Nicole O'Meara | Blog — Nicole O'Meara

I Just Need Possible

“I don’t need easy, I just need possible,” she said. For Bethany Hamilton, world-class surfer and shark-attack survivor, those hope-filled words are empowering. They echo the words of Jesus: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). We have a tendency to forget to factor in God’s grace and power when we think of doing hard things or seemingly impossible things. But Scripture is full of people like Bethany, doing the impossible because our all-powerful God extended His power to them.

BlogNicole O'MearaJune 21, 2022Devotional, Joyful Life Magazine, Bethany HamiltonComment

The Lord is My Portion: A Reflection on Lamentations 3

A reflection on choosing hope when endurance has run out.

Reading the book of Lamentations is like reading a nightmare. No wonder the author is lamenting. His situation is utterly hopeless. "My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the LORD." Yet, he also says, "Therefore I will hope in him." How can the author say that after claiming he had no hope?

BlogNicole O'MearaMay 31, 2022hope, lament, portionComment

Blessings in the Ashes of Our Mars Hill Experience

It took 17 episodes for CT to recount the losses at Mars Hill. Yet Chad’s story is different. His story recounted losses and blessings.

Chad’s story caused me to stop and consider a list of blessings, silver linings, from my chronic illness. The silver lining of chronic illness is learning there is a purpose we cannot see in the pain we cannot escape.

BlogNicole O'MearaMay 26, 2022chronic disease, podcast Comment

What’s so Mysterious About Irrational Love?

When we invest our hope in God, we get his unfailing love in return. Of course, the only way we ever come to the place where we can put our hope in him is through his grace. We cannot do it in our own strength. So, God gives us the grace to love him, then he gives us his unfailing love in return. Sounds like he’s doing all the work, right? Exactly.

It is embarrassing to be loved like that. Brennan Manning calls this, “irrational love.” It makes no sense. He gives his love and we don’t have to do anything for it. Nothing. God loves us because he loves us. That’s it.

Why would a perfect God love us despite our many imperfections? It’s a mystery.

BlogNicole O'MearaApril 20, 2022spinal cord injury, love, PsalmComment

Loving Your Neighbor: the Story of Shelley

We all need to be loved and cheered on by personal cheerleaders, especially when we are suffering and feeling alone. We need to be reminded that we are unique and worthy of friendship. The best cheerleaders in life are the ones who celebrate our victories and help us find joy when we can’t find it on our own.

BlogNicole O'MearaMarch 28, 2022chronic disease, recoveryComment

It Takes Time For Hearts to Heal

“It’s ok if your heart needs more time to accept what your head already knows.” - anonymous

What a great way to describe what we all feel when we’re suffering.

We can’t make our hearts accept what our heads already knows. It’s not something we can do. It is the shaping and molding work of the living God. He will do it.

BlogNicole O'MearaMarch 16, 2022disability, spinal cord injury, waitingComment

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