As fireworks light up the sky this July, Americans across the nation will pause to celebrate freedom.
For 250 years, our nation has enjoyed liberties secured through sacrifice, courage, and perseverance. Freedom is woven into the fabric of our country’s story. It is something we cherish, protect, and celebrate.
Yet while millions of Americans live in one of the freest nations on earth, many remain bound by chains that cannot be seen.
They are successful but anxious.
Surrounded by people but lonely.
Forgiven by God but still carrying shame.
Loved by Christ but struggling to believe they are worthy of love.
The reality is that political freedom and personal freedom are not always the same thing.
Many people are free externally while living in bondage internally.
That is why the freedom Jesus offers is so powerful. He came not only to save us for eternity but to heal our hearts, restore our identities, and set us free from the wounds, lies, and strongholds that keep us from fully experiencing the abundant life He promised.
As we celebrate our nation’s freedom this month, perhaps it is also time to ask ourselves an important question:
Am I truly living free?
Most people don’t wake up one day and decide to carry fear, shame, rejection, anger, bitterness, or hopelessness.
These burdens often develop slowly through life’s experiences.
A painful childhood memory.
A betrayal by someone we trusted.
Words spoken over us that shaped how we see ourselves.
Disappointments that left us questioning God’s goodness.
Losses we never fully grieved.
Traumatic experiences we learned to survive but never learned to heal from.
Over time, these wounds can create unhealthy beliefs about ourselves, others, and even God.
We may begin believing:
“I’m not enough.”
“I’ll never measure up.”
“No one really cares.”
“I have to earn love.”
“Things will never change.”
These beliefs become prisons that limit how we live, love, and relate to God.
One of the most common chains people carry is unforgiveness.
When we have been hurt, forgiveness can feel unfair. Why should we release someone who caused so much pain?
But forgiveness is not saying what happened was acceptable. It is choosing to release the debt into God’s hands so our hearts can be free.
Unforgiveness often keeps us connected to our wounds long after the original event has passed.
Freedom begins when we allow Jesus to enter those wounded places and bring His truth, healing, and restoration.
Many people come to TruHope hoping for a quick fix to years of pain.
While God certainly can bring immediate breakthrough, healing is often a journey rather than a moment.
Just as physical wounds require time to heal, emotional and spiritual wounds often heal layer by layer.
The beautiful thing is that Jesus walks with us every step of the way.
As He reveals areas of hurt, He also brings His presence, truth, and healing.
We begin to recognize lies we’ve believed.
We learn to forgive.
We discover our true identity as sons and daughters of God.
We gain freedom from unhealthy patterns that have controlled us for years.
Little by little, the chains begin to loosen.
Hope begins to rise.
Peace begins to replace anxiety.
Joy returns.
Relationships improve.
Life begins to look different.
This is the journey we witness every day at TruHope.
One of the greatest misconceptions about healing is believing it only affects us.
The truth is that healing impacts generations.
Every family has patterns.
Some are healthy and life-giving.
Others create cycles of pain, fear, addiction, shame, anger, rejection, or broken relationships.
Without healing, these cycles are often passed from one generation to the next.
But when one person chooses healing, everything can begin to change.
A parent who experiences freedom often raises children differently.
A healed marriage creates a healthier home.
A restored individual influences friends, coworkers, and future generations.
This is why healing matters so much.
You may not be able to change what happened in your past, but you can change what gets passed into the future.
You can become the person who says:
“The pain stops here.”
“The dysfunction stops here.”
“The fear stops here.”
“The brokenness stops here.”
You can become a curse breaker for future generations.
Your healing may become someone else’s inheritance.
At TruHope, we believe every person deserves the opportunity to encounter the healing love of Jesus and experience the freedom He offers.
Children often carry wounds they don’t yet have the words to express. Early intervention can help children process hurt, strengthen their identity, and experience God’s love in powerful ways before painful patterns become deeply rooted.
Learn More or Schedule a Children’s Session: https://mytruhope.com/children/
Many adults have carried wounds, fears, and unhealthy beliefs for years—sometimes decades. Through prayer ministry and guided healing sessions, individuals are invited to encounter Jesus in their places of pain and discover greater freedom, peace, and wholeness.
