Jerusha: It’s been too long since my friend and fellow writer, Angela Arndt, has visited us! In honor of her visit (and the extreme cold in my part of the country right now), I’m giving away a print copy of Irene Hannon’s suspense novel, Thin Ice. Leave a comment below for your chance to win!
By Angela Arndt
I was a skinny, bookish, twelve-year-old, complete with heavy bottle-bottom glasses when my parents moved to a new church closer to our home. I didn’t know many kids there, so when someone invited me to a Youth Pool Party after church, I was thrilled.
However, soon after I arrived, that feeling became horror as one of the older boys picked me up and threw me in the deep end. He thought I was kidding when I screamed I couldn’t swim.
I wasn’t.
I remember hearing the other kids yelling above me as I flailed around, trying to stay calm enough to find the side of the pool. It was only a few seconds later that I finally got close enough to the surface to reach up for the edging around the pool.
That’s when someone reached over the edge and unceremoniously pulled me out of the water by my hair. I came out of the water yelling. I still don’t know who annoyed me more: the merry trickster who threw me in or my so-called “hero” who told everyone that he’d rescued me.
These days, I don’t swim very much. Several years ago I was diagnosed with several chronic pain issues and now my life is different.
My life is limited and yes, sometimes it makes me angry. Fear and anger are two sides of the same coin, especially when adrenaline kicks in.
It’s like the song my first grade teacher taught us about the teapot. Getting steamed up will bring out whatever emotion is inside.
These days I have to pace myself. I can’t even make plans. I’ve missed family holidays, let people down because I was in so much pain I couldn’t get dressed. It terrifies me to think that I could be like this (or worse) for the rest of my life.
It would be easy to allow pain and disappointment to fill my days. But if I did, where would I find room for joy?
I have to live in that scary deep end, especially when the pain is over my head. All of us have to live in the deep ends sometimes, when we’re going through any kind of trial. So, how can we let go and find God’s joy?
1. Support Groups. It’s scary to jump in the deep-end alone. If you have been diagnosed with a chronic illness or are going through another kind of trial, search for a local or online support group. There are support groups for all kinds of difficulties, including chronic pain issues, grief, job loss, and addiction.
2. Spiritual support. You need prayer support. You can’t conquer fear without it. Those prayer warriors who lift you up out of the murky waters are the real heroes.
3. Counseling. Just as I needed someone to reach down and pull me out by my hair (even if I did think I could make it alone), you might need a good counselor to pull you out of your fear or your pity because your life has changed so much.
4. Prayer. Those long, sweet conversations with God are imperative. If you’re going to have the strength to fight the feelings of hopelessness, you have to talk to someone who understands. God made you. He always understands.
Trying to survive in the deep end is scary, whether you’ve a health issue, lost a job, or are at a crossroads in your marriage or faith. It’s not for the faint of heart and takes strength and help to climb out.
Don’t be overcome with fear or anger. Get some help and keep reaching for God’s joy.
Do you feel like you’re drowning in a trial right now? How do you battle fear and find joy? Please share!
Angela Arndt writes women’s fiction with a thread of romance, telling stories of strong, independent women in difficult situations set in small Southern towns. Her biggest hope is that she will encourage her readers to overcome their own “back roads” and find joy in the Lord again.
Represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books & Such Literary Agency, Angela has a Master’s Degree from the University of South Carolina and continues learning the craft of writing fiction through the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Novel Academy (former My Book Therapy), and The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild. It’s her hope to encourage and equip Christian writers along their writing journey as a team member of Seriously Write.
She and her husband, Charles, live on a bee farm in the middle of a big wood with their furbabies: Beau, Harley, Buddy, and Poppet.
You can connect with Angela at her website and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
I’m offering one free print copy of Irene Hannon’s Thin Ice to one of you! To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment below! (Giveaway ends Feb. 11, 2019; Winner must have continental U. S. mailing address.)
After losing her parents in a car accident and her sister to a house fire, Christy Reed has been mired in grief. Life is finally starting to feel normal again when an envelope arrives in the mail–addressed in her sister’s handwriting. And the note inside claims she is still alive.
FBI Special Agent Lance McGregor, a former Delta Force operator, is assigned to reopen the case, but he’s coming up with more questions than answers. If Ginny Reed is still alive–who is the woman buried in her grave? Where is Ginny? And is Christy a pawn in a twisted cat-and-mouse game–or the target of a sinister plot? As he digs deeper, one thing becomes clear: whoever is behind the bizarre ruse has a deadly agenda.
Bestselling author and two-time Christy Award finalist Irene Hannon warms readers’ hearts as they root for a romance between Lance and Christy, but she pulls out all the stops as this high-stakes thriller chills to the bone in a race to the finish.
Comments 23
Praying strength for you, my friend!
Hey, Sandy!
Oh, thank you so much! I appreciate your prayers and your support. I’m so glad you’re my friend!
