Beautiful Things Happen When A Woman Trusts God by Sheila Walsh

How do we learn to trust? Is it as a small child, when we trust our moms and dad to do what is best for us? Trust is a part of everyone's lives. Today's review is of a book that addresses how to learn to fully trust God to help us do what is best in our lives.

Trust is one of the most important elements in any relationship, but when that relationship is between you and God, trusting Him explicitly not only strengthens your spiritual life, but enables many miraculous things to happen. But there are times when letting go and fully trusting is a difficult choice.

In her new book, “Beautiful Things Happen: When A Woman Trusts God,” Sheila Walsh takes readers on a journey into her past, a past where depression and self-doubt threatened to crush her faith in herself and her faith in God. But along this journey, Walsh discovered that simply by trusting God and allowing Him to make decisions and provide guidance, that life could be all she could want it to be and more. And the more she trusted God, Walsh found that she became more trusting of everyone and everything else.

Scottish-born Walsh is best known as the co-anchor of Pat Robertson’s “700 Club” during the late 80s, early 90s, as well as for her powerful singing voice. In 1992, she left the “700 Club” to seek treatment for severe depression. After intense treatment and therapy, Walsh enrolled in Fullerton Theological Seminary in California, and began to renew her career with special interest in helping women understand their walk with God.

Now residing in Plano, Texas with her husband and son, Walsh is now a frequent guest at the popular “Women of Faith” conferences held around the country.

“Beautiful Things Happen When A Woman Trusts God” is a deeply personal and moving testimony of one woman’s walk through the dark valleys to find that God had never left her side, but was with her through the trying times. Walsh is open, honest, and at time amusing about her experiences, and she lovingly shares the lessons she learned generously.

An in-depth Bible study is included which encourages readers to explore the subject of trust further with scripture references, and suggestions for how they apply to everyday life.

Walsh tells her readers in her introduction to the Bible study, “I believe that if we can learn to rest in His trust, so many of the things that plague us from day to day will dwindle from torrential storms to light drizzles.”

I reviewed this book as a part of the Thomas Nelson Book Bloggers Program, and received the review copy as a part of this program. I was not obligated to provide a favorable review.

Life: Trust Above; there's so much more

Life: Trust Above; there's so much more

 We start out protected, curled up if you will, inside a nurturing dark place; then the miracle of birth happens and we are thrust into a bright world of unknown. As a newborn we roll and cry unable to do much else and rely totally on the knowledge and compassion of others. We are not satisfied to stay still for long, so we  learn to roll over, look around and take in our surroundings. Looks like fun with all the shapes and colors coming into focus. Hey, let's go explore! Hmm... can't ...quite see that from here..How... can,...umm...get closer.... We wiggle and move and eventually crawl  to see all that's around us. Such excitement at our finger tips! Amazing colors and textures to explore. Everything is new as we start traveling around. So much to do, so much to learn!  ... so much trouble we can get into!... We're guided and encouraged, to go even farther, reach even higher, and do even more. Constantly we are watched from Above and kept safe.

Before long, we want more. We gain confidence and  get the courage to reach  out and embrace the unknown:  we touch,  grab and hold on to anything we can reach.  Wow isn't this grand? Exploring our world, our surroundings, yet, before long, it's not enough. We need more, we're evolving into something greater than ourselves. If we just hold on here, push off there... we start  pulling ourselves up trying to stand.  We focus hard,  try and try, legs not holding but our resilience is amazing so we try again, and again and again. Always with the encouragement from  Above.  On  wobbly feet  and a death grip hold, we realize our accomplishment and smile! We're standing so tall, smiles and giggles all around.  In our excitement we lose track of what we are doing, lose our focus, our grip, and fall. Startled that we're back down here, we sit there awhile assessing our wounds, checking our surroundings, contemplating if it's worth another try. After some "down" time,  finally we gain the confidence to  reach up and try again. We've  gained  knowledge  from what happened in our past so  this time we stay focused and hold on tight. Hesitantly,  slowly,  we stand again.  We did it!! We made it!! We're standing again!! We look around and are happy right where we  are. Sounds of Joy from Above fill our ears as we steady ourselves and gain strength and courage.

It's fun here, people cooing and calling, another perspective on life. But we must continue our journey as we have much to explore. We must move on, move up, and take that first hesitant step.  At first we are fearful as we remember our falls. But we call up our courage and resolve to  steady ourselves if we listen, we can hear that ever present encouraging voice from Above Guiding us forward. Slowly,  we slide our foot forward... balance..... slowly.... focus...slowly.... breathe.... we take one  step... breathe... good....then another...balance...  yes!... always holding on reaching out, reaching Up to a Higher force, a Higher being.

Before long, we learn we can do things on our own, so we let go and start trusting  ourselves. Stepping one foot in front of the other, out of our comfort zone, yet finding the challenge exhilarating and enlightening, so we keep going... Walking, watching, taking in all that we can, reaching for the next object. Yes we fall, sit, contemplate, only to reach Up again and grab that hand, hold on tight and try again.... We know that Higher being is there Above, encouraging us, guiding us, leading us... Feeling Love and support,  we continue to get up and try again. Our world has expanded tenfold.  Our excitement can't be contained as we evolve from walking, to running, to skipping and jumping. Life is full of amazements, knowledge, lessons.  We are  independent ,yet  Above,  watches and guides us; leaving us to play, learn lessons, fall, explore, see, feel, touch taste, experience life in all its grandeur, setbacks, and accomplishments.

We walk, we run, we dance, we know so much....still, I feel from Above, there is so much more. We are being encouraged to go a little farther, reach a little higher... to the next level. It's time again to go within and hear that Voice of Encouragement, of Change, of Knowledge... Listen to the Guidance, Compassion and Love, and reach Up,  hold on tight, and take that first step into another dimension, another level, another perspective on life.... Above has never let us down.  We must find our inner courage, the Faith to conquer our fears , explore the wonders we just now can see, and step another step on our journey. The path may not be easy, but the Light is Great. Come join me, lets walk together for a while, learn and explore...

written 9-22-1009

with Love and Light,

by Nina P.