Learn More or Schedule an Adult Session: https://mytruhope.com/adults/
Healing isn’t just for receiving—it’s also for sharing.
Our Equipped to Restore training equips believers to understand biblical healing principles and confidently walk alongside others in their healing journeys.
Whether you are a ministry leader, volunteer, pastor, mentor, or simply someone who desires to help others find freedom, this training provides practical tools to partner with God in the restoration process.
Learn More About Equipped to Restore: https://mytruhope.com/events/
Healing and growth are lifelong journeys, which is why TruHope is expanding opportunities for people to continue growing in freedom.
Many of life’s struggles stem from believing lies about ourselves. This workshop will help participants discover who God says they are and learn to live confidently from their identity in Christ.
Workshop Information: https://mytruhope.com/events/
Strongholds are patterns of thinking that keep us stuck and limit our ability to walk in freedom. This workshop will provide biblical understanding and practical tools for recognizing and overcoming destructive strongholds.
Workshop Information: https://mytruhope.com/events/
Freedom is not simply an event. It is a lifestyle.
Every day we have opportunities to choose truth over lies.
Forgiveness over bitterness.
Faith over fear.
Hope over discouragement.
Trust over control.
As we celebrate 250 years of freedom in America, let us also celebrate the freedom Christ purchased for us through His death and resurrection.
Freedom from shame.
Freedom from fear.
Freedom from wounds that have defined us for too long.
Freedom from patterns that have affected generations.
Freedom to become the people God created us to be.
This July, while the fireworks remind us of our nation’s independence, may they also remind us of something even greater:
Jesus came to set captives free.
If there are wounds you’ve been carrying, lies you’ve been believing, or strongholds you’ve been battling, perhaps this is your invitation to take the next step.
Your story does not have to be defined by your past.
Healing is possible.
Freedom is available.
Hope is real.
And the journey toward lasting freedom can begin today.
Ready to take your next step toward freedom?
✓ Schedule a Healing Session →Visit our Adult’s Page
✓ Learn About Children’s Healing Sessions → Visit our Children’s Page
✓ Register for Equipped to Restore Training → Visit our Events Page
✓ Join an Upcoming Workshop → Visit our Events Page
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” — Galatians 5:1
“There’s more to come…”
— Romans 5:3 (MSG)
Wisdom reminds us not to judge the entire story by one difficult chapter.
What feels like pressure today may actually be preparation.
Wait There’s More…
Finding Hope, Joy, and God’s Purpose in the Middle of Hard Seasons
Life has a way of catching us off guard.
A diagnosis. A loss. A season of uncertainty. A setback we never saw coming.
And somewhere in the middle of pain, many of us quietly begin asking questions we may not even say out loud:
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Is God disappointed in me?”
“Why would God allow this?”
“Is He punishing me?”
If we’re honest, many of us have unknowingly believed a distorted version of God—that when life gets hard, somehow He must be withholding good from us or handing us something painful as punishment.
But Scripture tells a completely different story.
If God reached down to us when we were hostile toward Him, separated from Him, and gave us His most precious gift—Jesus, why would we suddenly believe that now, as His beloved children, He gives us bad gifts?
The truth is this: God is not punishing you. He is present with you.
And according to Romans 5, there is more available to us in suffering than survival.
There is hope. There is purpose. There is peace. And yes—there is joy.
“And That’s Not All…”
In Romans 5:1–11 (The Message translation), the Apostle Paul paints a breathtaking picture of what life with God really looks like.
“By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us.”
Did you catch that?
“And that’s not all.”
In other words, salvation is not the end of the story.
God didn’t simply save us and leave us to survive difficult seasons on our own. He gave us peace with Him so we could experience His love, His wisdom, His strength, His presence, and His hope in every circumstance.
Paul continues:
“There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles…”
Not because troubles feel good.
Not because suffering is easy.
But because God is accomplishing something in us and through us.
At TruHope, we often say: healing doesn’t mean the absence of hardship—it means learning to encounter God in the middle of it.
And sometimes, the greatest miracles happen not when circumstances instantly change, but when our perspective changes.
