Sheila Walsh inspires women and men across the world through her writings, speaking events, podcasts, music, and more. Her life story is filled with deep faith and dedication to God, but she hasn’t pretended she has no struggles. The willingness to share her life story has provided opportunities to lead people to Christ and help remove the stigma of depression and mental illness.
What can Sheila Walsh teach us about faith amid struggles?
1. Walsh was born July 5, 1956, in Scotland. She grew up in a Christian home with parents who attended church regularly.
2. When she was five, a massive brain injury dramatically changed her father’s personality. He went from loving to violent and attempted to kill her. After being admitted to one psychiatric unit and moved to another, her father escaped and committed suicide.
3. In the 1970s, she attended seminary and studied theology, art, and music in college.
4. She released her first album, Future Eyes, in 1981.
5. In 1988, Walsh became a co-host of The 700 Club with Pat Robertson. She has continued to appear on television ever since, hosting shows like Heart to Heart with Sheila Walsh and Life Today’s “Wednesday in The Word” segment.
6. In 1992, she sought help for mental illness and was admitted to a psychiatric ward.
7. In 1994, she married her husband, Barry. They have one son, Christian.
8. In 1997, Walsh became a speaker for Women of Faith conferences. When first asked to speak at a women’s conference, Walsh admits she felt unsure of what to say. She prayed to God, and His answer was for her “to tell the truth” about her battle with mental illness.
9. Walsh began writing books to aid others in their well-being journey and deepen their faith in God.
10. In 2015, Walsh took an interesting new direction with her devotional book 5 Minutes with Jesus. She felt compelled to write the book after conversations with women in prison.
Sharing personal details about a person’s life may be easy for some people and hard for others. Walsh chose many years ago to share her life journey in hopes of helping those who may be struggling with shame, inadequacies, depression, and more.
Walsh has talked openly about how her father’s illness created feelings of inadequacy and misplaced guilt. After her father had been violent and tried to end her life,she blamed herself. She wondered if any of her actions had made him angry enough to want to kill her. That experience left her keeping the feelings of confusion inside.
Her coping mechanism was to hide from what had happened to her. In a speech at Liberty University, she observed, “I found the perfect place to hide—Christian ministry… I was determined to be the perfect Christian woman if it killed me—and it nearly did.”
When tough subjects such as mental illness, shame, anger, forgiveness, and self-esteem are acknowledged, the opportunity to receive help can begin. Walsh is an example of how the power of God’s love can bring a person from broken to healed. Although she has suffered heartbreaking experiences, she still finds hope in God.
As she shares personal details about her life, she encourages others to seek their healing.
Her ability and conviction to lead people to Christ remind us that God can use anyone to further His message.
Walsh sometimes speaks with and prays for attendees after conferences. Her love for God shines through her words and actions.
Her life is filled with lessons for everyone. Keeping emotions and trauma inside and not sharing how we feel can cause shame, fear, physical illness, mental illness including anxiety and depression, and more. Through her example of being able to tell her story, we are reminded that we are not alone. God is always with us.
Her words are profound at times, encouraging, heartbreaking, personal, life-affirming, and filled with faith. God is first in the life of Sheila Walsh.
1. “The power in this room to change the world is amazing… And it starts with you [knowing] God’s love for you. You have never lived an unloved moment in your life.” — “Sheila Walsh Shares the Power of Truth and a Loving God,” Liberty University Convocation
2. “My journey of faith began when I was eleven years old and I just turned sixty. I’ve been through some dark times, beautiful times, and times of undiluted joy and unbearable grief. The one constant strength through every single moment has been the Word of God.” — “When You Don’t Have an Answer for Your Child”
3. “Whether Jesus calms the storm or calms us in the storm, His love is the same, and His grace is enough.” — Extraordinary Faith: God’s Perfect Gift for Every Woman’s Heart
4. “As a young believer I wanted to think that if God was with me, He would protect me from the harsher experiences in life, but that is not the promise here [in Hebrew 13:5-6]. The promise is that wherever that path takes us, God will be there.” — “Is God More Faithful in One Situation than Another?”
