VL - Issue 43- April 22

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THE STORY OF DEBBIE SANDERS we don’t take our pain to the ed time alone to think, so I decided to go Lord, we can be destroyed. for a drive to clear my head. Before long, I learned this the hard way I noticed a white truck following closely through an unexpected and behind me. The driver flashed his lights. violent attack on my person. I didn’t process the event well and, over the years, my right, so I decided to turn, hoping the driver I grew uneasy. Something didn’t feel mental and physical health suffered. I internalized stress and eventually developed the turn behind me, and I decided to go to would continue straight. Instead, he made viral arthritis and depression. It was to the my friend Sarah’s house, who lived just a point that I was barely able to get out of bed short distance away. Surely when I pulled before God intervened and helped me find into her driveway, whoever was behind me freedom from my self-inflicted prison of would be scared away. anger, frustration, self-pity, and resentment. His love led me to a place of peace. light was on. I swung the car into her drive- I was relieved to see that Sarah’s garage I had been raised in the church and had way, hopped out, and quickly made my received Jesus as my Savior when I was way to her front porch. But before I could 11. As an adult, I went to church regularly reach the steps, the man who’d been driving the truck jumped me and threw me to and called myself a Christian. But it wasn’t until these dark times happened that my the ground. The last thing I remember is need for a personal relationship with the him sitting on top of me and reaching for Lord came to light and I finally became his belt. aware that Jesus was my only hope out of “He’s going to rape me,” I thought, and the darkness. then everything went black. Thankfully, my church family and I have no idea how much time passed or friends were praying for me. Their prayers what happened to me in those moments. sustained me. I could sense the Lord’s love When I came to, I was sitting in my car, keeping me close. alone and confused. I took inventory of There is so much to this part of my story, my surroundings and saw my purse and but the details are not relevant here. I was keys sitting on the seat next to me. Nothing a struggling single mom, facing difficult had been stolen. challenges. I didn’t think life could get any “Pull yourself together!” I told myself. worse, but then the unthinkable happened. Then the words, “Get to Pam’s house,” I was worried for my safety, but I need- came to mind. Pam was a dear friend who worked at the hospital. She would know what to do. I cranked the car and started driving toward her home. As I went, I became disoriented and felt like I was driving in a maze. “God, help me!” I prayed. It was about a five-mile drive to Pam’s, a very familiar route, but I knew if God didn’t intervene, I wasn’t going to get there. After I prayed, God Himself or perhaps an angel must have taken the wheel. In the blink of an eye, I was at my destination, and I have no idea how I got there. I believe I was in and out of consciousness during that time. When I pulled into Pam’s driveway, she was in her front yard talking to Sarah, who happened to be visiting. Amazingly, Sarah had been at Pam’s house while I was being attacked in her front yard. Pam looked confused as I called out to her from my rolled-down car window. She later told me that she had recognized my car, but not my face. “Debbie, is that you? Oh my God!” Pam screamed and ran toward me. Fortunately, I hadn’t looked in the rearview mirror, so I had no idea how badly I’d been beaten. My face was disfigured and covered with blood. Pam got me out of the car and assessed the situation. Then she and Sarah rushed me to the hospital. Soon, detectives were standing by my bed, asking questions to which I had no answers. The hospital staff administered a rape kit. It returned negative, but my face was fractured and cut in many places. Bad news travels fast, especially when you live in a small town. My church family, friends, and even strangers who had heard of the attack began praying for my physical and emotional healing. God heard those prayers, and He moved in miraculous ways. The first evidence of that was the incredible speed at which I healed physically. A mere two weeks after the attack, my face was completely whole. Not one scar was left behind from the attack. Also, I suffered no lingering physical pain or headaches from the beating. The doctors were amazed, as were those who came to visit me. Everyone 30 Issue 02 / 2022 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
could see that God was at work as my face Proverbs 3:5–6 promises that if I trust all the [places] where he has scattered you.” healed right before their eyes. the Lord and refrain from depending on (Deuteronomy 30:3 NLT). He picked up my The Lord also healed me emotionally, my own understanding and seek His will, pieces and made me whole. He will do the although this healing took longer than the God will show me the path to take. He did, same for you. physical one. As you can imagine, a vicious and He will help me walk that path too. God It’s interesting to me that the morning of physical attack also inflicts many invisible, is always faithful to His Word. the attack, I had asked God for a powerful emotional scars. Fear, anxiety, and a deep Since the day I trusted Him, I have been testimony. I had wanted to be able to stand need to understand tormented me. able to move forward