When the Story Looks Impossible
In 2016, Tory’s life changed overnight.
What began as a hospital visit turned into a life-threatening medical crisis.
She was placed into a medically induced coma for over 33 days. Doctors battled double pneumonia, a punctured and collapsed lung, sepsis, blood clots, respiratory failure, and an esophageal tear that nearly took her life. Machines breathed for her. Tubes sustained her. Specialists fought to save her.
Doctors later called her a miracle patient.
Some said she should not have survived.
Others said she would never fully recover.
She was told:
You won’t walk right.
You won’t talk normally.
You’ll never wear boots.
You’ll never dance.
But in the middle of devastating reports, Tory sensed the Lord ask a powerful question:
“Whose report are you going to believe?”
And through tears, she responded:
“I will believe the report of the Lord.”
This wasn’t denial.
This wasn’t pretending hardship didn’t exist.
This was choosing where to place her focus.
👉 Hear Tory’s Full Testimony Here:
TESTIMONY LINK
Key Principle #1: The Secret to Rejoicing Is Having the Right Focus
One of the greatest traps during painful seasons is becoming consumed by our circumstances.
Pain becomes the loudest voice.
Fear becomes the lens.
Questions become the focus.
But Romans 5 invites us into something different.
“We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles…”
How is that possible?
Because our focus shifts from “What is happening to me?” to “What is God accomplishing in me?”
Tory shared that during her recovery, the Lord clearly spoke to her:
“This is not about you, Tory. It’s about Me. It’s about Me healing you.”
That statement changed everything.
She stopped fixing her eyes on what she had lost and began fixing her eyes on the One who was still present.
The same invitation exists for us.
Instead of asking:
“Why is this happening?”
What if we asked:
“Lord, what are You accomplishing in me and through me to carry out Your purpose?”
Because even in pain, God wastes nothing.
Key Principle #2: The Right Focus Produces the Right Attitude
Focus determines attitude.
When we only focus on problems, fear grows.
When we focus on uncertainty, anxiety grows.
When we focus on God’s character, trust grows.
At some point, faith stops being theoretical and becomes deeply personal.
You stop wondering who God is because you begin remembering who He has always been.
Faith says:
“I know my Lord.”
“I know His character.”
“I know He is good.”
This doesn’t mean life suddenly feels easy.
It means we stop wandering emotionally because we’re anchored spiritually.
Hope changes.
And biblical hope is very different than wishful thinking.
We often say things like:
“I hope it’s sunny tomorrow.”
“I hope everything works out.”
But biblical hope means confident assurance based on a promised outcome.
Think of it this way:
If you bought tickets for an Alaskan cruise, you wouldn’t merely wish you might see Alaska.
You would have confidence.
Why?
Because the ticket guarantees the destination.
That’s biblical hope.
Not uncertainty.
Not “maybe.”
But assurance in Someone trustworthy.
God’s promises are our ticket.
His faithfulness is our confidence.
Key Principle #3: The Fruit of the Right Attitude Is Triumphant Joy
Romans 5 says troubles develop perseverance, perseverance develops character, and character creates expectancy.
That expectancy changes how we suffer.
We stop living defeated.
We begin anticipating what God might do next.
Joy doesn’t mean pretending things don’t hurt.
It means pain no longer gets the final word.
It means sensing God’s presence and perceiving His purpose even in difficult places.
Author and teacher Howie Hendricks once asked a friend:
“How are you doing?”
His friend replied:
“Under the circumstances, it is terrible!”
Howie smiled and asked:
“So, what are you doing under there?”
That question stops us in our tracks.
Because maybe God never intended for us to live under our circumstances.
Maybe He intended for us to live anchored above them—held steady by His love, strengthened by His Spirit, and empowered by His truth.
That is triumphant joy.
Not fake positivity.
Not denial.
But a deep confidence that says:
“God is still good.”
“God is still near.”
“God is still working.”
And yes—
There’s more.
More grace.
More healing.
More hope.
More strength.
More wisdom.
More of God than we realized possible.
You Don’t Have to Walk Through This Alone
At TruHope, we believe healing happens when people encounter the love, presence, and truth of God in the middle of real-life struggles.
