Marissa Henley

Encouraging weary women to hope in Christ alone

  • Books
    • After Cancer
    • Loving Your Friend Through Cancer
  • Speaking
  • Blog
    • Videos
    • Guest appearances
    • No Matter What Monday
    • Cancer
    • Family
    • Faith
  • Free Ebook
  • About

A Future of Everlasting Joy {No Matter What Monday}

June 4, 2018 by Marissa Leave a Comment

In Christ, we have a future of everlasting joy. Biblical encouragement, Scripture, and devotionals for women.Last week, I was listening to a friend wrestle with a big decision when she said something that really resonated with me: “I wish I could see into the future.”

One of my greatest frustrations in life is not knowing what’s ahead. Honestly, I struggle to trust God’s wisdom in not sharing this knowledge with us. Some days, I feel like I’m standing with my face scrunched up against the glass of time, desperate for a glimpse of what’s to come. It feels like it would be so much easier to navigate the hardships and choices of today if I had a clue about what tomorrow holds.

But God, in His perfect wisdom and faithfulness, tells us in His Word exactly what we need to know about our future—no less and no more. We know that for those who are in Christ, there will be a glorious end to our suffering, an imperishable inheritance, and eternal life in heaven. And in this verse from Isaiah, we learn that our future is filled with joy:

“And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 51:11)

Glorious singing. Joy that lasts forever. Not striving for happiness and abiding joy, but owning it always. No more sorrow, no more burdened sighs. Because of our Savior, we have been ransomed from this broken world, and this is the future that awaits us. Isn’t it beautiful?

When we wrestle with the hardships and choices of today, let’s cling to the promise of our glorious future. When we can’t see what’s ahead, let’s hold tightly to the One who holds all our tomorrows in His hands. When life overwhelms us, let’s remember the promises of our heavenly Father, who will carry us through the cares of this life and bring us into our joy-filled eternity.

No matter what you face this week, the Lord promises a future of everlasting joy.

Share

Video ~ An Excerpt from Loving Your Friend through Cancer

May 28, 2018 by Marissa Leave a Comment

In this video, I read the introduction to chapter 9 of Loving Your Friend through Cancer. The chapter is titled “Mind: Questions Your Friend is Asking.” To learn more about how to support a friend as she wrestles through the difficult questions cancer brings, check out the book here.

Share

Guest appearance ~ The Heart of the Author Podcast

May 24, 2018 by Marissa Leave a Comment

I had a great time as a guest on Vickie Henderson‘s podcast, The Heart of the Author. We chatted about my feelings of isolation during my cancer battle, how my friends supported me and how others can do the same for their friends, and how my faith sustained me during the hard times. Listen here or head over to her podcast site to learn more and subscribe!

I also shared a guest post on her blog about three ways to support a friend with cancer well. You can read it here!

For more information, check out my book, Loving Your Friend through Cancer.

Share

The One Who Called You By Name {No Matter What Monday}

May 7, 2018 by Marissa Leave a Comment

The One who called you by name will never leave you. Biblical encouragement, Scripture, and devotionals for women.

*** My new book, Loving Your Friend through Cancer, releases at the end of this month! To celebrate, each Monday devotional in May will feature one of my favorite verses from my cancer battle several years ago. I hope you will be encouraged by these scriptures and add them to your list to share with a friend who is suffering. ***

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 worldly 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)

The Lord gives us a reason not to fear: our redemption, His calling us by name. We belong to Him. He knows us. He cares for 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 said, “You are Mine.”

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

Share
« Previous Page
Next Page »

Welcome

marissahenley.com

I write to remind myself of the truth of God's promises. I share my writing here in case you need to be reminded sometimes, too.

Let's Connect!

Books

Books

Click the image above to learn more about Marissa's books: After Cancer and Loving Your Friend through Cancer

Recent Posts

  • The Journey After Cancer – CanCare Podcast {Guest Appearance}
  • Guest appearance – Bookish Talks with Lia Podcast
  • Finding Hope Amid Severe Illness {Guest Post for Ligonier Ministries}

Looking For Something?

Copyright © 2026 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in