Believe... Despite... By: Elisa Beasley

November 2015 The day a miracle happened as a beautiful baby girl was put into my arms through the matchless gift of adoption.

September 2013. The day a miracle happened as my daughter took her last breath in my arms.

Both of these days radiate in my heart and soul as absolute miracles Why?

In September, when my daughter was born, I finally became a mother here on Earth after 15 years of infertility, 10 pregnancies and 9 miscarriages. I watched my baby girl, Crea, hold my finger in her tiny hand before they wheeled her out of one operating room into the next. Crea. Her name means BELIEVE in Spanish The next day I held her, in a room full of machines, and watched as they disconnected her from each one and I thanked her for making me a mom as she took her last breath on Earth and her first in Eternity. After she passed, I closed my eyes and prayed, “God, your Word says if we have the smallest amount of Faith like a mustard seed we can speak to the mountain, and it will move. I believe you can bring her back and make her whole ” I opened my eyes, and she was still gone I felt a small still voice remind me of Isaiah 55:8 that says, “My ways are not your ways, and My thoughts are not your thoughts." Things didn't turn out the way I had planned when I was wheeled out of that hospital with my arms empty yet again But He did what He said He would do and that day, I became a mother.

Many would argue and say what happened on September 6 was not good I would argue it was because there was a promise made and a promise kept despite what I felt it should look like.

Believe Despite

This has been the mantra of my life for twenty plus years I don’t often get to choose when it comes to situations in this life, but I DO get to choose to BELIEVE the good DESPITE what it may look like.

I never imagined adoption + me would = love. Yet here I am loving every single moment of it! It was scary. It was raw. It was hard. But I chose to believe the good in all of it despite what it looked like in moments.

When my daughter (who is now a bubbly and opinionated 8 year old) came into my life I wasn’t 100% sure that journey was for me.

Friends, I hope if you are reading this, you don’t discard it and say, “well, that’s all great for you, but that doesn’t ever happen for me.” I hope if you read these words, you will know that choosing to Believe Despite is for YOU. Yes, you reading this! And it is for you right now! Regardless if it is for a child, a spouse, a job, a miracle, a restored relationship, a broken heart whatever it is I challenge you to make 2024 a year where you Believe Despite!

Elisa became an accidental artist after her Crea passed away She started painting to process her grief and while she prayed, cried, and painted, canvasses became encouragement messages for her. When her first painting sold to a perfect stranger, she realized the messages she thought were for her she had to share with others. Her art can be found hung in homes and offices throughout the United States, Canada and the European Union and she speaks at conferences and with groups sharing the Believe Despite message. You can find more about her work on Facebook if you search Elisa B.