking, midway through January, I felt like I was in the same very hard 2025 season, even with “the new year” having already started. It felt as if I was stuck in a new year but with old perspective, old disappointments and old trials and tribulations still weighing me down.

Have you ever been in a difficult space, season or circumstance that you felt like God wasn’t present in? You endured trial after trial, heartache after heartache, and disappointment after disappointment and yet you wondered, “Where are you God?!”…

God is Still With You

In the midst of those seasons, it can sometimes be difficult to pull your own self out of that pit. You find it hard to recall God’s promises in His Word. Promises like “…He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you (See Deuteronomy 31:8) or the promise that “…the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (See Joshua 1:9). Even one of Jesus’ names, Immanuel, means “God with us”(See Matthew 1:23). It’s right there in black and white, yet you still “feel like” God is not there.

God is Still Bigger Than Your Feelings

Notice the number of times I used the word “feel” or “felt” in the beginning of this blog, even from my own perspective. Feelings may be a current fact in that moment of toughness but it’s not the truth…Your Faith Is. Feelings can be defined as “an emotional state or reaction or an irrational belief”. Feelings are temporary and fickle emotions driven by the circumstance, yet Faith is enduring and active trust in God even when the circumstances seem contrary.

God is Still Working

There’s a message that I heard recently when I was still stuck in my “feelings” and the pastor said, “I can Trust God even when I can’t trace Him”. Think about that for a minute. I can put my reliance, my confidence and my dependence on God, His character and His promises even when there doesn’t seem to be any evidence of Him in my circumstance, based on my mere carnal understanding.

God is Still Faithful

Let’s take a look at the Book of Daniel in the Bible (See Daniel 3). In chapter 3, King Nebuchadnezzar had made a decree that whenever symphonic music played, everyone had to bow and worship the golden image of him and if they did not, they would be thrown in the fiery furnace. Well Daniel’s friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were Jews in service to the king, who only believed in and worshipped the true and living God, so they refused to bow and worship any other gods. The King was angered and set to throw them in the fiery furnace. He asked them “who is the God who will deliver you from my hands”. They said to the King,” If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”(See Daniel 3:17-18) Notice the “But if not“; they had full awareness of the situation they were in with no line of sight of how things would end, yet they still put full confidence and trust in the God they served even though they couldn’t trace HIM in that very moment of being sent to their death.

The story continues with Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego being bound and thrown in the fiery furnace. When the King looked in the furnace he saw four men loose, walking around in the midst of the fire, not hurt and with the form of a fourth man looking like the Son of God.(See Daniel 3:23-25)

God is Still A Promise Keeper

In moments like those we sometimes expect God to save us before the trouble starts. We often come up with ways of how we think God will or should bring us out of a fire when sometimes His Way (See Isaiah 55:8-9) of doing things is bringing us through the fire not smelling like the smoke we’ve been in, so that He and He alone can get the glory.

God is Still A Deliverer

The three men walked out of the fiery furnace with no evidence having been in a fire. King Nebuchadnezzar praised the true and living God and made a decree for all the people to worship the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego because “there is no other God who can deliver like this”. (See Daniel 3:26-30)

God is Still God and God is Still Good

I’ll leave you with a permission to shift your perspective moment. The next time you find yourself in your own fiery furnace circumstance or situation. Shut down the Feeling surrounding the circumstance and activate the Faith that is needed for you to remember and trust that God is God and He is Good. He is everlasting, omnipresent, has infinite supply, and can do immeasurably more than we can ask, think or imagine (See Ephesians 3:20). Most importantly He loves you and His plans (See Jeremiah 29:11 NLT) for you are always good.

Until the next Faith Message…

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Don’t Give Up

Hey Faith Travelers!

Happy Faith Friday!

I pray this message finds you all well. As we prepare to close out the last month of 2025, I want to share one important sentiment I truly hope those of you who need it, will grasp…

DON’T GIVE UP!

This year has been quite the year for a lot of us. There has been SHIFTING and there has absolutely been some SIFTING!

Shifting where some of us have had to make some unprecedented and uncomfortable decisions in order to be divinely positioned for our NEXT; not fully understanding the scope of the how, when or the why.

Sifting, biblically defined as a violent shaking/intense testing of our faith by the devil; involuntarily pushing us through unbearable tests and trials, often leading us fighting for our faith, family, finances and even the function of our own bodies.

This season may have been physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually challenging to say the least, but DON’T GIVE UP! A lot of times when things seem like they are falling apart, they are actually falling into place. Don’t be distracted by what seems to be shaking your world. Put your faith and focus back on The ONE who created this world and who has already overcome it (See John 16:33).

