Today while reading the news highlights on the ever so truthful internet, I caught an article on ESPN about a UFC fighter named Ronda Rousey.  What caught my attention about this article was that she had contemplated suicide after her loss in her last match.  Here was a champion that was defeated and her title removed and for her this was the end.  The defeat she felt hit harder mentally than it had physically.  I’ve been there and know exactly how she felt.  Of course, I’m no UFC fighter but sometimes life bangs me up pretty bad and I have found myself just like her.  Utterly lost in my defeat.  I sank so low that I felt like there just was nothing more left in life.  I didn’t have an ounce of hope.  I found myself on the floor crying and asking God to forgive me, but that I just couldn’t do this anymore.  I had allowed the mental defeat break me down so bad that I literally broke into pieces.  But in the midst of all that, as I cried out to God to forgive me, His light shined through all my cracks from my brokenness.  He lifted me up and filled my heart and mind with peace.  I felt his presence and it was almost a if I could hear Him say, “Ileen it’s going to be okay.  Everything will be fine.”  That night God took me from the hand and stood me up and gave me the courage and strength to move forward.  When I felt all else had failed me, HE never left me.  Ronda Rousey had been undefeated, a champion for so long that when she lost that match, she allowed herself to be completely broken.  She found her strength and realized she was not a quitter and she lifted herself up and now talks about getting back in the octagon.  For those of you that aren’t familiar with UFC, (obviously I have all boys), an octagon is the ring in which the UFC fights takes place.  And I’m not saying it’s an okay thing either.  But life can be difficult and circumstances will occur that will render you defeated, but always remember that tomorrow, the sun will rise again.  We won’t always be champions, winning every match.  But we will stand strong and courageous to face the next battle, refusing to give up.  Seek God for strength and courage and let God fight your battles with you.  Let Him create in you the champion I know you are.  Don’t give up on what God can do for you.  He has never once given up on you.

XOXO…Ileen

Psst…God Loves You

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”  Roman 8:37

“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.”