Sheila’s Story Part 2

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Sheila’s Story Part 2

I realised later that the Holy Spirit had come into my heart. I felt peace and joy and I knew Jesus was real and I’d never be alone again.

I found a church where the power of God was strong (Elim, Braintree) and my mother gave her life to Christ too. God gave me a good job in the print industry and I got involved in youth work in the country town where I lived, Halstead. I began to see that God was calling me to some kind of ‘full-time ministry’ although I didn’t know what; I had an idea it would be in the area of evangelism. And I also felt he wanted me to be single…! I began to study with London Bible College for a diploma in theological studies, and then I hoped to work in youth ministry. But life isn’t perfect and I became very ill. I had terrible dizzy spells, later diagnosed as Meniere’s disease. I couldn’t work – so much for my new life! I began to experience panic and agoraphobia. All I could do was walk my dog by the river… I couldn’t even go to church, let alone be an evangelist!

At that time Jesus became very real indeed, and I ‘met’ God as Father. One night I said to him, ‘All I wanted to do was work for you.’ And he said, ‘I don’t want you to work for me. I want to do my work in and through you.’ Those words would change my life. Someone sent me a copy of a book called Sit Walk Stand by Watchman Nee, and I began to understand the importance of resting in God – just being his friend. I couldn’t do anything anyway; I was like one of those old fashioned slabs of toffee, broken up with a little silver hammer. But God was in control.