I Went Missing to Find Joy - Bible Teacher | Author

Isn’t it nice to be missed?

Yesterday I received a text from a childhood friend who I rarely see and seldom speak with. So, I was especially touched that she reached out to me from the other side of the country concerned about my wellbeing.

The text read:

Hi Shawna, I haven’t seen you on our messenger chain. I may have missed it but I also think your midweek email is missing. Is everything alright with you? Just checking in. 😘

I immediately thought of my post from last October, Hope Gives Life Like CPR. Thankfully, this time my period of silence has more to do with my schedule than my attitude.

The messenger chain my old friend referred to dealt with our high school reunion, which I cannot attend because it will be held the night of my son’s wedding. (Although, I now plan to make time to read the chain and chime in.)

As for the missing emails… well that’s because I’ve been pouring my time and energy into several other terribly exciting projects. How I wish I had more hours in my day. Especially because God has been so busy in my life, I’ve got miracle stories galore! How fun to have a list of ways God has revealed his loving presence in the midst of my every day routines. I look forward to sharing these faith-building stories with you in the coming weeks.

With the limited time left in the day today, I briefly want to check in—not only to let you know everything is alright, but also to tell you how sweet God is. He gave me a Valentine!

When God called me to start the Believe & Speak podcast, I knew he wanted me to launch it on New Year’s Day 2020. Numerous doubts and distractions tried to sidetrack me, but God kept after me to follow through and my wonderful husband helped make it happen.

Next, God gave me the vision for Mid-Week Miracle, and I sent the first story on St. Patrick’s Day 2021. I chose that day not because we wear green and feast like the Irish, but because my son Sam left this earth for heaven on March 17. Never have I been more aware of God’s constant presence and activity in my life. That difficult season made me forever grateful for little, everyday miracles.

Late last year, God began stirring my heart with his plans to use the writing gifts he gave me in yet another way. The new adventure with God invited such tremendous doubt that I welcomed every distraction.

But God kept after me to create a video podcast that would help people find joy in the midst of uncertainty. Seeking God is the best way to find joy, and the best place to seek God is in the Bible. I knew God was calling me to begin teaching his Word to a camera. Several “coincidences” came together to layout God’s plan for this new teaching series. (I’ll share these little miracles next week.)

My dear husband agreed to help make it happen. (I couldn’t do it without him!) I told him I knew the video podcast was supposed to post on Mondays and launch in mid-February. Until I looked at the calendar for the exact date of the first post, I had no idea God planned to give me a Valentine. Together, we launched my video podcast, Find Joy, on Valentine’s Day 2022.

I’ve been busy writing and recording the first several episodes, which has pulled my focus temporarily from sending these emails.

But I’m back, and I’m grateful to have been missed.

I’m also excited to provide you with a link to the first episode of Find Joy.