Whether you’re navigating emotional pain, trauma, grief, fear, spiritual heaviness, or simply feeling stuck—we want you to know:
There is hope. And there is more.
You do not have to carry what feels heavy by yourself.
Ready to Take a Next Step?
If you’re longing for healing, peace, clarity, or deeper connection with God, we invite you to schedule a prayer and healing session with TruHope.
👉 Schedule a Session Here:
TRUHOPE SESSION LINK
Because sometimes the next step toward healing begins with simply saying:
“God, I’m willing to believe there’s more.”
The Long Pause
Waiting has a sound.
For me, it sounded like hospital monitors and airport boarding calls.
It felt anxious and numb at the same time, suspended between cities, seasons, and prayers.
Pentecost was coming, but so was another flight, another hallway, another stretch of unknown.
Waiting Between Two Worlds
I was waiting while my mom was battling cancer in a hospital more than a thousand miles away.
I was waiting in airport terminals, counting the days until I could fly back to her.
Then I’d wait to come home again.
Back to my husband. Back to my sons.
Every goodbye felt unfinished.
Every return felt rushed.
In the hospital, I waited for treatments to work.
I waited for good numbers. For strength to return. For hope to feel steady again.
Some days I felt overwhelmed, like my chest was too small for the fear I was carrying.
Other days I felt numb, just doing the next thing because stopping felt worse.
I questioned everything.
Waiting exposed every crack in my faith.
Doubt whispered constantly. Discouragement sat heavy.
So I had to do something small but intentional.
I started telling fear who my Lord is.
Out loud.
Again and again.
Creating Joy in the Middle of the Battle
The turning point wasn’t a miracle report or a sudden breakthrough.
It was joy—on purpose.
We decorated my mom’s hospital room like the Caribbean.
Bright colors. Island vibes. Music playing quietly in the background.
We made shakes together.
Laughed like we weren’t surrounded by IV pumps and charts.
We named her IV pole “Bobby Flay.”
Because if we couldn’t control the outcome, we could still control the atmosphere.
Joy didn’t deny the battle.
It stood in the middle of it and said, God is still here.
That’s when waiting shifted from passive to powerful.
I stopped just counting days and started building moments.
Like the father in Luke 15, waiting for his prodigal son.
Watching. Hoping. Believing.
Are you waiting for someone you love to come home to Jesus?
Just as you’re praying and watching, so is the Father.
God Is Working While You’re Waiting
Scripture slowly reminded me that waiting has always been part of the story.
Daniel waited in the lion’s den while angels fought on his behalf (Daniel 10:2–6).
Joseph waited 13 years between promise and position.
Abraham waited 25 years for the son he was promised (Genesis 12:4).
The Israelites waited and counted the days to the Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15–22).
Four hundred years passed between Malachi and Matthew.
Silence didn’t mean absence.
Delay didn’t mean denial.
The disciples waited 50 days for the promise of the Spirit.
And Pentecost came right on time.
Waiting may feel like nothing is happening.
But heaven may be very busy on your behalf.
If you’re waiting for:
Help is on the way.
God never wastes the waiting.
If you need space to process this season, consider scheduling a session to talk it through with someone who understands.
Holding On Without Wavering
Hebrews 10:23–24 became my anchoring reminder:
Hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
Waiting tries to steal what God has already promised.
Fear wants you to forget. Doubt wants you to quit.
So I started building a memorial of remembrance.
I wrote down what God had already done.
Answered prayers. Unexpected strength. Peace that made no sense.
And when discouragement showed up, I spoke back.
Not perfectly.
But honestly.
“I know who my God is.”
“I know He is working, even now.”
Waiting doesn’t mean sitting still in defeat.
It means staying positioned for promise.
If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, schedule a session—you don’t have to carry this alone.
Pentecost Is Coming
Waiting is not punishment.
It’s preparation.
Just like it was in the upper room.
Just like it was in the hospital room.
The Spirit comes to waiting hearts.
To honest prayers. To tired faith that still shows up.
If this season feels heavy, you’re not behind.
You’re becoming.
Pentecost always comes after the waiting.
And the wind of God still knows exactly where to find you.
