Hope in the Unexpected Archives

Hope for Tomorrow | She Chose Hope Guest Post

I’m honored to have my article “Hope for Tomorrow” published as a She Chose Hope story.

Moments that mark our lives—the ones we never anticipate being writing into our stories—can be hard to remember. With time and distance it’s these moments I’ve found to be worth remembering because they are the ones that tell the story of God’s faithfulness.

While time may paint an ever-evolving story, the same truth will always shine through: God has been faithful. There is healing and hope in uncovering that to be true when we are walking an unknown path.

Enjoy a preview in this post!

Finding God's Provision, Hope in the Unexpected, Publications, Trusting in God

by MaryBeth Eiler

Coping with the Weight of Words and Invisible Illness (And What Actually Helps)

Words hold weight. If you live with a chronic illness or rare disease, you may have felt the lasting sting certain words can leave while also experiencing the undeniable hope offered through words when you’ve needed them most. Words can both hurt and heal while navigating an invisible illness.

What words help (and which ones don’t) for those with invisible illness? Read the post.

Finding God's Provision, Hope in the Unexpected, Recommended Resources

by MaryBeth Eiler

Living Life with a Rare Disease | A Look Back on the Last Year

A lot can happen in a year, and seemingly nothing at all.

It has been nearly one year since my MRI revealed tumor growth post-chemotherapy treatment.

While I’ve been open about my journey throughout the years, I haven’t shared much publicly since that day. No concrete path upon which to tread has left me needing some space to process each component of this ever-evolving story.

Today, I’m offering a glimpse behind the scenes into what life with a Desmoid tumor has held this year.

Finding God's Provision, Hope in the Unexpected, Intentional + Simplified Living, The Practice of Reflection, Trusting in God

by MaryBeth Eiler

The Courage of New Beginnings

Courage isn’t something we keep stored away in a warehouse. We can’t stockpile it. It’s something we seek when faced with danger, fear, or challenge.

What springs to mind when you think of courage? Do you think of times when you’ve had courage or times when you’ve lacked it? Do you look to others for it? Is courage something you’ve desired, but often feels out of reach?

All of our new beginnings require courage.

What beginning are you facing? The beginning of a new form of treatment? The beginning of the end of a relationship? The beginning of grief?

Pause to reflect on the courage you will need as you enter a new beginning.

Hope in the Unexpected, Trusting in God

by Guest Blogger

The Power of Naming Our Fears

We can’t deal with what we won’t acknowledge.

We aren’t meant to stuff our fears. We aren’t meant to pretend they don’t exist. We can welcome our fears as a way to uncover a deeper truth about ourselves. Fear doesn’t have to be the enemy. Naming our fear can help lead us out of the valleys we encounter and into the light.

Encountering Grace, Hope in the Unexpected, Intentional + Simplified Living

by MaryBeth Eiler

When Trusting Your Next Step Doesn’t Come Easily

Throughout the years, I’ve had to make some hard medical decisions—very few of which have left me feeling confident about the path ahead.

+ Am I making the right decision?
+ Is this what is best for my future?
+ What if things don’t turn out as planned?

Easy answers to these questions aren’t common, but time has taught me that while I might not always make the right decision, I can trust God will always walk with me through the next step.

Finding God's Provision, Hope in the Unexpected, The Practice of Reflection, Trusting in God

by MaryBeth Eiler