Sexual abuse is a painful subject to talk about. Some victims suffer in silence and go to their grave having never shared their secret with anyone. Others may take years before revealing their history to a confidante or their spouse but are reluctant to disclose details or seek professional help. They might mask their wounds with smiles and people-pleasing, but the pain remains buried in the soul.

Shelley’s Story encourages victims of sexual abuse to know that God offers hope, healing, and restoration. They do not need to live with the pain of their wounds for the rest of their lives. Resentment toward the perpetrator is understandable, and some may say justified. But as Augustine said, ＂Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.＂ That is not the life Jesus has purposed for anyone. Jesus said in John 10:10, ＂The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.＂

Herein lies the dilemma. God is our Healer. Psalm 34:18 says, ＂The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.＂ But many victims turn away from God because He didn’t protect them from the abuse. How can they turn from anger and resentment to God to receive His healing grace when they cannot trust Him? On the flip side is the perpetrator. Viewing through human lenses, the horrific sin of sexual abuse of a child is unforgivable. But God’s grace to forgive covers every sin. So, how can God forgive an abuser without minimizing the horrendous nature of sexually abusing a child? Shelley’s Story answers these questions.

The theme of the book centers around God’s redemption and restoration, a theme that runs throughout the Scriptures. Shelley’s Story portrays how God can redeem the woundedness of victims of sexual abuse and restore them to wholeness, including victims who have turned away from God. A parallel track addresses the fact that God extends the same grace of redemption and restoration to abusers, offering forgiveness for unspeakable acts and transforming their lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. Without God’s grace, it is humanly improbable, if not impossible, to forgive an abuser or accept that God would forgive them. Without God’s grace, a victim desires vengeance over forgiveness. Only by knowing the character of God and His grace can a victim accept forgiveness over revenge, but in doing so, the victim can experience spiritual freedom.

The author’s hope is that reading Shelley’s Story will not be an end, but it will create ripples of hope, healing, and restoration for you. If you have been a victim carrying pain from the past or are currently struggling, be encouraged to know there is hope for you. God can transform your life. If you know someone who has been a victim of sexual abuse, be a messenger of hope and encourage them to seek wise Biblically-based counsel for healing and restoration.

If you are a pastor, you may encounter difficult situations you never anticipated. Pastor K’s example will provide you with wisdom and insight to navigate through painful circumstances and lead others to God’s redemption and restoration of their souls ... as well as your own.