Victory in Jesus
Victory in Jesus
The definition of victory on Google is to overcome an enemy or to achieve success in a struggle.
As I look back on my 25 years of life, there is a consistent pattern.
When I was living in the world, with the world, doing the things of the world, there was no peace. There was no joy; sure, in the moment I’d have “fun,” but what came next felt like crippling pain with no end.
There is no hope when there is sin.
I always remember my mom telling me, “If you are put in a situation that you know is not right, the Lord will always give you a way out.”
What is crazy is when I was put in said situation, THERE WAS ALWAYS A WAY OUT. It never failed. It was like the Holy Spirit swooped in, knocked at the door, and said, “Here’s the door, Hannah, let’s go.”
So, letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
—Romans 8:6
Would I always listen? No. But that is the beauty of our God. He gives us a choice to follow Him. Even in our sin, He loves us, but He wants our hearts. He wants our desires, our everything, but we have to surrender everything, which, at the time, so selfishly I didn’t want to do.
So, when I would shut that door and live in my sinful ways, I would shatter. I would feel guilt; I would physically be ill, lost, confused, and depressed. And I knew better.
But as I listened to the Lord and walked away from those worldly things, asked for forgiveness, that weight, that pain, left my body, and I began to feel free as I walked away, and Jesus just opened His arms to His so undeserving daughter.
Because of Jesus.
As I continued to grow my own faith as a young adult, I found a home church for myself, separated myself from these bad habits, and fell in love with Jesus.
At this point in life (18 years old), I wanted to be married so badly. Like, so badly.
I prayed day and night for a man of God to walk into my life. I had a list of things that this man needed to check off. My standards were extremely high, but God knew exactly who it was. By 19, I was married to the love of my life.
Because of Jesus.
Fast forward
At 21, I had our first daughter, Blake, when I was only 24 weeks pregnant.
As my daughter passed away in my arms a day after I gave birth, to say I lost it was an understatement. I lost it for months. I wondered why God would allow this to happen, and I was angry with my body, with my life.
But in the time of grief, the Lord knocked on my door, giving me another way to live. He said, “Give this grief to me.”
Again, I had a choice to choose Him, His peace, His love, or the choice to let the death of my child destroy me from the inside out.
Sure, grief for anyone takes time to process; it is sometimes crippling, even with a relationship with the Lord. But once I chose to let Jesus have it all, peace began.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank God for all He has done. Then you will experience peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
—Philippians 4:6-7
Because of Jesus.
As you can imagine, or some might have experienced this after such a loss… we longed for a child again to be in our arms. It took 2 years of trying before conceiving our second daughter, Collins (which means victory). That wait was the hardest. My marriage struggled, my relationships struggled, work was harder, as we waited for a miracle. But in that waiting, He was still there; He was with us.
“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.”
—Psalms 23:4 NLT
And He knew the desires of our hearts.
“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.”
—Psalms 37:4 NLT
And He did. In HIS PERFECT TIMING.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
—Jeremiah 29:11-12
He gave us another beautiful baby girl.
Because of Jesus.
I tell my story not because I did anything, but because Jesus did it all.
It started with Him dying on the cross for everything that my story is, and yours.
Everything you think is the worst thing you could have ever done, the unforgivable—He died for that. Every pain, broken heart, burden that you think you need to carry because “it’s just too much for anyone else to handle.” I am here telling you it’s already taken care of on the cross.
We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.
—Romans 6:6
He took everything we carry with Him on that cross and rose again 3 days later so that we could have eternal life with Him.
I can’t even imagine the pain Jesus went through, but it’s so important to acknowledge and thank Him for dying for us. Because without Jesus, there would be no victory in my story; there would be no victory period.
But the thing is, my friends, you have to accept Jesus into your heart and repent. You have to choose Him. You have to die to your flesh every. single. day. It’s not easy, but it’s the greatest decision you could ever make for yourself.
“But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
—1 John 1:9
My story ultimately has nothing to do with me, but everything that the Lord has done through me. Because whether in sin, the waiting, or the grieving, I would have absolutely nothing.
If I wouldn’t have listened to that knock on the door (the Holy Spirit), my mom always reminded me about, I honestly don't know how I could have survived.
So here is my definition of victory: His name is Jesus.
“The Lord is my strength and my song; He has given me victory.”
—Psalms 118:14
And I encourage you to walk in faith, and when you hear Him knocking, let Him in, and get to know Him through His word.
He loves you, right now and forever.
And He’s ready for you to open that door and surrender.
There is only victory in Jesus.
Hannah Grandle
