Stamina: A Journey of Renewal for Your Weary Soul

By Shemeca Richard

The burdens of life can become overwhelming, leaving you mentally exhausted, discouraged, and emotionally drained.

Stamina will take you on a journey from weariness and despair to renewal and hope. During this journey, you will:

• lay your burdens at the feet of Jesus;
• embrace God’s promises by understanding His character;
• accept and process pain, suffering, anxiety, and sorrow;
• seize opportunity by tapping into inner strength that only God can provide.

Shemeca also reflects on her personal challenges and struggles, including moments that left her feeling desperate and discouraged. She eventually learned, however, that those struggles were meant to bring her closer to God.

Through every battle, struggle, and sorrow, Jesus was there—and Shemeca learned to lay all her cares at His feet. She also learned that it is okay to not be okay. With her encouragement, you’ll learn how you, too, can lean on Jesus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Aug 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664275553

Shemeca Richard

Shemeca Richard, a Christian blogger and speaker, graduated from West Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and went on to earn a Master of Arts in behavioral sciences. She has been a qualified mental health professional for more than twenty years. As a single mother for over ten years, Shemeca has had her fair share of trial and tribulations. She loves to encourage, empower, and support women and teen girls. You can find Shemeca at www.womenofendurance.com.

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Copyright © 2022 Shemeca Richard.

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This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

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Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version® Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-7554-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-7556-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-7555-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022915164

WestBow Press rev. date: 08/29/2022

STAMINA

strength to endure or keep going, despite setbacks, trials, tribulations

Dedication

To my family and friends

Thanks for all the love and support

Contents

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Section 1

RELEASE THE BURDEN

Chapter 1 It Is Okay to Not Be Okay

Chapter 2 Cry Out

Chapter 3 Lay It All Down

Chapter 4 Encouraged Soul

Chapter 5 Heartfelt Comfort

Section 2

EMBRACING GOD’S PROMISES THROUGH HIS CHARACTER

Chapter 6 Everlasting Love

Chapter 7 Infinite Grace

Chapter 8 Abundant Mercy

Chapter 9 True Compassion

Chapter 10 Totally Faithful

Section 3

REVIVE YOUR SOUL

Chapter 11 You Matter

Chapter 12 Awaken Your Spirit

Chapter 13 Detoxify Your Mind

Chapter 14 Rise Above Rejection

Chapter 15 Just Breathe

Section 4

YOU GOT THIS

Chapter 16 Renewed Hope

Chapter 17 Sustaining Faith

Chapter 18 Joy in Your Heart

Chapter 19 Courage to Move Forward With Purpose

Chapter 20 You Got This

Conclusion

Appendix

Bibliography

Foreword

By Andrea Fluhman

My head. Please make it stop. I am spinning out of control like a terrible roller coaster that just won’t stop. On my hands and knees, crawling to the bathroom, I cried out, Lord, please just make it stop. In March 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began to swoop across the world, my Lord said to me, Stop my child. Let your body rest. It is okay to not be okay.

I was on the brink of publishing my first book #wingman. I had a deadline to meet. My editor was waiting. I was stopped abruptly in my tracks. I lay in bed for three days as the roller coaster of vertigo came to a slow stop. In the months to follow, I went to physical therapy for vestibular rehabilitation. This vertigo episode was so strong I had to train my brain to my new normal.

My life was not the picture-perfect life I had displayed on social media. My Prince Charming had turned into the Beast. My two princesses were struggling emotionally and educationally. And I was just tired. I was tired of holding each piece of the picture delicately in place so no one could see the struggle.

As revealed in Section 1: Chapter 3, therein lies the lie. I don’t hold all the pieces of the picture together. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ holds the pieces of the picture in His hands. The pandemic made me rest my body. The pandemic reconnected me to my inner core.

Through this time of reconnection, I was reunited with my friend and sorority sister, Shemeca Richard. Shemeca became my #wingman. Throughout the #wingman book launch, Shemeca provided reminders and scripture of the Lord’s guidance to find relief, rest, and renewal for my weary soul. Sister, it is okay to not be okay.

It has been my pleasure to know Shemeca Richard since 1999 in a friendship that has gone from sisterhood to partnership in ministry. Since she and I joined the Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, I have watched her grow in her relationship with Christ Jesus to the place where her heart burns with the desire to go deeper and deeper in the knowledge of the beauty of the Lord.

October 2020, with #wingman launched, the time was now for Shemeca to shine her light. Shemeca needed to share her journey and insight into her walk with our Lord. Taking her time from reading devotional books to doing further research of the Lord’s word, Shemeca formulated REAP. Reap means to get a return or result.]Shemeca created the following acronym for REAP: R=Read, E=Engage, A=Apply, P=Pray. She then created a journaling opportunity for her readers to dive further into their feelings. Through REAP, Shemeca served as my #wingman. I’ve always had