Sally Clarkson - Help, Im Drowning: Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope

Y oure not alone.

If there is one truth, one piece of encouragement I could give you as you crack open these pages, it would be that whatever you are in the middle of, you are not alone. Its the truth I believed most of my life but found myself clinging to almost four years ago when my husband was diagnosed with incurable cancer. His diagnosis felt like a punch in the stomach. Every breath was a labor, a gasping for just enough air to fill my lungs. It all felt impossible.

How could I possibly survive? I would have to learn to walk through the unimaginable, and I have. Step by step we are moving forward. By the grace of God, my husband is alive today, and although he likely faces a lifetime of some type of treatment, weve experienced the goodness of God in our darkest moments. God has been with us all along.

I dont know what your storm is right now. Maybe its a wayward child. Financial insecurity. An unfaithful spouse. Sickness. Or a miscarriage. But whatever it is, I am guessing you, too, have felt weary and wondered how you will get through what feels impossible.

Not long ago, I lay in bed thinking about someone just like youthe thousands of women who make up my online community. My heart felt tender toward all they may be facing. So right then and there I typed out a little prayer for the woman who was facing hard stuff in her life and hit publish on my Facebook page. In moments, hundreds of comments and shares were flooding in. Women pouring out their hearts desperately in need of prayer for the trials they faced. Its true. Youre not alone. Women all over the world are searching for hope just like you. And the glorious truth is that not only is God forever by your side, but women all over the world are facing hard stuff as well.

There is just something about knowing that not only are you not alone because God is with you, but you are not alone because others have been there. We all need the friend whom we call out to in the middle of the storm. The friend who will walk with us through impossible circumstances and rescue us when were drowning. In the pages of this book, Sally Clarkson is that friend. Over the years, she has been that dear friend to me, and her words have touched me countless times. With wisdom and love she will minister to your heart, point you to the true place for hope and peace, and yes, remind you that you are not alone.

Take courage, my friend. You will get through this. We will get through this. Together.

Ruth Schwenk, founder of TheBetterMom.com and coauthor of In a Boat in the Middle of a Lake: Trusting
the God Who Meets Us in Our Storm