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Choose Hope

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February 22-26 is Eating Disorder Awareness Week and if you would like to read all about my recovery and my journey feel free to check out Hitting the year mark, or if you are looking to find out what eating disorders are all about and how to help loved ones click on Mental Illnesses. Also don't hesitate to email me any questions you may have :)

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I was on the phone with a good friend of mine a couple days ago and we were talking about life, how we were doing, and if anything new and exciting has happened recently. As the conversation continued we discussed God and the goodness of His hand in our every day life, though we are of different faiths, we have always been able to emphasize and rejoice in the similarities of our beliefs rather than tear each other down because of the differences.

"Life is so good, Nicole. God's grace is just incredible." 

. . . . 

I do admit, life is good. God is so great! He has blessed my life with a wonderful family, incredible friends, and such a sweet and amazing boyfriend--sometime soon I'll let you in on our story because honestly, it's wee bit little strange but I love it and I love him even more.

Any who... I've been thinking a lot and well I have a confession to make. I am weak. I'm not always as strong as I could or should be at certain times. There are days when I feel so far from God's love and presence that I question where He has gone and why on Earth He has left me. Yet there are also days where I feel on top of the world and I can feel His presence just shinning through.

Recently I realized that when hard things hit and when you feel as though life isn't getting better and you are at a constant state of chaos and turmoil, it really all just comes down to how you choose to perceive the situation. Yes, I am weak. Yes, I will make mistakes. And yes, there will be times when I feel as though life is taking a toll on me but despite all of this, I have faith and hope. I am well too aware that life hardly ever goes the way we want it to and that's okay.

"This too shall pass" 

 Everything in life, the good and the bad, is all going to pass by. So stop waiting until the storm has passed to finally be happy. Be happy in the chaos and the slip ups. Be happy because even though God may feel far away, He has promised us that He will never forsake us and quite frankly, I can't think of a more amazing promise than that.

So even though at times I do fall short, my mind rests in peace knowing that this is all part of the journey. His grace allows me to be better and to move forward from each downfall or heartbreak. My only hope is that you can too have this knowledge and confidence that God is always by your side. That He loves you and that He will never leave you.

Smile always, n.h.


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