Marissa Henley

Encouraging weary women to hope in Christ alone

God Will Provide {No Matter What Monday}

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My friends started showing up within hours of my cancer diagnosis. One friend folded laundry in my bedroom; another cooked dinner in the kitchen. As news spread, friends started organizing a freezer meal drive. Many others hit their knees in prayer. 

I quickly realized we were going to need a lot of help. During the following months, we saw over and over again that God would meet each and every one of our physical, logistical, emotional, and spiritual needs. There were times when He provided directly through the power of the Holy Spirit giving us comfort, peace, and wisdom. But most of the time, He used His people to supply our needs as they reached out with love and support for our family. 

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.“ (Philippians 4:19)

This verse from Philippians became a lifeline for me. We faced many challenges, and I sometimes struggled to believe the Lord would provide a way. But He did. Every single time. 

I love that in the context of this verse in Philippians 4, Paul is thanking the church at Philippi for how they’ve supported him. Paul needed the body of Christ to help him do his work. We aren’t meant to walk this Christian life alone. 

We can trust God to supply all our needs because He has it all. Everything in the world belongs to Him: all created things, all power, all wisdom, all glory. He doesn’t lack anything He needs, and He certainly doesn’t lack anything you need. 

But God isn’t just a powerful ruler who has it all. Paul refers to Him as “my God.” We are His sheep and He is our Shepherd. He cares for us, and we shall not want (Ps. 23:1). You can have confidence that He will not withhold anything His child needs. 

No matter what you face this week, God will give you everything you need. 

** Later this month I will celebrate 1 0  Y e A r S ! since my cancer diagnosis in October 2010. I can’t celebrate with a big party or a fantastic trip (thanks a lot, covid!), but I can celebrate with God’s Word. Each Monday this month, I’m sharing a verse that was precious to me during my cancer battle. I hope it encourages you in whatever struggle you’re facing today. **

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You Are Not Alone {No Matter What Monday}

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The text came from a friend as I recovered from chemo in Houston in 2011. She wanted to know my favorite verse. I had a hard time choosing from my long list of favorites, but there was one that had become so precious in my suffering. 

When I battled angiosarcoma, there was no guarantee of a happy ending from my earthly perspective. No one could promise me I’d get my old life back. I definitely wasn’t getting my old body back. And I wondered if life after cancer would ever come close to normal for my family and me. 

One thing I knew for sure: God’s presence with me was absolutely guaranteed. The fire was hot. The waves were high. But I was not alone. 

“But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.’” (Isaiah 43:1–2)

Isaiah shared these words of the Lord for future Israelites who would be exiled from their home and face an unknown future. They would lose everything: their country, their land, and the temple that served as the center of their faith. But Isaiah has a message of hope for the ancient Israelites and for us today. 

The Lord gives us a reason not to fear: our Redeemer has called us by name. We belong to Him. He knows us. He cares for us. He delivers us. He will always be with us. We are His, so we have nothing to fear. 

Our suffering may feel like giant ocean waves tossing us into the air and then plunging us into the depths. But the Lord will hold us fast. Even when our future here is uncertain, our future with Him is secure, because He has said, “You are Mine.” 

No matter what you face this week, the One who called you by name will never leave you. 

** Later this month I will celebrate 1 0  Y e A r S ! since my cancer diagnosis in October 2010. I can’t celebrate with a big party or a fantastic trip (thanks a lot, covid!), but I can celebrate with God’s Word. Each Monday, I’ll share a verse that was precious to me during my cancer battle. I hope it encourages you in whatever struggle you’re facing today. **

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Praise the Sovereign King {No Matter What Monday}

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Are you talking to yourself or listening to yourself? And why does it matter?

I love this quote from D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: “Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?” 

When I’m listening to myself, I’m usually focused on my problems and wallowing in my emotions. In those moments, I need to talk to myself and remind myself of the truth about the Lord and His work in my life. 

That’s what David did in Psalm 103. He gave his own soul a little talking-to. He told himself—and other worshippers of God—to bless the Lord and remember all that He’s done. 

As we wrap up our month in Psalm 103, we see one last truth about the Lord and David’s response of praise in Psalm 103:19-22. 

“The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all . . . Bless the LORD, O my soul!” (Psalm 103:19, 22b)

Just in case there was any doubt about whether or not God can do all He has promised in this psalm, David spoke to himself about God’s sovereign rule over all. The Lord is on his throne. There is nothing that is beyond His reign. Everything falls under His royal authority. 

The sovereign King is worthy of the praise of all His creation: the angels who obey His voice (Psalm 103:20), all those who do His will (Psalm 103:21), all that He has created (Psalm 103:22a), and David himself (Psalm 103:22b). 

David bookended this psalm with the phrase, ‘Bless the LORD, O my soul” (Psalm 103:1, 22). He reminded himself of God’s goodness, listed out reasons to praise the Lord, and exhorted himself to praise God with all that he had. 

So how can you shift from listening to yourself to talking to yourself today? Take a minute to read through all of Psalm 103. Remind yourself of who God is and what He has done. Talk to yourself about His steadfast love, His generous forgiveness, His forever promises, and His sovereign rule. Don’t forget all the benefits you’ve been given in Christ. Remember and respond to your Redeemer with praise and thanksgiving. 

No matter what you face this week, praise your sovereign Redeemer and King. 

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God’s Steadfast Love is Everlasting {No Matter What Monday}

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There’s a saying in my part of the country—and maybe your part, too—“If you don’t like the weather today, just wait until tomorrow.” It’s especially true in the fall and spring, when the weather can change drastically from day to day and even from hour to hour. How am I supposed to tell my kids to dress for school when they need a coat in the morning and shorts in the afternoon? So much in life is constantly changing, whether it’s the weather or relationships or culture or parenting—it feels like nothing stays the same. 

We’re studying Psalm 103 this month, and we’ve seen David remember God’s benefits: His forgiveness, healing, redemption, sustaining power, and steadfast love.  In Psalm 103:15-18, David celebrates the eternality of God’s character. These truths he’s remembering aren’t just for a fleeting season. They’re not here today and gone tomorrow. The steadfast love and promises of God last forever. 

“But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.” (Psalm 103:17-18)

David contrasts God’s eternal character with the fleeting nature of man. In verses 15-16, he says we are like grass that the wind blows away. Nothing in our human world lasts forever—relationships change. Careers end. Bodies age and die. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. He keeps His promises not just to us, but to the future generations that follow. 

Psalm 103:18 says this steadfast love is for those who keep His covenant. God made covenant promises to His people throughout the Old Testament. He promised to bless them, and they promised to obey. When the people failed to keep their part of the covenant, God sent His Son to live an obedient life and die for His covenant-breaking people. 

Galatians 3:29 tells us that if we belong to Christ, we are heirs to all God has promised. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we are the covenant children of God who receive His promised, everlasting, steadfast love. 

No matter what you face this week, remember God’s everlasting, covenantal love. 

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