Jerusha: I’m delighted to welcome Brandy Mincer to the FW Blog! Brandy is offering a paperback copy of her children’s picture book, The Clam Before the Storm, to one of you. So read on and leave a comment below to enter the giveaway!
By Brandy Mincer
In August of 2021, COVID was running rampant in our community. The cases were at an all-time high and our hospital was full. One of those cases was my father.
He was one of the first patients to be ventilated and moved into the COVID Unit. For a week solid when my husband got home from work to watch our two boys, I would drive to the hospital to pray.
My hands on the bricks, still warm from the sun, I would sob and pray to God for a miracle. After about thirty minutes I would compose myself, get back in my vehicle, and drive home.
Then the all too familiar dance would happen.
That two-step that we do with faith and fear.
I would struggle between believing for the miracle that I had just prayed for, and preparing my heart for the worst if it didn’t happen.
I felt like the man who said to Jesus, “Lord, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) The pandemic had many of us in this hard place.
On Sunday, August 15th, 2021, my mother called me to say she was going to my younger brother’s house, over an hour away, to check on him.
He had called saying that he felt like he was having a panic attack; he too had COVID.
I reassured my mom that everything would be fine and that I was praying. I continued to get ready for church, but nothing could have prepared me for the next phone call.
I will never forget the sound of her voice as she explained to me that the paramedics were doing CPR on my brother. I was shocked at how quickly things had escalated.
The final call was devastating. All she said was, “He didn’t make it.”
I lost it.
I remember watching my hand throw the phone onto the floor.
It was like one of those surreal “movie moments” where you see yourself from above.
I kept screaming, “NO!”
I went over to the window in our bedroom, looked outside at the sky, and asked, “God, what are you doing?”
This was not a question birthed from irreverence. This was me, in a very raw state, leaning on the promise of Romans 8:28:
“And we know in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Emphasis mine.)
The next morning, we got the call that there was nothing else they could do at the hospital for my dad.
Two deaths in two days.
The weeks that followed were hard, but amazingly, filled with peace.
I wish I could tell you some kind of “3-step plan” that made the hardest days of my life bearable, but there isn’t one.
A relationship with God, conversing with Him on an almost hour-by-hour basis is what kept me sane. I was finding comfort in the Comforter.
If our first response to worry is prayer, the chances of fear growing uncontrollably are slim.
A verse kept repeating over and over in my mind and spirit during those grief-filled days:
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7
That peace is critical when “understanding” is at a minimum.
Sure, if we could pull back the veil on this side of heaven and get a glimpse of what God is up to, we might not become so fearful when something unexpected happens. But that’s not how it works.
God doesn’t require our understanding when He is working in our lives.
However, the struggle is real when our brains cannot make the connection between what we think God should be doing, and what is actually happening in the here and now.
We can become so desperate for answers when we should be desperate for the One who holds those answers.
When our focus is on the God Who created the universe, it doesn’t matter what the universe throws at us.
THE END OF ANXIETY
In 2017, I wrote a story based on a grammatical error on Facebook.
Someone had posted that it was “clam” outside, instead of “calm.” Being a jokester at heart, I immediately started saying phrases and inserting the word clam in place of calm. Thus, The Clam Before the Storm was born.
In this children’s book, young Sam Clam feels a whoosh in the water and becomes worried that a storm is on its way. He begins to tell all his friends they need to hide because of this storm.
The friends are becoming more alarmed about this supposed storm, when along comes Myrtle Sea Turtle who tells them the storm could never happen because they, in fact, live in an aquarium!
Initially, I never had the thought of publishing this story. It was just something I wrote to make my boys laugh.
Five years later, in the midst of my own personal storm, I sensed God leading me to revisit the story. After reading it again, I felt even more impressed to add Philippians 4: 6-7 to the end. It fit perfectly.
At that moment, doors began to open for the illustrations (a 16-year-old from our town, a former employer’s daughter) and eventual publication of the children’s picture book. I even decided to have a plush toy of Sam Clam manufactured to accompany the book.
Since the book was published, I’ve received several messages from parents saying their kids want to read the book every night, and the plush toy helps to remind them not to worry when anxious situations arise.
This is tragedy turned into triumph. This is pandemic pressure reshaped into a reassuring message that God will work things for our good!
I have been blessed to be able to speak at over nine public schools this last school year. The thing I keep repeating at the end of the story is this: yes, things can be scary, but we don’t have to STAY scared.
Even in the dark, when we can’t see it, God is still in control.
It has been amazing seeing so many eyes light up in the hope that their identity of having anxiety is not a life-long diagnosis.
I know the Author of a sound mind, and I know the author of confusion; the latter is out to convince this next generation that they can never be victorious over fear and anxiety.
With God’s help, I’m out to prove him wrong!
Do you or your children struggle with anxiety? Which part of this post ministered to you the most in the battle you’re fighting against fear? Please share!