5. “Truth is always a turning point.” — Loved Back to Life: How I Found the Courage to Live Free
6. “I accept whatever is ahead, knowing that it will be part of the great adventure. Thank you for letting me be angry; thank you for staying by my side.” — “Waiting in the Dark”
7. “When we assume that God’s love is based on our behavior we’ve set ourselves up for a devastating fall.” — It’s Okay Not to be Okay: Moving Forward One Day at a Time
8. “My mother taught me there was nothing too big or too small to talk to God about. That practice of praying together became a lifelong connection with my mom. Her simple faith in the goodness of God and belief in the power of the Word of God is a legacy that lives with me today.” — Pray About Everything (August 27, 2020)
9. “After years of trying to be perfect, I began to understand that God doesn’t seek our perfection. He longs for our presence.” — Praying Women: How to Pray When You Don’t Know What to Say)
10. “This is the shelter of all God’s promises: God not only keeps His promises, but He longs to keep us in them.” — “The Shelter of God’s Promises”
In each book, Sheila invites readers and listeners to learn about her life experiences. She allows people into her struggles and joys. Study guides for personal or group involvement accompany some of her books.
Walsh also writes best-selling books for children.
1. The Storm Inside: Trade the Chaos of How You Feel for the Truth of Who You Are
2. Heartache No One Sees: Real Healing for a Woman’s Wounded Heart
3. Holding On When You Want to Let Go: Clinging to Hope When Life is Falling Apart
4. It’s Okay Not to Be Okay: Moving Forward One Day at a Time
5. The Shelter of God’s Promises
6. Loved Back to Life: How I Found the Courage to Live Free
7. The Longing in Me: How Everything You Crave Leads to the Heart of God
8. Praying Girls Devotional: 60 Days to Shape Your Heart and Grow Your Faith Through Prayer
9. Gigi, God’s Little Princess: The Royal Tea Party
10. 5 Minutes with Jesus: Peace for Today
Singing is a passion for Sheila Walsh. Her songs have uplifted and encouraged people for years. She has recorded over 25 albums with several top-10 singles. Below is a list of some of her songs and albums.
1. Blue Waters (2000)
2. All That Really Matters (2003)
3. Celtic Worship (2006)
4. Find Your Wings (2007)
5. Let Go (2009)
6. You Raise Me Up (2010)
7. I Hear Angels (2010)
8. Hope (2010)
9. Beauty from Ashes (2012)
10. Braveheart Worship (2020)
You can also find work from various albums on The Best of Sheila Walsh (2004).
Walsh’s love for God and dedication to professing His message are evident in her words and actions. Shame no longer controls her life. Her relationship with God has strengthened and flourished by telling her life story. She hopes others will know God and His love.
She reminds us that Scripture tells us there will be trials on this earth. Our heavenly home awaits.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)
Sheila Walsh shows us that we are not alone in our struggles. We don’t have to be the best-selling author, famous podcaster, or Grammy award-winning singer. We can give His love in every moment. God loves us and will never leave.
Blessings,
Melissa Henderson
Photo Credit: Getty Images/doidam10
Melissa is the author of Licky the Lizard and Grumpy the Gator. Her passions are helping in the community and church. Melissa is an Elder, Deacon, and Stephen Minister.
Follow Melissa on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and at http://www.melissaghenderson.com
This article is part of our People of Christianity catalog that features the stories, meaning, and significance of well-known people from the Bible and history. Here are some of the most popular articles for knowing important figures in Christianity:
How Did the Apostle Paul Die?
Who are the Nicolaitans in Revelation?
Who Was Deborah in the Bible?
Who Was Moses in the Bible?
King Solomon's Story in the Bible
Who Was Lot's Wife in the Bible?
Who Was Jezebel in the Bible?
Who Was the Prodigal Son?