About Shelley
I was in my eighth-year teaching elementary school when my world was unexpectedly sent into a tailspin by the death of my then, only child. In a matter of four months, I lost my marriage, daughter, career, and house. By the world's standards, I had nothing left. But God did not leave me in that hurting space indefinitely.
Amid my grief, God pursued my heart. I subsequently went back to college, obtained a master's degree in counseling from a christian university, became a licensed professional counselor and a certified grief counselor. Fast forward ten years and I write this from a place of gratitude about all that God carried me through.
The loss of my daughter also brought up additional unresolved past wounds and highlighted for me that my self-worth was too attached to the fleeting things of life – man’s opinions of me, past words and wounds that sowed into my life seeds of rejection.
It was when I seemingly lost everything that I learned God really was enough. As I used the opportunity to rebuild my life on what God says about me and how much He loves me, what resulted was true emotional freedom. Regardless of how I feel on any given day, scripture tells me in Isaiah 43:1:
"...Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine" (NIV).
What this means for me is that the creator of the entire universe saw the broken, messy, worn-out pieces of my heart and life and proclaimed to all of creation, "Shelley! I want her to be mine!”
But God did not just do this for me; this is how much God loves you also!
It has been quite a journey for me to move from a place of reading the scripture, to learning it, to applying it, to fully believing it. I listed believing last, because while I believed in God and believed that Jesus was my Lord and Savior, initially I really struggled to wrap my mind around my worth and just how much God adores me.
For too long, I let my past short-comings and my undesired circumstances dictate how I saw myself. But when I began to see myself as valuable because of Whose I was and not at all about what I have done or what was done to me, everything changed. This is not to be mistaken for any form of self-elevation, for my worth is directly tied to my creator. Internalizing the truth that God desires to be in a relationship with me and His love for me never wavers has beautifully culminated into an overflow of joy.
Today as I write this, it is an ordinary morning within my home. I am currently sporting a messy bun and leopard print leggings. My two elementary age children are roller skating through the house in their pajamas and my now, sweet husband is taking advantage of some extra Saturday morning sleep. But within these four walls is an opportunity to reflect on the goodness of God and His astounding provision. As I do this, the ordinary moments become much sweeter.
Reminiscing about all that God has carried me through, reminds me of Genesis 50:20, what the enemy meant for evil, God intended and used for good.
I now live in an emotional space where I am acutely aware that no matter what this day holds for me, good or bad, celebration or unexpected trauma, my Heavenly Father has it all under control. What do my days hold at this point? Most of my time is spent going on family adventures, working at an addiction recovery center, writing, and speaking/teaching on an array of topics whenever I am able.
However, amid the busyness of life's ever-changing circumstances, I know that I do not have to worry about anything today. I can rest, fully at peace, in God's provision and providence...because I I know, without a doubt, that I belong to Him.
Amid my grief, God pursued my heart. I subsequently went back to college, obtained a master's degree in counseling from a christian university, became a licensed professional counselor and a certified grief counselor. Fast forward ten years and I write this from a place of gratitude about all that God carried me through.
The loss of my daughter also brought up additional unresolved past wounds and highlighted for me that my self-worth was too attached to the fleeting things of life – man’s opinions of me, past words and wounds that sowed into my life seeds of rejection.
It was when I seemingly lost everything that I learned God really was enough. As I used the opportunity to rebuild my life on what God says about me and how much He loves me, what resulted was true emotional freedom. Regardless of how I feel on any given day, scripture tells me in Isaiah 43:1:
"...Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine" (NIV).
What this means for me is that the creator of the entire universe saw the broken, messy, worn-out pieces of my heart and life and proclaimed to all of creation, "Shelley! I want her to be mine!”
But God did not just do this for me; this is how much God loves you also!
It has been quite a journey for me to move from a place of reading the scripture, to learning it, to applying it, to fully believing it. I listed believing last, because while I believed in God and believed that Jesus was my Lord and Savior, initially I really struggled to wrap my mind around my worth and just how much God adores me.
For too long, I let my past short-comings and my undesired circumstances dictate how I saw myself. But when I began to see myself as valuable because of Whose I was and not at all about what I have done or what was done to me, everything changed. This is not to be mistaken for any form of self-elevation, for my worth is directly tied to my creator. Internalizing the truth that God desires to be in a relationship with me and His love for me never wavers has beautifully culminated into an overflow of joy.
Today as I write this, it is an ordinary morning within my home. I am currently sporting a messy bun and leopard print leggings. My two elementary age children are roller skating through the house in their pajamas and my now, sweet husband is taking advantage of some extra Saturday morning sleep. But within these four walls is an opportunity to reflect on the goodness of God and His astounding provision. As I do this, the ordinary moments become much sweeter.
Reminiscing about all that God has carried me through, reminds me of Genesis 50:20, what the enemy meant for evil, God intended and used for good.
I now live in an emotional space where I am acutely aware that no matter what this day holds for me, good or bad, celebration or unexpected trauma, my Heavenly Father has it all under control. What do my days hold at this point? Most of my time is spent going on family adventures, working at an addiction recovery center, writing, and speaking/teaching on an array of topics whenever I am able.
However, amid the busyness of life's ever-changing circumstances, I know that I do not have to worry about anything today. I can rest, fully at peace, in God's provision and providence...because I I know, without a doubt, that I belong to Him.