Hope in the Unexpected Archives | Page 2 of 4

When It Comes to Healing, Your Pace is Your Pace

I caught myself reliving my past. Trying to rush back to “normal.”

Just as I had suppressed the magnitude of my initial tumor diagnosis four years prior in favor of continuing on with life as usual, I noticed myself trapped by similar coping mechanisms when chemo treatments came to a happy, abrupt end.

It was time to “move on” and “get back to life” as I once knew it. At least, that is what the world seemed to have to say about it. But life as I knew it had forever changed. Slowly, I recognized that while my body had healed, there were other parts of my story where healing had just begun. Over the last year, as I’ve walked toward healing, I’ve discovered that when it comes to healing, your pace is your pace.

Encountering Grace, Hope in the Unexpected, Intentional + Simplified Living, The Practice of Reflection

by MaryBeth Eiler

Encountering Full Life Through Joy and Sorrow; Beauty and Pain

Today, I celebrate the start of a new decade. I turned thirty at 12:04 am.

A few months ago, I couldn’t wait to turn thirty. I was ready to leave my twenties behind and all the craziness I never expected to live. I managed to do a thing I often do and convinced myself my thirties offered a fresh, clean slate—a second chance for life to prove this decade could be different.

But as I write this, I’ve recognized the error of my ways.

Not very much of my twenties went according to my plans, but I’m continually learning that the path I never would have chosen can still lead to a full life.

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

by MaryBeth Eiler

Remaining Faithful Through Our What Ifs

What if one of my loved ones contracts COVID?
What if I lose my job?
What if life never returns to normal?

Life seems to present us with an extra dose of “what-ifs” whenever it takes a turn for the unexpected.

Have you felt the weight of “what-ifs” lately? With God, we can replace the what-ifs with even ifs.

Encountering Grace, Finding God's Provision, Hope in the Unexpected, Intentional + Simplified Living

by MaryBeth Eiler

Experiencing Wholeness by Trusting God in Our Pain

Am I being punished? Is God trying to teach me a lesson? Is my faith being tested?

For a long time, I believed my pain was meant to serve a higher purpose; that God had a reason for it.

Has your mind wandered to this place? As if by instinct, when unexpected circumstances cause pain and suffering to arise, our human nature leads us to grasp for purpose.

Instead of purpose, I’ve learned to seek wholeness.

Encountering Grace, Finding God's Provision, Hope in the Unexpected, Trusting in God

by MaryBeth Eiler

The Ending You Expect Isn’t Coming—and That’s Okay

Shifting back to life as normal may be harder than we expect—at least it was for me as I embraced life after chemo.

I foresee a similar future when Coronavirus is finally halted. A period of time where we can take a collective deep breath.

We can push past all that has been or we can use it to light our path forward into the unknown future.

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

by MaryBeth Eiler

Live Fully in the Present

Pain and hardship fail to warn us about their upcoming appearance in our lives leaving us unable to prepare for what’s to come. Life flips and suddenly we are contending with a much different future from the one we designed.

The speed at which life can change sharpens the value of the present moment. But how do we live fully in the present?

Hope in the Unexpected, Intentional + Simplified Living

by MaryBeth Eiler