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Sheila Walsh Inspires Children to Pray

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Best-selling author, latest, Is God Still Awake? (Tommy Nelson, 2022) / Has sold nearly 6 million books / Popular conference speaker and Bible teacher, spoken to 6 million people worldwide / Co-host of Life Today with James and Betty Robison, seen worldwide by a potential 100 million viewers / Founder, Braveheart Sisterhood events / Women of Faith speaker for more than 20 years / Former 700 Club Co-host and Heart to Heart host / Married to Barry, one grown son, Christian

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IS GOD STILL AWAKE?  

The title for this book came right off the pages of Sheila’s own life story. When she was 11, her and her mom went to an evangelistic crusade in their town in Scotland. The speaker’s words resonated with Sheila, and when he finished his message, he invited all who desired to trust Christ as their Savior to come up front.  

Though Sheila wanted to be close to God, she just couldn’t bring herself to go forward. Later that night, as she lay thinking about all he’d said, she wasn’t able to get to sleep. Sheila got out of bed and asked her mom if God was still awake, not sure of the hours He kept. Her mom reassured her that God never sleeps and is always watching over His children. That was the night she gave her life to Christ.  

FOCUSING ON CHILDREN 

Sheila says there are a number of reasons she feels compelled to reach children with her writing. First, she notes that the lingering effects of the pandemic have left many people feeling stressed, anxious, and lonely, including kids. In her book she wants to assure children that they can talk to God anytime, anywhere, about anything, and on their best and worst days just as her own mother inspired her to do. Sheila also wants to convey the message to moms, dads, grandparents, and others reading the book to their little ones.

Second, she recalls Billy Graham saying years ago that most people who make a commitment to Christ do so before the age of 18. That fact has intensified her desire to reach young ones. Also, the feedback she’s received from her books for kids has shown her the importance of reaching young ones with the truth and love of God. As with other books she’s written for children, Sheila read the manuscript for Is God Still Awake? to kids in a friend’s classroom, and asked for their responses. One little girl wrote, “Thank you for letting me know I can talk to God even about my mom and dad being mad at each other.” The comment touched her deeply and highlighted the importance of children knowing they have a refuge in God.   
     
TAKEAWAYS 

Sheila wants readers to gain several truths from the story of “Poppy” in Is God Still Awake? One is that it’s important to encourage vulnerability and honesty in children. Through questions about God, Poppy admits that she’s sad when someone is mean to her, that she’s sometimes afraid for no reason at all, that she knows she’s behaving badly at times, that she makes mistakes. Her parents assure her that God does indeed know and care about her feelings, loves her no matter the circumstance, and is always with her.  

That constancy of God’s love is the key point Sheila is aiming to get across. She goes on to say that another conversation could easily arise from the book: what it means when it seems that our prayers are not answered. Sheila advises parents to explain that it doesn’t mean God doesn’t love us if we don’t get all we want, or when our prayers aren’t answered the way we hoped.

She recalls the time when her son, Christian, was a boy and was angry when he prayed for his ailing grandfather to live, but he passed away. Sheila and Barry talked with him about how it was absolutely okay to express his anger and hurt with the Lord (Sheila even bought him boxing gloves), and ask Him to help us accept His answers, which we sometimes cannot understand.  

AHEAD FOR SHEILA

Sheila is working on several other books now, including another one for kids featuring “Poppy,” a Christmas-oriented book, and another to encourage women in their faith. While her U.S. speaking schedule has returned to normal following the pandemic, she very much looks forward to travelling overseas with the Life Today team to minister in Africa, Cambodia, and Thailand, where they have various ministry projects like feeding programs and a project she especially loves called House of Destiny, where they rescue young girls and boys out of the sex-trafficking industry.    

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