Angie
Thanks for the encouraging post! How right you are, that “Fear and anger are two sides of the same coin, especially when adrenaline kicks in.” My experiences confirm this statement time and time again, and I think the Bible testifies to its truth, too, illustrated in so many places, from the Israelites ready to kill Moses because of their fear of the enemy to the Pharisees plotting to kill Jesus because they feared the Son of God. And I love your solid recommendations on how to beat the fear and anger.
Oh, I’m so glad it encouraged you! I’m afraid I’ve found that truth confirmed in my own life, too. I think we, as humans, are just afraid of anything different. Those recommendations helped me fight my own negative emotions. Fear and anger are part of the old man (or woman) and it’s only through Christ that we can overcome them.
Thanks so much for the encouraging comment!
Jerusha, thanks so much for having me on your blog again! It’s such a thrill to be here. And thanks for the opportunity to share what I’ve learned along the way. Believe me, it’s been a lesson learned the hard way. (And I was just thinking that I needed to re-read it again this morning!) I hope it speaks to your readers and helps them overcome the “overwhelm.”
Thanks again!
Angie
Author
It’s always a delight to have you here, Angie! Thank you for so honestly sharing your trials and what God has taught you along the way. I love hearing how our God sustains and grows His children, not just in spite of, but because of the trials He gives us. You are such an encouragement to me and many others! And the tips you give here are applicable to me and I know will help others going through hard times. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
I enjoyed your encouraging post. I too suffer from chronic pain although I don’t think mine is as severe as yours. I do experience fear and anger about it and appreciate the wise counsel you offered in your post. I’ll be praying for you!
Also, my favorite pastime is reading!
Hi, Mary Ellen!
No matter how strong the pain is or how long it lasts, we all need coping strategies to be able to face it. I’m so glad to hear from you! Thank you so much for your prayers. I’ll be praying for you, too. Hang in there!
Author
Congratulations, Mary! You’re the randomly selected winner of Thin Ice by Irene Hannon. I’ll email you with more details. Thanks for joining the conversation!
Thanks so much for sharing from your heart, Angie. I know I can get discouraged at times with my inabilities due to arthritis in my hands and back issues that will require surgery in March, so I think I can at least slightly understand what you are going through. I am trying not to be overwhelmed by what is going on and am once again learning to lean on the Lord for strength. Again, thanks for the reminder!
Thanks also for the giveaway – the book sounds like a great way to take my mind off what’s going on :).
Hey, Betti!
Arthritis is so hard and I pray that your surgery will help. Like I told Mary Ellen, pain is pain and it’s all rough (or something like that). Being overwhelmed can be a good thing for the very reason you mentioned — we have to run to our Lord for help and strength. If we try to handle it all in our own strength, whether it’s pain or loss or too many blessings, then we’re going to fail. Just like you said, we’ve got to lean into Him for strength.
And I agree with you, Irene Hannon’s book is a great way to “escape.” Thanks for the giveaway, Jerusha!
Hang in there. Keep trusting Him. And thanks for leaving a comment!
Angie
Thanks so much for sharing. Number 4 in your list is so precious…that we can have those conversations with the Lord who understands.
Oh, Anne, yes! He listens to us whenever we need him. I’m so glad he does understand our pain!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting.
Praying for you!
Angie
Angie, I love your transparency. I’ve been in the deep end too many times myself. Great suggestions and great post. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much, Andrea! There’s an old computer term, WYSIWYG, which means, “what you see is what you get.” Life is hard enough without pretending to be something you aren’t. I’m sorry that we share deep-end experiences, but those adventures make our faith deeper, too. Thank you so much for the encouragement. I appreciate you!
Angie
Thanks for the anecdote about not being able to swim. I’m almost 70 and don’t know how, despite my parents each having taught swimming a very long time ago. It has not kept me out of the ocean, or lake when I was a child. I remember floating in Lake Erie. But I don’t remember any close calls.
Thanks, too for the Irene Hannon giveaway. I love her books because she writes about the St. Louis area and I lived there fir 20 years and every time I read her books, I can pick out the places she writes about.
paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet
You’re welcome, Paula! Yes, I can still have fun in the water and even did a little water aerobics with a “noodle.” I bet you still had fun, too. That’s the good thing about keeping a positive attitude, it helps you deal with things a little better. I love Irene Hannon’s mysteries, too! How fun to be familiar with her settings! Too cool!
Thanks for commenting!
Angie
Angie what a terrible way to be introduced to your young peers. Your analogy is a good reminder that I tend to flail about when life feels over my head. Instead of relying on the life preserver provided through scripture and prayer. You are always gracious and caring regardless of your pain. I can only hope to exhibit the same on my best days. You are a blessing to me. Loved the guest post.
Hey, sweet friend! I’m sure those kids weren’t being mean, it was probably the equivalent of dipping my ponytail in the inkwell. I appreciate your sweet words and encouragement. Your prayers and friendship mean so much to me. You’re a blessing to me, too!
Angie, I love your sweet spirit and practical advice. You persevere through so many trials, yet you continue to encourage the rest of us. Thanks for sharing this wonderful post.
Angie, thanks for your words of wisdom.
Fun giveaway! Have a great week Jerusha. 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by, Iassica! 🙂