Shelter Through the Valley: a Life in God’S Hands

Valleys are considered in life, especially in the Christian faith, to be circumstances where faith is tested through challenges in ones path or unexpected life changes that warrant a reliance on Gods loving protection. Author Dr. Kiana Nichelle Brown can relate to this truth in many ways: starting with her abusive childhood to a tumultuous marriage to single parenting to facing gender discrimination in the armed forces. These events were only enhanced by the constant ridicule she received for being an African American who seemed, to other African Americans, more Caucasian than her true race. However, despite the turmoil she has endured throughout her life, Dr. Brown sees that God has had His guiding hands leading her through each challenge and teaching her about His glory with each situation. Her new autobiography, Shelter Through the Valley: A Life in Gods Hands, presents to readers Dr. Browns story in chronological order, revealing the obstacles she had to overcome from loved ones and coworkers who defined who she became. Her life has been dominated by four major themes: childhood abuse, single motherhood, womanhood, and race. These are themes that she has tried to explore in the pages of this book by looking at her journey from a poor neighborhood in Texas to the Korean peninsula during her time as an officer in the armed forces. That journey taught her to live as a proud black woman and single mother. Shelter Through the Valley epitomizes the persistent plight of a woman determined to not be intimidated by others, especially those she loved, while setting an example that her daughter will be able to follow. The sharing of her life story presents herself as a woman who knew that God had more planned for her life, going on to achieve great dreams in academics, leadership achievements, and parenting.