Photos by Kristina Tripkovic and Jonatan Becerra. Original graphics designed by Jerusha Agen.
Brandy Mincer lives in Harrison, AR and is a homeschool mom of two boys. She has told stories her whole life and loves to make others laugh. Her main goal in life is to point others toward Jesus.
She has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Arkansas Tech University, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
Follow Brandy on Facebook and Instagram.
Brandy is giving away one print copy of The Clam Before the Storm to one of you! Simply leave a comment below to enter the giveaway! (Giveaway ends September 25, 2023. Winner must have continental U. S. mailing address.)
The Clam Before the Storm
The Clam Before the Storm is the story of young Sam Clam and his friends as they become scared of an approaching storm.
Through their journey, with the help of Myrtle Sea Turtle, we learn that God doesn’t want us to be afraid.
The Clam before the Storm can be purchased alone or with the adorable Sam Clam plush toy!
Grab the book and/or the plush toy here.
Comments 33
Thank you for sharing your story. It helps to be reminded others go through times like this too. In the moment it can feel like our world is crumbling but God is right there holding us through it.
Amen! He is the ultimate Comforter and Healer!
I love the statement about when you know the Creator of the universe, it doesn’t matter what the universe throws at you (paraphrased). The problem isn’t that we don’t trust the Creator, it’s we don’t trust ourselves to not be doing something.
I love Mark 9:24. We have faith but to admit we don’t have enough faith is tough.
Wow, very interesting point! There are times that we like to take the control instead of handing it over to the only One that can control it.
What a powerful blog this morning. I’m so sorry for the loss of your dad and brother. Thank you for sharing as this has encountered me and will many others. Im going to buy a set of book and clam for my 7yr old grandson who is struggling with anxiety at night. I also have a gal I mentor whose 9 yr old daughter is also struggling. Thank you for sharing this gift.
Thanks for the condolences, and for reading today. The sole purpose of the book is to help with fear and anxiety, so blessed that another copy will make it into more hands to accomplish the will of the Father!
Thanks so much for the encouragement. I hope the books and plushie will be a tool that the Father uses to calm this little one’s anxieties!
One of my grandchildren is very anxious about things like an upcoming storm or a fire she thinks might come. We pray with her and pray for her and she is slowly beginning to understand that God is loving and powerful. She worries the most at night. I will order your book and clam for her as I see it as an excellent visual of her worrying without seeing the whole picture. Thank you.
Thank you, Colleen! I pray that it blesses her and helps with the night time routine!
brandymincerauthor.square.site
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing this. God is the God of turn arounds.
Amen!
Great message, and not only for kids. It’s so easy to forget who is in charge when problems assail us. We had a pastor who always concluded his conversation with you by saying, “keep looking up”. Wonderful advice!! Blessing to you.
Thank you for the kind words, Randy! It can be such a knee-jerk response sometimes for us to turn to worry instead of prayer.
What a great post, Jerusha! Thank you for the encouragement. This is a message we all need to hear right now. And I love that the set also includes an adorable Sam Clam plushy. Brandy, can we order the set through your website?
Yes! The website is brandymincerauthor.square.site
Anyone should be able to go there and place their order!
Thanks!
Would love to have a copy of this book to read to my grandchildren!
Carol, if you aren’t chosen as the winner for the drawing, feel free to visit my website…
brandymincerauthor.square.site
This article is very encouraging! Thank you for sharing! As someone who has struggled with anxiety for many years, I appreciate hearing how the Lord helps people through difficult times. I know He has a plan and works all things for our good. Praise God!
Praise God! Marjorie, while I don’t know the specifics of your situation, I will be praying for you and the anxieties you face. God is able!
I appreciate that very much! I happened to have a flare of anxiety about my job last night and lost some sleep over it, but this morning I prayed and the Lord encouraged me and He really helped me through a stressful day. Feeling better this evening, praise the Lord!
Author
Congratulations, Marjorie! You’re the randomly selected winner of Brandy’s giveaway! I’ll be in touch via email with more details.
Thank you so much! I can’t wait to get the book! I will be able to share it with students at the school where I work. 😊
Yay!
Thanks for sharing how this book came to be…what an encouraging journey. I will be buying the book for our church library.
Thanks, Julie!
What a great reminder that God is in control – always! Thank you!
Amen! He still sits on His throne, nothing phases Him!
I enjoyed the post and would love to get a copy!
Teresa, if your name isn’t chosen, the book and plush are on my website:
brandymincerauthor.square.site
It’s also on Amazon!
Thanks for the comment!
Thank you for sharing your story and the encouragement! God bless you for allowing him to work through you, and may he use this book greatly!
Thank you so much, may His work continue!
I love the message in your Blog post and book. You may say it’s a children’s book but it sure sounds like a book us adults of all ages need as well!
Yes, it’s definitely a message that can be applied for us as adults!