in life. I still don’t before people and share His goodness. I wanted answers. I had been attacked know the how, why, who, or what, and Well, now I can. and had almost lost my life. Why?! It was maybe that’s God’s way of protecting me. Please don’t misunderstand. I am not terrifying to know that whoever was behind Who knows? But here’s what I do know: I saying that God sent that man to attack me. the attack was roaming free, and it was un- don’t need all the answers when I have the The enemy wanted to destroy me; God is just. But God intervened and released me Lord. My relationship with Him and the the giver of life. But God used that experi- from that emotional prison as well. peace He gives me is way more important ence to help me know His faithful love in Most people would say I deserved an- than fighting for my rights. His peace is my new ways. The experience has also given swers and justice. But was my right to know power. He is the protector of my heart and me more compassion for others. the answers and to obtain justice worth mind (Philippians 4:7). As you trust the Lord with your pain, you my health and sanity? Was it worth iso- Whatever you’ve been through, I want will come to know His love and comfort too. lating myself in a prison of bitterness and you to know that God loves you. You can Don’t forget to share your story. Tell others revenge? And then God laid before me a trust His love for you. He knows what hap- how the Lord put your shattered life back choice of life or death. pened to you, and He cares. together. People need to know that He is He said, “Debbie, you can trust Me, or Sometimes after we go through terrible alive and able to restore their lives. You you can lose your mind. Which will it be?” abuses, rejections, and traumatic events, have a unique experience that can help In a moment of clarity, I suddenly un- we are tempted to believe that God doesn’t them see that truth. Ask God to help you. derstood that continuing down this road love us or that He is absent. I see it differ- He will place His power on your words and of “rights” would cost me and those I loved ently now. God was not missing the day I make them relatable so they can penetrate PHOTO BY GERI SIMPKINS PHOTOGRAPHY everything and would bring much trouble (Hebrews 12:15). Godly counseling helped me process my thoughts and choose God’s better way. I took my need to know and my desire for justice and handed them over to Him, trusting that He would fight my battles and provide any answers I needed. As a result, I found peace of mind. was attacked. He was right there with me, protecting, helping, and healing me. God is the only reason I am alive. He is the reason you are still alive too. Don’t be fooled. Every day, countless people are destroyed because they believe the lie that God doesn’t care. They fight for answers and revenge, and in the process, they imprison themselves. Don’t be one of the hearts of others. With God, your story will draw many people to His saving grace and defeat the enemy (Revelation 12:11). It’ll be scary at first. I was terrified the first time I shared my testimony in front of a group of people. But as I persevered, the Lord helped me, and several came to know the God of comfort for themselves (2 Corinthians 1:3–7). them. Choose to trust God and live. Remembering God’s faithfulness in the Don’t forfeit the good things God wants past will strengthen your faith and enable to give you now by hanging on to your past. you to face new trials. Trusting God will Surrender your questions, your accusers, bring you to a place of protection, heal- and even your attackers to the Lord. Cry ing, and peace. It is the key to unlocking out to Him, the only One who can vindicate the door of your self-inflicted emotional, you (Psalm 57:2–3). mental, and physical prisons. There are some injustices you’ll never Give God the pieces of your depressed be able to right, but God can. And that’s and shattered life and let Him restore you His job. What’s your job? to wholeness. Your job is to trust and obey Him and to pray for, forgive, and bless your enemies (Matthew 5:44, 6:12, 18:21–22). It’s not easy, but it’s worth the reward. As you obey Him, “the Lord your God will restore your fortunes. He will have mercy on you and gather you back from DEBBIE SANDERS retired from a 33-year career at East Carolina University and now ministers the hope of Jesus through music and the sharing of her miraculous story in the US and abroad. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother who has a heart for evangelism and introducing others to the restorative power of Jesus Christ. VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM Issue 02 / 2022 31
Page 1 and 2: REAL PEOPLE | REAL STORIES | REAL H
Page 3 and 4: ISSUE 2, APRIL 2022 Be of good cour
Page 5 and 6: ISSUE 2, APRIL 2022 CONTENTS 8 24 2
Page 7 and 8: Through the stories of Victorious L
Page 9 and 10: TRANSFORMED LIVES God’s Faithfuln
Page 11 and 12: PHOTOS COURTESY OF MYPILLOW I had a
Page 13 and 14: PHOTOS COURTESY OF MYPILLOW bragged
Page 15 and 16: TRANSFORMED LIVES As they should ha
Page 17 and 18: PHOTO BY GERI SIMPKINS PHOTOGRAPHY
Page 19 and 20: invited anyone who wanted to receiv
Page 21 and 22: PHOTO BY ASHCROFT STUDIO PHOTOGRAPH
Page 23 and 24: stuck, Melisha!” His words helped
Page 25 and 26: STEPPING FORWARD DON’T GIVE UP! B
Page 27 and 28: PHOTO BY OPENDOOR CHURCH All I coul
Page 29: STEPPING FORWARD Trust God, Even Wh
Page 33 and 34: GOING DEEPER: Be Courageous On page

VL - Issue 43- April 22

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