“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” ~Jeremiah 33:3

I’m not certain whether this has been your experience or not, but it certainly has been mine – to receive answers to my prayers in ways I did not expect.  One of my heartfelt prayers is that God would change me for His glory, that I may be able to live the abundant life that He has offered me and in that share the hope and victory with others that if I can change and overcome through Christ than they can too.

I am no stranger to being a victim of defeat.  Growing up I lacked in confidence, esteem, and worth.  I grew up believing and feeling inadequate, incapable, unlovable, and of very little if any value to anyone.  I suffered from undiagnosed depression and anxiety for many years.  I was deeply hurt over life’s circumstances and felt completely abandoned, rejected, and alone.  Things got so extreme that during my first psychotic break I almost took my life.  If it wasn’t for God and His blessing of my mom, I wouldn’t be alive today to be able to share this with you.  After the first of a few psychotic breaks which were followed by the worst depression I had ever experienced, after spending months in the hospital at a time, and after being diagnosed with a severe mental illness, I slowly started to hope again.  I believe that God carried me through to a point of wellness where he could set me on my feet and I could finally begin to walk.  It was by the power of His mighty love that I was brought back to life.  During this time of strengthening I believe that God was preparing  me to become the person that He created me to be and He knew that that would mean that I would have to change on every level but primarily my heart and my mind.

Romans 12:2 says: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Right now I am going through some serious growing pains – change is not easy!  Science even shows that biologically our bodies react to change by resisting it (I will link a video to support this point).  God has offered me a way to achieve my dreams and make them a reality but the process has been challenging and has required me to stretch, grow, and change.  This has caused me to feel pressured and stressed because I’m confronting the giants in my mind – the lies that kept me down and defeated most of my past.  I was listening to an awesome speaker today named Orrin Woodward discussing that when coal is placed under pressure it becomes diamonds.  When I heard that I immediately let out a sigh of relieve and frustration at the same time and thought, “I want to come out of this pressure that I’m feeling shining like a diamond!”  I am on the journey and in the process of becoming who God created me to be – a woman with hope from, of faith to, and completely in love with Him -a woman who doesn’t give up on her God-given dreams.

If you have ever given up on your dreams or you are in the process and  feel like giving  up, I encourage you to be courageous and face the giants that try to defeat you.  God will fight for you if you place your trust in Him.

Dear God, I pray for myself and all those who are struggling with growing pains as you take us through the process  of change that you would please give us courage and help us to trust in Your strength and victory.  For those who have given up I pray that you would resurrect their dreams and the hope in You and belief they need to pursue them.  As we call upon you Lord please show us great and mighty things which we do not know.  Thank you Lord.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen ❤