“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NKJV

During the past several months, I have conducted interviews with several amazing, phenomenal women: Christina Davis shared her story of overcoming substance abuse; Shyrelle Scott told us stories of her happy upbringing and also the heart wrenching  grief of losing both her loving parents within six months of each other; Dr. DaNika Robinson shared her journey from teen pregnancy to completing her doctoral degree; Minister Belinda Todd chatted about her after-retirement routines that keep her young and vibrant; Mother Mae Shields enlightened us on her early life as a civil rights activist; and other women such as Minister JaLisa Jones and Kimberly Johnson who have dedicated their lives to inspiring, healing, and restoring the lives of others by way of professional counseling.

I have shared my story with you many times. It was through childhood trauma, alienation, rejection, and divorce that made me the person I am today. My experiences have been the catalyst propelling me to found New Wine Consulting, write my memoir, and blogging inspirational messages with the intent to empower, encourage, heal, restore, and transform the lives of others, especially women.

Have you allowed adversity to prohibit you from moving forward or have you found ways to overcome those obstacles? Oftentimes, life can deal out a bad hand of financial setbacks, insecurities, divorce, rejection, illness or grief. I believe these situations were all designed to mold us and develop our character. Romans 8:28 declares, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

In an article titled, “7 Qualities of an Overcomer,” Michael Warden provides the following qualities of an overcomer:

1. Overcomers believe. They are clear on exactly what victory looks like, and actively practice believing that victory is not only possible for them; it’s inevitable.
2. Overcomers deal in reality. From a position of faith, they look at their world and their circumstances with frank honesty, understanding that if they don’t accept where they are, they’ll never know how to get where they’re going.
3. Overcomers fight smart. They understand victory requires a thoughtful approach. Rather than charge ahead in a fit of passion, they try one thing at a time, measuring the impact, and adapting their strategy based on the results.
4. Overcomers engage failure as part of the process. Rather than letting failures overtake them, they practice curiosity in the face of failure, learning from their missteps, and improving their strategies for next time.
5. Overcomers celebrate every success ~ no matter how small. They understand that to “win the long war,” they need to take heart and courage from every inch of ground they gain. They know that progress, no matter how small, is fuel for the soul.
6. Overcomers don’t try to go it alone. Perhaps the quickest way to lose a battle in your life is to believe you don’t need any help. Overcomers understand nobody wins alone. They surround themselves with brothers and sisters who know their struggle and are committed to assisting them in overcoming it.
7. Overcomers never give up. No matter how many times they fall, or how dire the circumstances appear to be, they are relentless in their refusal to quit. Like great warriors and leaders before them, they understand that the refusal to give up is perhaps the most powerful weapon for victory they have.

In the upcoming months, I look forward to conducting additional interviews with other exceptional women: those who have been transformed by their adversities or those who are working tirelessly to assist in the transformation of others. To watch previous and future interviews, go to (2) Facebook. To read my story of healing and transformation, “Sandpaper & Pearls: A Journey to Healing,” go to Amazon.com : sandpaper and pearls cassandra savage.

Remember, you are strong; you are resilient; you are an OVERCOMER! If you are interested in a free-30-min coaching session, book an appointment at calendly.com/new-wine-consulting.