Trusting God When Life Knocks You Down

 

Get Back Up: Trusting God When Life Knocks You Down

Author Sheryl Giesbrecht shares inspiration

for overcoming the challenges of life

Did you know it is possible to survive a freefall from the Willis Tower in Chicago or a skydive with a failed parachute? It will hurt, and it will take some time to heal, but it is possible. Our lives can be a lot like that freefall, but we can survive whatever challenges God puts in front of us if we just get back up. In Get Back Up: Trusting God When Life Knocks You Down (Wheatmark/March 2013/ISBN: 978-1-60494-854-7/$ 12.95/also available in e-book), Sheryl Giesbrecht shares her personal story of triumph over tragedy to help readers understand they can not only survive their adversities, but thrive.

As much as we would like it to be, life is not always easy or fair for Christ followers. Giesbrecht learned this truth firsthand but also discovered that from the depths of past pain, it is possible to be raised up. It is possible to exchange hurt for hope. Trusting God in the midst of a life turned upside down is essential for survival, and climbing out of the pits of despair would be impossible without Him. God is capable of taking our losses and mistakes and turning them into something remarkably beautiful if we just let Him.

Giesbrecht’s own story began with her conversion to Christ more than 30 years ago. Once a rebellious teenager, alcoholic and drug addict, she knows the difficulties that come with overcoming physical addictions. However, that is just the beginning of her incredible testimony of faith and resilience. A cancer survivor, Giesbrecht fought stage 4 lymphoma and knows the heartbreak of disappointment, discouragement and disease. She encourages others that they, too, can overcome. Recently widowed after 28 years of marriage, Giesbrecht has walked through the valley of the shadow of death after finding her husband immediately after a motorcycle accident that took his life. From the depths of these experiences, her desire is for believers to be set free from past hurts, to be healed and to be whole emotionally.

“Remember skinned knees and bruised elbows? Chalk up these casualties to part of the process when you learned to ride a bike or roller skate. You probably went down hard the first few times you fell, but after that, you learned to anticipate how to avoid the fall and planned ahead a little better,” writes Giesbrecht. “Once you applied learned techniques, common sense and God-given intuition, you avoided falling again. We literally trip and fall as we walk through life, like toddlers who move from cruising the couch to the first wobbly steps on their own, but then—whoops!—land face-first on the floor. Adults unfortunately fall, too.”

Much like a physical fall, readers will learn that it’s not how a person falls that matters, but how they land. By preparing for landing—how we respond when we fall—we’ll be better equipped not only to survive our fall, but thrive once we get back up. Giesbrecht also encourages readers to find opportunities to forgive in both good and bad times. With honesty and transparency, readers will learn from Giesbrecht’s experiences what it takes to trust in God, no matter what life may bring.

About the Author

Exchanging hurt for hope is Sheryl Giesbrecht’s focus—a message she shares with audiences as a radio personality, author and speaker. A dynamic teacher and motivating leader, Giesbrecht has endured many changes and challenges, moving her to a deep faith, trust and dependence on God.

She served as Focus on the Family's columnist for Pastor's Wives for four years. Hundreds of her columns, magazine and devotional articles have appeared in Focus on The Family Magazine, Just Between Us, Discipleship Journal, CCM, Walk Thru the Bible’s - InDeed and Tapestry publications.

Giesbrecht’s radio show, “Kindred Moments,” can be heard each weekday evening and Sunday afternoons on KAXL 88.3 FM Music for Life (www.KAXL.com), and her nationally syndicated radio show, “Turn Up the Music with Sheryl Giesbrecht,” is heard on numerous networks across the United States (www.KERN.com).

She also has a heart for missions and is avid about reaching out to the poor and needy, locally through the Rescue Mission and worldwide through Compassion International.  Giesbrecht is also the Executive Director of International Christian Ministries (www.ICMUSA.org) and has been personally involved with equipping hundreds and facilitating the training of thousands of leaders internationally. It is a ministry in which she worked alongside her late husband, Paul .

The joys of Giesbrecht’s life are her two children, son-in-law and memories of the time spent with her beloved husband. Sheryl holds a bachelor of arts from Biola University, a master’s in ministry and a doctorate of theology.

Learn more about Sheryl Giesbrecht on her website, www.FromAshesToBeauty.com. She also invites readers to follow her on Facebook (AuthorSherylGiesbrecht) and on Twitter (@SGiesbrecht).