Have you ever met someone and you instantly knew they were in your corner? That usually means that person knows what it is to walk through fire, so they grab your hand just in case you need someone to cheer you on. That’s what I felt when I first met my friend, Kelly Balarie. She’s a woman who is in your corner. I’m so honored to have her as a guest on my blog today. ~ Suzie

 

Have you ever thought life was going to be easy?

There’s this expectation after enduring hardships that we’re about to arrive at a better place.

After all I’ve been through, I’ve made it. Now life will get easy. Let the blessings flow!

We envision a well-earned personal promised land where milk and honey flow like chocolate fountains. Dreams come alive. Problems fade away. Rest emerges. We think of this place so fondly we can almost taste and smell the goodness. After the battle, it’s become a far-off place we mentally rely on.

Until the next Mack truck of issues hits.

Bam! What happened here, God? Where did my peace go?

I’ve found myself in this cycle more than a couple dozen times. I’ve made it through a battle like depression, financial debt, or discouragement, only to get hit by another problem such as family issues, a health crisis or a basement flood.

That makes me feel like a magnet for trouble.

Don’t I deserve a break?

Don’t you have better for me, God?

Didn’t Jesus promise it would get easier?

Jesus said, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). But he also said, “When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy” (James 1:2).

Our trials do not shut out joy, but make room for it to walk in. As odd as this sounds, I realize great joy isn’t over the hill. It is right here in the heat of the battle. God is with us. Seriously. And if God is with us, not only is joy with us, but His goodness is also.

[bctt tweet=”Powerful women understand; it’s not their circumstances that make them, but Jesus. https://wp.me/p4jbdw-4FC #BattleReady #giveaway ” username=”suzanneeller”]

Despite the enemy’s lies to convince us otherwise, God’s goodness is not out of reach. We are not far from God, lost to His peace, or distant from life. We don’t need to bite a red apple of escape or denial. God, who is the fullness of life, has not abandoned us. We have the best of the best – Jesus – even in the worst of times.

Daughter, trust me. Even in this battle, there is joy and peace for you. 

 

Knowing this gives us power in the battle.

Because powerful women understand: it is not a circumstance that makes them, but Jesus.

We are not tied to our battles like chained victims, but released in Christ’s powerful love. We are filled with a ministry outlook. Love comes in, then goes out, no matter the cost. We get back up again. We decide God’s best thing is here, not on the other side of some seemingly unscalable mountain. We find the gold under the piles of stink, problems, and pain.

Jesus’ promised peace is not just for tomorrow or some far-off day. It is here, available and ready for us today.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27 NIV).

Kelly Balarie

 

Q: How is it possible to find joy in the heat of a battle? What is your story?

Kelly is giving away one copy of her book, Battle Ready, to one of you who shares her story or thoughts on this post.

Meet Kelly Balarie

Kelly Balarie, an  author and national speaker, is on a mission to encourage others not to give up. Through times of extreme testing, Kelly believes there is hope for every woman, every battle and in every circumstance. She shares this hope on her blog, Purposeful Faith, and on many writing publications such as  Relevant, Crosswalk, and Today’s Christian Woman. Kelly’s work has been featured on The Today Show, 700 Club Interactive, Moody Radio and other television and radio broadcasts. When Kelly is not writing, she is chilling at the beach with her husband, a  latte, and two toddlers who rightfully demand she build them awesome sand castles.

Related Resource

Battle Ready: Train Your Mind to Conquer Challenges, Defeat Doubt, and Live Victoriously

“The best time to be strengthened against the Enemy’s tactics of doubt, disappointment, and devastation is before he makes his first move toward us. We all desperately need the biblical guidance and preparation found in Battle Ready!” ~ Lysa TerKeurst, New York Times bestselling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries