Everything I have read or heard from Sally Clarkson has been a great encouragement to me as both a woman and a mother in ministry. This latest book, Help, I'm Drowning for storm tossed souls is no exception.
Between marriage, motherhood, ministry, and, well, life Sally has had her share of challenges, discouragements, and storms. Still she stands today ever more hopeful and faithful in Christ, seeking to impart the wisdom she has learned through her life difficulties to other women who, if not already, will find themselves in their own storms. As she tells her stories and offers her compassion, Sally hasn't forgotten the value of a biblical prospective grounded in its truth and authority which is most important of all.
I have found her book to be very encouraging and uplifting. It can be easy to look at other women and think life goes so well for them or they have it all together ( especially in this day and age of social media), but reading of Sally's stories of woe is, first of all, a reminder that "I am not the only one who struggles or has moments of discouragements", and two, evidence of Christ's grace and faithfulness through the storms of life and motherhood.
I also enjoy that each chapter ends with an anchoring prayer, scripture verse, and act to help equip and ground us who may otherwise be carried away by the flood.
All and all, I am grateful to Sally for Help, I'm Drowning, and look forward to sharing it with other women.

Who hasn't experienced a storm in a life time? A book that is relevant to all, women and men, even though some say it is a book written primarily for women. Sally is addressing some specific storms one might face – among others: self-condemnation, a sense of failure, marriage stress, difficult children, demands and exhaustion of parenting, the inconsistencies of other people in our lives. I have put a check mark next to all of these categories, and I assume that I am not the only one who faces storms in life. Even though Sally wrote this book with Covid-19 in mind, many of us feel like drowning even without that extra reason. Giving examples from her own life, pointing to a character in the Bible who had the same experiences, grounding a reader in the truth of God's word and saying an anchoring prayer Sally does give us all the best advice on how to get safely though the storms of our lives. And after reading the book I can say that yes, it is possible to do it with grace and hope knowing that you are not alone, that someone understands, that someone else has been in the same situation, and this is just enough to keep your head above the water and have enough strength to wait out the storm. This book is a good read not only for women but for anyone who is involved in ministry with women, discipleship or counseling.

I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.
--Louisa May Alcott.

#helpimdrowning : Weathering The Storms Of Life With Grace & Hope
by @sally.clarkson @bethany_house_nonfiction @bakerpublishing

#happypubday🎉

Thankyou @netgalley for providing an arc of this beautiful, pragmatic read
&
@sally.clarkson for writing this ❤️.
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#qotd🌸
☘️Have you ever stopped the urge to scream,
Help, I'm drowning
when caught in terrible storms/ situations/failures/ loss in life?
☘️Have you doubted God's mercy & your faith, when in fear?
☘️Have you asked God, why me? What have I done wrong?

If any of the above resonates with you, pls read on.

☘️Have you ever bought a hard copy after reading an arc?
I loved this book so much, that I had to get a hard copy. It's pragmatic, builds you up & an essential support, we all need at some time or the other, especially women & mothers.
____
Religion:
I am a Sikh, married to a Hindu & I did my entire schooling in a Convent school, run by nuns, where we read moral science & were taught about Jesus Christ & Christianity, read the Bible, visited the church & celebrated Christmas with utmost fevour.
I believe in one God, the almighty.

This book talks about scriptures & has Psalms & lines from the Bible. The author is a preacher of Christianity but I don't think it makes this book any less for a person of a different religion.
Genre: Christian. #nonfiction
____
❤️This book will teach you to walk by faith, it is totally relatable, will answer our unanswered ques.s, provide wisdom & lessons learnt by Sally in life, has personal stories, prayers, to-do stuff & so much more!
I coloured my book red & blue, coz there was so much I wanted to come back to again & again & that's why I have ordered the hardcopy.
It will help you, guide you, throughout your life journey.
Also, I am eager to check out the author's podcast & other books.

🍓I would recommend check out the free sample on kindle for yourself. It's amazing.

The words build you up, the personal experience helps you relate, the prayers guide you to ask for help, the affirmations make you stronger & the tasks help you get a clearer insight into yourself.

🍀

This author has written more than one book that has been so beneficial to me. She is always strong in her Faith and honest about how hard life can be. She teaches that in the midst of the storm you don’t have to sink but with Faith and a firm foundation you can be steadfast. She shares her personal experiences and tells how she weathered her own storms in own life. I am thankful she shares scripture through this book that help encourage and remind one to be hold on. Her willingness to be real and honest is so encouraging to me.
I received an advanced copy and this is my opinion.

I think we all needed this book right now, after the last year and a half, what we need is hope, and in this book Sally reminds us the only place we are going to find it is in Jesus. As always Sally’s books are beautifully written and timely. I have read all of Sally’s books, I believe this is her best yet.


Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc which I voluntarily reviewed.

Sally speaks right into where most of us live: in less than perfect situations; however, it is here that our “spiritual muscles are stretched.” Our “life-storms” are a “training ground” for our “walk with God.” She points us to God and his word: “Knowing Scripture, pondering it, and taking it into our souls, is what gives us fuel to live the Christian life. The only way to live well is to live in fellowship with God. Nothing else will satisfy.” She also encourages us with personal illustrations and reminds us that this is the walk and work of a lifetime. I have already recommended this book and know that I will be reading it again.

“Help I’m drowning by Sally Clartkson, is a down to earth book that provides practical easy to follow steps to follow in a survival kit needed to weather life’s storms. Personal accounts of reflective thoughts of how and why God chose these lessons to draw the reader closer to himself are encouraging and hope giving no matter what storms you go through regardless of the stage of life you are in. “Life lines” through scriptures, heart felt prayers,My contact information is: lwoe1959@gmail.com or P.O. box 2433, Idyllwild ,Ca 92549 you can email and request my phone number.“H49 you can email and request my phone number.

This is an amazing book for all of the heaviness that is going on in the world today. It addresses different issues that affect us all during different times of our life. Anyone can find something to identify with in this book and feel encouraged. This will be a book I leave on the shelf and get out in times when I feel discouraged, or to give to others going through hard times. Help, I'm Drowning is a phrase that so many women today feel, but don't want to say out loud. There is amazing biblical encouragement and pointing back to Christ for our hope instead of relying on our circumstances for our fulfillment. I also appreciated the chapter on self-care, because that is one of the hardest things for me to take for as a mom. I feel guilty doing it, but I know it is necessary. Thank you Sally for another great one!!

Wow—a book I wish someone handed me as a 20something… as I was a new Christian, newly married, and a new mom. It may not be have helped me avoid many storms, but my mental state through them sure would have benefitted from having been more prepared! Why don’t more people open up about these parts of life as if they are taboo? Sally does such a wonderful job of not hiding the difficulties of a broken world, yet constantly helping us see that God is right there with us in it—faithful, good, and loving, always.

I wish I had known sooner that I am not alone in my experiences and feelings, my struggles and my confusion. I heard Sally make a statement on her podcast that made me immediately pre-order the book, and reading it again in print had the same impact on me. “I experienced so much anguish, doubt, fear, bitterness, and insecurity because I did not know life would be so hard, so often.” Knowing that Sally is in a long standing marriage, has children that get along and are doing wonderful things and love Jesus, and is able to share so much from her walk with Christ… it was hard to believe she has felt the same things I feel, yet, it was so reassuring to know that she did. We always tend to think others have a more “perfect” life, don’t we? Her story helps strengthen my hope and encourages me to remember that God is faithful.

I am not sure why, but this book was so comforting… yet so challenging. I don’t wish to be comforted by hearing about someone else’s challenges in life, but there’s an exhale that comes when you you can ask, “Wait… you too??”. Sally came in again as the honest friend I needed in this very timely book. The very personal writing and reflection made for an encouraging and captivating read, as if sitting and chatting with a loving and wise mentor. I do appreciate Sally’s honesty, transparency, and willingness to openly say all the things she shares in regards to the storms of life. I believe she can do it so well because she is constantly directing us back to God’s truth, showing the heart of the Father, pointing us to Christ, and reminding us to live with the power of the Holy Spirit.

I absolutely devoured every morsel of this book. Sarah has such a gift of edifying, encouraging and setting before you the Gospel, to restore and revitalize the soul. So thankful for her transparency and willingness to share her personal story, so others can benefit and find comfort and healing deep in their very being. I've had several events that had me spinning or drowning and know these words and truths would have helped so much.. I will share this book with all I know.

