Overcoming

When I woke up yesterday morning, the poison (allergens) from my allergy scratch test must have invaded my body. I felt really icky, and my poor forearm where the scratch tests were done was swollen with a red circle about 6 x 3 inches. As the day progressed, the swelling went down, but I didn't feel well all day. I was worried and a little wretched.

So I read a lot of the Bible and wrote the last chapter of my sequel to Bark of the Covenant. The rough draft is done! Now, to the (dreaded) first edit. I really liked my last chapter. It made me cry. I like it when my books move me to tears, as long as they aren't tears of despair. These were happy tears, tears that my characters had overcome adversity and prevailed. I love fiction. It is so much fun being able to make everything turn out exactly as you want it to. We all know that isn't true in real life.

Yet even in novels, we all want the characters to go through some sort of struggle and ultimately reach some sort of victory. Without the struggle, the book is dull, and the victory hollow. In fact, the more challenging the struggle, and the more impossible the likelihood of a positive outcome, the more satisfied we feel if the main character prevails in the end. And better yet, we like it all to look hopeless till the last page, when our hero is rescued in the nick of time. We all understand at some level that the greater the trial, the greater the importance of the lesson and the life changing character of the protagonist.

But how we rail against God when He works that way!

I wrote my last page and cried. A good sign. A sign that the struggles moved me.  While I grieved for the troubles my characters had endured, when they made it through stronger and more faithful than ever, I rejoiced. And was relieved. Even though all along, I knew they would overcome.

This morning, the swelling was gone and I felt 100% better. It had not been fun throughout the whole allergy test procedure and aftermath, but good information was gleaned and I spent a day reading God's book and finishing my own book because I didn't feel like moving. The adversity resulted in gain!
***********

John 16:33 

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

1 John 5:4 

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

1 John 5:5

Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 5:4-5 

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 3:9 

No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

1 John 4:4 

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.