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 NKJV

Trust that the same GOD who brought you out of the difficult situations the last time, will bring you out again and again and again; not looking or smelling like the fire you’ve been through.

It’s not easy walking through the hard and dark seasons but you have to Shift your perspective to recognize that God is still moving on your behalf even in the midst of the chaos.

This year my husband and I have personally experienced the loss of loved ones; yet in the timespan of 1 week, on a mission in South Africa, we also personally witnessed 61 people choose eternal life by receiving salvation through Jesus Christ.

We experienced affliction after affliction after affliction with bad doctors’ reports and sickness in our bodies; yet even in the midst of our suffering, we can reflect on the fact that we personally witnessed the supernatural healing miracles of God with our own eyes for 52 people on that same mission in South Africa.

We experienced the effects of the US government shutdown affecting my husband’s job with no pay for a month and a half. Yet the same God that knew this was coming before it happened prepared us months in advance with instructions for emergency financial preparation for our household.

There is so much more we personally went through this year but I was reminded by 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NKJV that “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed”. The NLT translation reminds us that we are never abandoned by God.

8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NLT

Just because it’s happening to you doesn’t mean that God won’t see you through it. How do you expect to see the sunshine and rainbow on the other side of the storm if you don’t go through the storm in the first place. DON’T GIVE UP in the middle! Keep going knowing that God is with you and your breakthrough is just on the other side. We have to remember that the weapon may form but it shall never prosper (See Isaiah 54:17).

I’ll leave you all with this…

In God’s construct of time, there’s always a due season which is an appointed time to reap the harvest on what you have sown. Meaning if you have sown faith, perseverance, love, obedience and anything that is an attribute of God, you can expect a good harvest in that due season/appointed time. If you have sown disobedience, discord, hate or attributes of satan, then expecting a good harvest may be out of reach unless you choose to repent and turn that behavior around. The bible says in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Another translation states, “let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we Don’t Give Up.” I challenge you to keep going in this season, even when it’s hard, when it feels dark and even when it hurts. Know that God is with you always (See Joshua 1:9) and in due season you will see the blessing if you DON’T GIVE UP.

Until the next Faith Movement Message…

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Abide: Staying Connected to GOD in Difficult Seasons

Hi Faith Travelers!

Happy Good Friday & Holy Week!

At this point, I think I can still say Happy New Year, given you haven’t heard from me since December 2024 :-)…

It has taken me quite some time to write this particular post since the beginning of January because, honestly speaking, I have not been exempt from trials in this season. In fact, many I know have also been going through their own set of trials, almost daily, since the start of the new year. But I will say this…God’s word never said we would have a life absent of trials, it did however say that He(God) would be with us through them (See Psalms 23:4).

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalms 23:4

Many think when they surrender their life to God and receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, that means life miraculously becomes problem free. (* Hits buzzer*… “Wrong!”) Well, your life does get better because you receive eternal life. However, satan, as the little “g” god of this world, will still attempt to attack (See John 10:10) believers to discourage, scare or slow them down from walking in the fullness of who God called them to be and what He has called them to do to advance the Kingdom of God. This is why it is said that this world we live in is a battlefield not a playground. We have to make a daily decision to stand for and on God’s word that gives us the instructions on how to fight back against the attacks of the enemy(satan).

Speaking of trials, let’s talk about 2025. I am sure this has been a peculiar year, so far, for most but God remains faithful through it all no matter what it looks like around us. As we stepped into this new season and era at the beginning of 2025, there is one word that the Lord God keeps reminding me that we all need to take heed to. That word is…ABIDE.

Abide means to remain, continue, obey or dwell. With that said, in 2025 and beyond, we need to remain in the Lord, keeping our connection to Him while continuing to trust and draw closer to the true and living God in every situation like never before. We need to walk in obedience, following the Lord’s instructions quickly and intentionally. And we need to dwell with the Lord just as His word says in Psalms 91:1.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalms 91:1

Why abide, you ask? Because apart from the Lord, we can do nothing. No matter how much you think you know, no matter the number of degrees you possess, how clever or talented you are or even how powerful you think you are on this earth. Apart from Jesus Christ, you can do nothing (See John 15:5). This is why it is important to stay connected and abide in the Lord. Parably speaking, if He is the vine and we are the branches and we are disconnected from Him, that means we are disconnected from the life source; the source of life filled with love, truth, purpose, faith, trust and abundance.

