In the Middle of the Mess: Strength for This Beautiful, Broken Life

by Sheila Walsh, Kay Warren (Foreword by)

Overview

How do you turn your struggles into strengths? Beloved Bible teacher Sheila Walsh teaches readers how the daily spiritual practices of confession, meditation on God’s Word, and prayer result in fresh freedom in Christ.

In her long-awaited book, Sheila Walsh equips women with a practical method for connecting with God’s strength in the midst of struggle. From daily frustrations that can feel like overwhelming obstacles to hard challenges that turn into rock-bottom crises, women will find the means to equip themselves for standing strong with God. Using the spiritual applications of confession, prayer, and meditation on Scripture to form a daily connection to Jesus, women will learn how to experience new joy as a child of God who is fully known, fully loved, and fully accepted.

In In the Middle of the Mess, Walsh reveals the hardened defenses that kept her from allowing God into her deepest hurts and shares how entering into a safe place with God and practicing this daily connection with him have saved her from the devil’s prowling attacks. Though we will never be completely “fixed” on earth, we are continually held by Jesus, whatever our circumstances.

Sheila Walsh acts as our guardian in In the Middle of the Mess as she

• shows us we’re not alone in our struggles,
• guides us through a courageous journey of self-discovery, and
• reminds us where to find hope, comfort, and strength in tough times.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781400207633
Publisher:	Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date:	11/06/2018
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	1,108,749
Product dimensions:	5.45(w) x 8.35(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Sheila Walsh is a powerful communicator, Bible teacher, and bestselling author with almost six million books sold. She is the author of the award-winning Gigi, God’s Little Princess series, It’s Okay Not to Be Okay, Praying Women, Holding On When You Want to Let Go, and more. She is cohost of the inspirational talk show Life Today with James and Betty Robison, which is seen worldwide by a potential audience of over 100 million viewers. Sheila lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, Barry, and son, Christian, who is in graduate school.

Table of Contents

Foreword xi

Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 Everyday Salvation 1

Chapter 2 Burying Our Secrets 17

Chapter 3 The Walls We Build 31

Chapter 4 You Don't Have to Hide 43

Chapter 5 No More Bumper-Sticker Faith 55

Chapter 6 Let Go 69

Chapter 7 Beautifully Broken 83

Chapter 8 Rejecting the Lies We've Believed 97

Chapter 9 Get Back Up 111

Chapter 10 You Are Braver Than You Know 125

Chapter 11 Fully Known and Fully Loved 137

Chapter 12 Miracles in the Middle of the Mess 149

Acknowledgments 165

Notes 167

About the Author 169

Editorial Reviews

11/20/2017
Walsh (Five Minutes with Jesus), cohost of the TV show Life Today, opens her poignant text with a letter to her father, who committed suicide when she was five years old. In her letter, Walsh engages with her late father’s battle with depression, sharing that she, too, has had thoughts about taking her own life: “I’ve been tormented by thoughts of suicide for most of my life—first of my father’s, then of my own. Is this a shocking confession? It is to most people, and it should be.” Walsh delves into practical ways she has learned to arm herself against depression, recommending journaling and confession as helpful in overcoming dark thoughts. Weaving together memoir and tips for happier living, Walsh aims to help readers find “a place to show up in our brokenness and still be loved, a safe place where we can come as we are.” Each chapter focuses on a theme (“No More Bumper Sticker Faith,” “You Are Braver Than You Know,” “Rejecting the Lies We Believe”) that is explored first through Walsh’s own experiences and then through passages from scripture that impart a lesson, concluding with a brief reflection. Readers will appreciate Walsh’s courage and candor as she challenges other Christ followers to be honest about their struggles and to help out fellow sufferers with kindness and compassion. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly