Shanks - A fierce love: one womans courageous journey to save her marriage

Shaunas courageous fight for Gods will to prevail in her marriage is beautiful beyond words. A Fierce Love is an amazing reminder that, with his strength, we can still choose to show love... even with a broken heart.

LYSA TERKEURST, New York Times bestselling author; president, Proverbs 31 Ministries

When author Shauna Shanks got the worst news a wife could getthat her husband wanted a divorceshe pleaded with God, Please just give me one thing I can focus on! Just one word. He gave her two: Endure. Hope. I urge you to read this remarkable story of one wife who decided to lean completely on the Lord and to not give up, but to fight for her marriage. You will not be disappointed.

CHRISTINE CAINE, founder, A21 and Propel Women

This is so much more than the story of a faithful wife wooing her wayward husband back to their marriage. It is the story of a faithful God wooing his wayward people back to his side. If youve ever wandered or been wounded by someone who has, you will find great comfort and encouragement in all the words Shauna shares. No matter what the imposing mountain in front of you looks likemarriage, money, sickness, or shameyou will learn from her example how God reveals himself through lifes impossible situations.

AMY LIVELY, author, How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird

Shauna Shanks takes us on a journey of what its like to be faced with an impossible situation, and to either do what makes sense in the eyes of the world and those around us, or have the audacious faith that God calls on us to have. A Fierce Love is a must read for everyone who has ever had their faith put to the test in a big way.

CHAD VEACH, lead pastor, Zoe Church in Los Angeles, California

Wow. Sometimes relationship miracles are the most amazing miracles of all. This is one of those miracle stories we need to know about. At its core, this is a story about a persons relationship with God as it is tested and navigated through one of the most severe crucibles of life. There were times in Shaunas story where I could hardly believe she was getting skewered and crushed by these emotional attacks again and again. And yet in the midst of those situations, she shares her vivid examples of God opening her eyes and directing her to dig in and use the principles of the Word of God and overcome by faith, even when it seems she is hanging on by a thread emotionally. I really love the battle-tested and practical examples she shares. For this reason, this book is a road map of sorts, but one that shows not just the way through to a miracle, but also the pitfalls of despair when one strays off the pathand how to course-correct by Gods mercy and grace. We need to know stories like this existespecially in this hour, when so many hearts are used to giving up and growing hard and cold. This kind of story restores hope in the power of Gods love to overcome obstacles and shows love is worth fighting for, even when the situation seems to drag on without any reason for hope. God never leaves your side, and his Word and his Spirit will both work in and with you to strengthen you to see these amazing miracles happen.

TIMOTHY JORGENSEN, pastor; author, Spirit Life Training

To Micahfor your support and willingness, without reservation, to share our story.

To Aunt Jan and Shannonfor journeying the trenches with me and taking me to the paths.

For my boys: Josiah, Gabe, and Judahfor praying every night for mommy to get her book published. Thank you for your prayers.

T his being my first book, Im not sure if its normal to cry through writing the acknowledgments, but I surely did! I am honored to have crossed paths with you all. Your contribution to this book is immense. Thank you. We truly did this together.

Russell and Shannon who were the first to tell me, You should write that down.

John and Shannon Kellough, thank you for your spiritual covering. What an example youve given us to follow.

My very first editor, Angie Warner, who took on a project from someone she had never met before.

Leslie and Hattie, the first set of eyes to read my initial manuscript.

My editor Sandra Vander Zicht, for taking a chance on an unknown writer and championing this project from the very beginning. Meeting you at She Speaks was like a dream come true, and you continue to be such an inspiration to me!

Lori Vanden Bosch, whose feedback, advice, (and chopping!) took my original manuscript and masterfully crafted it to be a real book. Thank you!

David Morris, Tom Dean, and the whole Zondervan team for this opportunity to write. Your expertise has taught me so much through this process, and I am honored to be working with the best in the industry.

Robin Phillips, for your advice in the beginning and for being a quiet champion.

Lysa TerKeurst and the whole P31 team, for creating She Speaks to offer help to writers who have no idea what they are doing. Thank you for investing in women and making sure we are equipped to follow through with our God-given passions and talents. She Speaks was the avenue that started it all for this project. I have learned so much about writing through this ministry and have made many contacts and friends along the journey.

Amy Lively, my first writer-friend! Thank you for taking my phone call and walking me through those initial steps, and for your encouragement along the way.

My Pastors Mark and Nicki Pfeifer for coming along side of Micah and me and sowing into our family. Its an honor to serve with you.

Pastor Rick Cole and Capital Christian Center for being our second church home, whose presence is weaved throughout this whole story.

Blake and Kellie, friends who are also leaders.

Christine Caine, my spiritual coach! Your contagious passion for Jesus inspires me to go out and kick devil butt! You will never know how you encouraged me in the trenches as I listened to Coffee with Chris on repeat, teaching me to dream big, work hard, and trust that God will do what he said hell do. Can we please go get coffee now?

Pastor Carl Lentz, Pastor Judah Smith, Beth Moore, Margaret Feinberg, and Jennie Allen for being voices to this generation and whose words I have repeated in this book. They may seem to be small mentions, but your impact is far greater than you could know. Thank you for being modern-day champions of Jesus through sermons, podcasts, books, events, and every single avenue you use to speak Jesus. It is so needed, and we are listening.

Jason Harper; mentor, pastor, friend.

Bryce Eldridge at Knowledge House Design and Marketing for helping me develop my platform and website and for keeping me on task in general.

Kim Potter for listening to every idea before it was translated on paper. We learned many of these lessons together, my friend. Youre a treasure, seashell! Lyndsie, Alana, Crystal, Kristyn, and Rebecca, treasured friends, proof of my immeasurably more. What an honor doing life with you.

Jennifer, my forever friend, and the road trip that started it all.

SAN FRANCISCO, SPRING BREAK, 2003

Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

GENESIS 2:25

H e parked the borrowed Audi TT at an overlook. Everything had been carefully planned. We strolled down Baker Beach, drove up Lombard Street, and visited the Palace of Fine Arts. We got to see Alcatraz and enjoy the famous bread bowls on the pier.

It was windy, the usual forecast in the bay. The sun was shining, creating nice breaks of warmth against the cold air coming off of the water. We took in the sights and smells of the sea lions as we paused to watch them play in the harbor.