So how do we Abide?…

I am going to share 3 key ways to abide in the Lord…

  1. Learn God’s Ways & Character through Prayer and time in His Word
    • Know that God loves you ( 1 John 4:12-16) and is waiting to hear from you, no matter the circumstance or baggage you are coming with in the moment
      • He leaves the 99 to go after the 1 (If you are that one, He’s waiting for you with open arms- Matthew 18:10-14)
    • Set intentional Daily Prayer time
      • Prayer is just communication with God as if you are talking to a friend or a loving Father. (Matthew 6:5-15)
      • This can be as long as you want or as short as time allows; as many times a day as you like
        • Quote: “I don’t ever pray any longer than twenty minutes, but I never go twenty minutes without praying. ” -Smiths Wigglesworth
        • Your prayer life is not measured in minutes. Prayer is a lifestyle.
      • Understand and trust that the Lord hears your prayers wherever you are, even if you are in the car on the way to work (1 John 5:14-15)
    • Read & Study God’s Word
      • Pray for understanding and God given revelation before reading and studying the word of God so that your interpretation is true & sound
      • If you are new to studying the word of God, start with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)
  2. Grow your relationship with the Lord (See Previous Blog on Intimacy [Closeness] with God )
    • Spend time in God’s presence
      • Uninterrupted time with the Father (God)
      • This can include prayer, praise and worship or just quiet time listening to the Lord.
    • Have 2-way communication with the Lord
      • Listen twice as long as you pray
      • Write down what you believe the Lord is saying so you can refer back to it to strengthen your trust in hearing God clearly
    • Learn how God speaks to you
      • Through His Word, through dreams, visions, inward knowing, a feeling(“Something told me…”)
      • God is always speaking we just have to listen (John 14:26)
  3. Surrender to living your life for the Lord

When we abide in the Lord, He abides in us; leading, guiding, protecting, and ordering our steps to and through the purpose and plan He has for our lives. When we submit to abiding in the Lord, it doesn’t matter what is going on in the world or how bad things get because we have the God who created the universe on our side. Rest in knowing that.

Until the next faith lesson…

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Surely, I Thought…: Resisting Prideful Expectation from GOD

HI Faith Travelers!

It’s the last Faith Friday of the year and I pray you all are having a great wrap up to 2024 and are in expectation of the fullness of all that God has for you in 2025.

Today we are going to talk about resisting pride when it comes to your expectations from GOD. See, there is a difference between having faith and being in pride when it comes to what you are expecting from the Lord. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen (See Hebrews 11:1). Faith also means to have strong belief or complete trust or confidence in GOD. Pride, on the other hand, can be defined as the quality of having an excessively high opinion of oneself or one’s importance; presumption; arrogance; conceitedness; egotism; self-regard; self-glorification or haughtiness.

There are several scriptures in the Bible that talk about the negative connotation and impact of pride:

“Pride goes before destruction…” (See Proverbs 16:18);

“When pride comes, then comes shame…” (See Proverbs 11:2)

“By pride comes nothing but strife…”(See Proverbs 13:10)

“A man’s pride will bring him low…” (See Proverbs 29:23)

“Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord…” (See Proverbs 16:5)

The Bible also states, that “God resists [to oppose, strive against or withstand] the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (See James 4:6)

The world will make every attempt to convince you that having pride is a good thing but GOD’s word shows us in black and white just how destructive “Pride” can be.

Let’s take a look at the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5:1-19 to show you how pride can potentially hinder GOD’s blessing. Naaman was a mighty Syrian army commander who’d brought the king of Syria much victory yet he was suffering from leprosy. His wife’s maid servant told her that one of GOD’s prophets in Samaria could heal Naaman. Naaman told this to the king of Syria and the king wrote a letter to the king of Israel to introduce Naaman and his purposes of coming to their land to be healed. GOD’s prophet, Elisha, heard about the king of Israel’s response and told him to send Naaman to him so that he would know there is a true prophet of GOD in Israel. Naaman headed to Elisha’s house with his horses and chariot and stood at Elisha’s door. Elisha sent a messenger to tell Naaman to “go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan river. Then your skin will be restored and you will be healed of your leprosy.” But Naaman, in pride, became furious and went away stating that surely he thought the prophet would come out to meet him, wave his hands and heal the leprosy. He described other rivers in Israel being better than the Jordan river and didn’t understand why he shouldn’t wash in those rivers instead. Naaman turned away in rage and pride and would have missed his blessing if it had not been for his servants reasoning with him about the instructions from Elisha. His servants stated, “if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, “Wash and be clean[cured]!” So Naaman went to the Jordan River, dipped seven times and just like the prophet of GOD said, He was completely cured from leprosy. Naaman went back to the prophet of GOD and proclaimed that now he knows there is no god except The true and living GOD (then called the God of Israel).