This is such a timely message for our world. We all face storms in life. Sally shares the wisdom she has learned over the decades and provides encouragement to anchor our hope in Jesus, the One who can calm the storm and see us through.

A timely word from a deep well of wisdom...
It’s no wonder God inspired Sally to write this book during the 2020 pandemic- a storm that has and continues to attempt to drown the world. This book is chock full of personal experience and hard fought wisdom from a life lived faithfully in the storms. One of my favorite things about Sally is that she is never prescriptive. We each have our own unique storms to weather in our individual ways. What she does do is inspire the reader to put one foot in front of the other day in and day out, to be faithful to the ideals and call on your individual life, and to take care of yourself so you can sustain a life-giving legacy one day, storm, and choice at a time. Thank you Sally for sharing your wisdom with the world and calling us all to grow in capacity and agency all the while always finding our rest and peace in the heart of Jesus.

"On the outside, I was keeping up a good face, handling all the pressures and circumstances with as much calm as possible for the sake of those who are looking to me for stability. Yet, a feeling of helplessness and despair lay just below the surface; I felt out of control, like a victim caught in a continuous onslaught of unexpected storms without even a second to catch my breath or get my sea legs. Is it the way of every woman to keep everyone else above water is she slowly sinks under the weight?"

I expected Sally was going to be writing directly to what I needed, but man is she! My soul is so hungry for advice from older women. I don't think words from me will encourage you to read this more than her own words do so here are some more:

"I wish I had understood then that, from the beginning of the world until the end, purposeful living will always exact a cost, that the work of life is often tedious and demanding, that there are battles to be fought in small and insignificant places where faithfulness is required. I know now I can find hope because God desires to companion me every single day and the weary times as well as when we celebrate. Through His Spirit, he has given us capacity to live into strength for the journey we will walk."

"Here's what I know: God gave me my personality with limitations and gifts, and He isn't biting His nails to see if I am going to be perfect at every task, or finish everything on time, even if my publisher or the neighbors are setting a high bar for what is expected of me. Knowing that He knows my limitations takes a little pressure off. ... Sometimes we just need to realize that we are tired because we are working very hard, and that's okay. Sometimes we need to realize we are tired because we were working too hard, and we're making everyone around us miserable, and that's not okay."

"We bring the storms of our lives down to size because we know with full assurance that righteousness and redemption of each precious moment prevails, because He will prevail. And we will celebrate one another's stories for eternity when we meet safely and securely one day with Him, in His glorious kingdom come."

"The choice to be courageous is beyond our feelings. Even when our emotions don't agree, we can practice as a way of life choosing to live in obedience to what is known about His character, which we believe by faith to be loving and good. These actions are truly supernatural, only possible as we walk in the power of His Holy Spirit. It happens as we say with all our heart, by faith and with the conviction of planting a flag of belief, 'He is good. He is faithful and true and He will save me, in His time. I believe all things will work together for good, and I will see it when I am with Him looking at it from His eye-view.' So today my friend, look for joy. Seek out beauty."

Help, I'm Drowning is a terrifically timed book of encouragement and truth! Sally Clarkson addresses the questions many of us are thinking but afraid to ask; Does God care? Does anyone see me? Is this worth it? How can I be a better mother, wife, friend, and neighbor? Life in general is hard, and often not what we expected - but this past year and a half has exasperated this feeling for many of us. Bad things happen and the future is unclear but Sally reminds us "to have agency means I have the power to determine the choices I make, the way I become a steward of my own story, and the pathway I will take toward the legacy I want to leave. I have the possibility of walking by faith, straining toward a virtuous life, and emulating the power of God's Spirit in and through my life. I also have the agency to deny His goodness, to live defeated, to resist His grace, to rebel against His offer of companionship, or to be a victim of the darkness I see and experience." Instead of pat answers or formulae, Sally guides readers - like friends chatting over coffee, with vulnerability and honesty to think deeply about our situations and trust the lighthouse beacon of God who WILL guide us to a safe place to land amid the storms of life.

Help, I'm Drowning is a breath of fresh air and a resource one can use over and over again no matter the trial, tribulation or storm as each chapter concludes with an anchoring prayer, scripture passage and reflection activity.

