Frustration and discouragement found me in the ring yesterday.
I felt backed into a corner, up against the ropes, where hopelessness started creeping in.
With anger mounting in my weak moments I was faced with a decision–
Curl up and quit or put on my armor on and fight back.

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. (Ephesians 6:10-13)

What did I do when I trapped in the corner with the enemy closing in?
I got out my red boxing gloves and started battling in the ring.
Figuratively and literally.
I am a woman of HOPE.
A child of the King of Kings.
Hopelessness has no place in my life.
I will not shrink back and wilt in the corner.
I am a
boxer.
An athlete.
A competitor.
A fighter.
I fight to win!

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as onebeating the air. But I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. ( 1 Corinthians 9:24-26)