How many times have you missed out or nearly missed out on GOD’s blessings because the way GOD wanted to do things didn’t meet your prideful expectation? You may have been looking for the extravagant gesture or the instant result and the Lord is telling you it’s in the process and MY still small voice. (See Reference I Kings 19:11-12)

I can recall many occasions where I wanted the Lord to do something a specific way but GOD showed me that His ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts (See Isaiah 55:8-9). There was a specific instance where I wanted GOD to heal me miraculously like He’d done so many times before. I soon found out that had I not gone the medical surgery route like GOD was leading me to, I would’ve not only missed my healing but I would have missed the opportunity to minister to so many women who were connected to my obedience to share my story. Don’t worry, I plan to share that story soon in the coming year.

There was another instance years ago, where I was expecting GOD to pay off my student loans miraculously, much like I had seen happen in the past with people I know. Well that’s not how GOD wanted to do it with me and I found that out very quickly after receiving a late fee from not making a payment that GOD didn’t tell me not to make. We all make zealous mistakes sometimes but this is why it’s important to obey GOD’s instructions and not your prideful expectations. That minor disappointment was my own fault and had nothing to do with God because He didn’t instruct me to do that. Through all of this, GOD was trying to show me how to steward my finances well and proper money management so that I would know for future purposes. Well those private student loans were paid in full in 2018 and I have been able to remain debt free from student loans even after getting a masters degree and bible college diploma because I stuck with the process of the bigger lesson that GOD wanted me to learn through all of this.

Let’s finish up the story of Naaman, Elisha and Elisha’s servant in II Kings 5:20-27, to understand what can happen when you actually give in to prideful expectations.

After Naaman spoke to Elisha sharing that he now knows the only god is the GOD of Israel, Naaman offered Elisha a gift from his servant. This gift included silver, gold and clothing. Elisha responded, “as surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept any gifts.” Even though Naaman urged him to take the gift, Elisha refused. But Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, said to himself that his master, Elisha, should not have let Naaman leave without accepting any of his gifts. In pride, Gehazi stated, “as surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after Naaman and get something from him.” Gehazi caught up with Naaman, lied about Elisha sending him to get 2 sets of clothing and 75 pounds of silver for two visiting prophets and was offered twice as much silver from Naaman along with 2 sets of clothing. When Gehazi got back to the house, he hid the gifts. Elisha asked Gehazi where he had been and he lied again, stating he hadn’t been anywhere. Elisha asked Gehazi if he realized that his spirit was there when he met with Naaman, basically letting Gehazi know that the spiritual gift that GOD had given Elisha allowed him to spiritually see everything that happened while he wasn’t physically there. Elisha asked “Is this a time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants?” Elisha proceeded to tell Gehazi, because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman’s leprosy forever. When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy; his skin was white as snow.

Remember those scriptures on pride. This was a clear example of how Gehazi’s prideful expectation and greed that he should get gifts from Naaman, put him right on the path to destruction. While my student loan late fee is nothing compared to Gehazi and his descendants being stricken with leprosy forever, I could have dealt with a lot worse and still been in debt had I not humbled myself and listen to the instructions GOD was actually giving me on money management versus my prideful expectation of Him just making everything go away in the blink of an eye. Don’t get me wrong, our GOD is the GOD who can do any and all things but if HE did it instantly or the same way every time then what lesson are you really learning. Are you only seeking HIS hand and what HE can do for you? Or are you seeking HIS Face and learning HIS ways intimately so that He can lead and guide you to and through the purpose HE has for your life. So resist prideful expectation from God and humble yourselves according to the Lord, knowing that He may exalt you at the appropriate time (See I Peter 5:6 AMP). The choice is yours.

Until the next faith lesson…

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God’s Promise to You

Hey Faith Travelers!

Happy Faith Friday!

I know it’s been a while but I hope you all have been remaining Faith filled. God has had me focusing on a few different things in the past several months, but I promise you will still see these blog posts as the Holy Spirit leads me to write.

I have noticed that the enemy’s (Satan) tactics in this season include planting seeds of “Doubt” in an attempt to make you forget the promises that God has already made to you in His Word. Promises regarding your health & healing; Promises regarding your peace; Promises regarding your protection; Promises regarding provision, purpose, clarity and so much more.