Help, I’m Drowning is the first book I have read by Sally Clarkson, but it won’t be the last. From the format to the tone of the book, each chapter was something that not only touched my life in some way, but gave me concrete things to think about in the applicable areas of my own life.

I often feel overwhelmed by life and at times hurt, especially this year, Mrs. Clarkson has a way of talking about these times by relating examples from her own life. I felt like I was sitting down with a friend and catching up. Her wisdom is done is a conversational tone, where you feel like the book is written especially for you.

I love the Anchoring Prayer, Anchoring Scripture, and Anchoring Act at the end of each chapter. I often have trouble finding words to pray for some situations and these prayers gave me something to use when words fail me. The scripture was comforting and the act gave me concrete things to try when things feel especially overwhelming.

This is a book I plan to purchase a copy of. I am grateful to NetGalley, Sally Clarkson, and Bethany House for the copy of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Sally Clarkson is a great example of someone who is steadfast in the midst of storms. She is able to write with integrity about weathering the storms of life with grace and hope because of her personal experiences. I am encouraged in the storms of my life because of her willingness to be vulnerable. I appreciate how she weaves encouraging passages from Scripture throughout the book.

Surprisingly, this is only the second book by Sally Clarkson I've read; I may (:D) own another 2+ I'll have to read in short order! I've also read two books by her daughter, Sarah ("Book Girl" and "This Beautiful Truth"), so maybe that's why "only two" feels insufficient.

Clarkson is one of those authors who, while I read, makes me feel like I'm sitting across from her with a cup of tea. Friendly, thoughtful, down to earth, poignant. She (and daughter Sarah, for that matter) has been through her share of trials, and that lends gravitas to the message in this book. I really appreciated her reminder of how Christ never promises an easy life; rather, he promises his presence with us amidst life's storms.

Of particular significance to me in this read were the anchoring prayer, scripture, and act at the end of each chapter. Each tied in well with the chapter's related topic, and helped this reader, anyway, to take it to the next level--practical application!

The one thing that gave me pause was a "letter from Jesus" at the beginning of the book. It read much like Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling" line of books, which I must confess I'm not a fan of (but that's a topic for another day). I'd be curious the attribution behind it, if it was something Clarkson wrote, or procured elsewhere. That aside, however, the book is fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated it.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I do like a self help book but they do run the risk of falling into the preachy category, and after a bit of thinking, I don’t think this one does fall into that category. It is VERY religion heavy, which I wasn’t aware of, but I didn’t think it was decisive. I mean, if you’re completely against religion then this probably isn’t the book for you, but I thought, whilst very heavy on the God ideals, it was very inclusive, often using non-religious quotes and examples to back up her religious beliefs.

Living with the situation of the past two years has been difficult to say the least, and it is often hard to vocalise how it has affected us, but I believe Sally has done it very well in this book. It’s very lyrical but very honest. It’s easy to say we’ve all been in the same boat, but I think that’s misleading. We have all been in the same storm, but some of us have been in cruise ships whilst others have been in little dinghies with holes taped up with masking tape. It’s how we cope with the storm that’s important.

Once again, Sally Clarkson is calling her readers to live a life of excellence. Though, this time, she is lighting a candle of hope in some of life’s darkest moments. She does so in a way that is practical, through sharing life-giving scriptures and small steps one can take toward hope on our worst days. Yet this book does not lecture from afar. Rather, Sally is deeply empathetic and shares new stories about her own storms. This book is a dear friend reaching out her hand to lift you up and remind you that no matter how disappointing or overwhelming life becomes, God is for you; you are never alone!

What a great inspirational book. I used it as my bible study, devoting one chapter a day. Each chapter has a message that has been applied to a life situation along with a bible verse. It then gives you a small assignment ( something to think about and apply to your own life) based on the chapter. This year has been very difficult for me. The author has helped me through some of my issues, specifically in the chapter on hope and faith. She brought me a new perspective and I am again finding the faith (and hope) that I had set aside. Aside from that chapter which resonated so much with me, I found all the chapters to be applicable to life as we know it. The book contained chapters on isolation, busyness, distraction, dealing with children, disappointment in marriage just to name a few. It also is written in the present which means covid, quarantine, fear and illness are all addressed. So, thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.