Church. We don't talk about
things like that, yet millions
suffer with it every day. It's
time to embrace this beautiful
broken life. struggle you have found
among Christians?
What is the most common Sheila: In today’s technology
Sheila: I think one of the
most common struggles
in the Church is a lack of
This book has been described
transparency. We think the
as “a practical method for con- love of God is based on our
necting with God’s strength in
behavior rather than on the
the midst of struggle.” Give us
finished work of Christ so we
an example of how this is true. hide who we really are. I’ve
Sheila: I hope that anyone who discovered that our brokenness
reads In the Middle of the Mess is a far greater bridge to others
than our pretend wholeness
will begin to understand at a
ever does. We are not alone,
deeper level that God loves
even in the ugliest corners of
them now, as they are, not
our lives. We all struggle with
as they hope to be. I've been
something, whether it's raising
intentionally practical too,
our children, fighting for our
sharing tools that helped me
marriage, facing illness or a
on this journey and hopefully
million other issues. Life is messy
they’ll help someone else
but Christ's promise to those
connect with God like I did.
who love Him is peace, hope
We can't know the will of God
and strength and greatest of
if we don't know the Word of
all, His presence.
God. So many of the spiritual
disciplines of The Church
According to psychological
through the ages have fallen
research, the need for human
by the wayside.
beings to be acknowledged
and to find love and
By focusing on these five
disciplines—prayer, meditation, acceptance is, perhaps, the
most basic and defining of
community, confession and
thanksgiving—I found strength needs. How do you deal with
this in a world where people
and peace on even the most
seem to be so disconnected
difficult days. I hope that
from each other, and how
sharing the steps through my
does this relate to our daily
journey will help others to find
connection to Jesus?
their own peace as well.
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