Recently, I found myself in the midst of a struggle with doubting that God would come through for me regarding a matter. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you have seen how God has moved in my life and the lives of others in mighty and miraculous ways.  So why was I doubting?! One reason is because I’m human and we have to choose and fight daily to keep our minds stayed on Jesus (Isaiah 26:3), while remembering the benefits (Psalms 103: 2-3) of our salvation through Jesus Christ. If or when doubt tries to creep in, there’s no time for self condemnation (Romans 8:1); so if this happens, just refocus and remind yourself of what God says about you and your situation.

In the midst of my struggle with doubt, God whispered the scripture 2Corinthians 1:20 to me. “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” Immediately, my thoughts were flooded with the promises of God from His Word.

” For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”

2 Corinthians 1:20 NKJV

Let’s break down what this means…

The word “Yes” is a confirmation or an affirmative response.

The word “Amen” means “so be it”, meaning “certainly” or “it is so”.

Therefore when you think of any promise written in God’s word it is already Confirmed, Yes, through Jesus Christ and we therefore say “Amen” to God, as a reference that “it is so” and “certain”, for His glory.

For those of you in the midst of a storm that has you doubting God’s ability to do the impossible, here’s a reminder of His promises that are Yes and Amen.

YES, No weapon formed against you shall prosper, AMEN.

Isaiah 54:17

YES, All things work together for The good of those who love the Lord and are called to His purpose, AMEN.

Romans 8:28

YES, weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning, AMEN.

Psalm 30:5

YES, By Jesus stripes we are healed, AMEN.

Isaiah 53:5

YES, God is able to do exceedingly,abundantly above all we can ask or imagine, AMEN.

Ephesians 3:20

YES, you shall not die, but live to declare the works of the Lord, AMEN.

Psalms 118:17

YES, A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand but it shall NOT come near you, AMEN.

Psalms 91:7

YES, No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling, AMEN.

Psalms 91:10

YES, God has given you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over ALL the power of the enemy (satan) and nothing shall by any means hurt you, AMEN. 

Luke 10:19

YES, for God knows the thoughts that He thinks towards us, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope, AMEN.

Jeremiah 29:11

YES, for with God nothing will be impossible, AMEN.

Luke 1:37

Meditate on these promises, remind yourself who you are in Christ Jesus and never forget God’s promises are true.

Until the next faith message…

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Hope Fulfilled

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.”

Proverbs 13:12 NKJV

Have you ever been in the midst of a circumstance or situation that you desired to change. Your health, a family relationship restored, your living situation or even your finances. I believe everyone has at some point in their lives, in some way shape or form. That’s what “Hope” is… a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. But what happens when those breakthroughs don’t happen when you expect them to. That’s when disappointment attempts to set in, especially after countless attempts to see change in the situation come to pass. It’s only when the breakthrough reveals itself that Hope is fulfilled. The message bible translation of Proverbs 13:12 says it best; “unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around.”

Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around.

Proverbs 13:12 MSG

That sudden good break is when after several attempts to see change, you finally receive a good doctor’s report or that prodigal relative returns to restore the family bond. It’s when you finally find the long awaited permanent home you’ve been seeking or your financial situation is no longer a disparity. That’s Hope Fulfilled.

This past weekend my husband and I had the opportunity to serve at an event at our church called iHope, where they provide Christmas gifts to families in need. The families were able to sign up or be nominated to participate. They would then come to the church the day of the event, receive a shopping cart, partner with a family host and have the opportunity to choose several gifts for each of their children to be gift wrapped and sent home with them providing a hopeful experience on Christmas day. All at no cost to the families. The event served over 200 families providing gifts for over 630 children. That’s not all! In the midst of the church being the hands and feet of Jesus through this event, each attendee received prayer, resulting in 14 people giving their life to Christ with 24 people receiving healing. More than 500 volunteers showed up to give hope to those who needed it during this Christmas holiday. That’s Hope Fulfilled.

During the highlight video, one of the individuals nominated for iHope shared their testimony. She mentioned that in 2016, her and her son lived in a homeless community. During that time, she acknowledged, she didn’t grow up in church nor did she go to church but since a bus would come by the community to pick everyone up, they would jump on it and go. At church is where she got saved, receiving Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Fast forward to 2023, she stated that her kids are saved, they are baptized and they all haven’t been homeless since. She actually had the opportunity to volunteer and serve at the very homeless community they used to live in during Serve Day 2023. She stated, “It was just a full circle moment for me”. Now that is Hope Fulfilled!

For everyone out there, remember Jesus Christ is our blessed hope and because of His sacrifice for us (John 3:16), we can always live in expectation of having Hope Fulfilled.

Until the next faith testimony…

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