My name is Belinda Smith and this is my powerful testimony of Jesus Christ. After being saved by Jesus, I decided to dedicate my life to sharing the Word of God. Through my blog, TheBible.blog, and my social media platforms, Bible with Belle, I share daily prayers, Bible verses, and spirit-filled messages to inspire and encourage others.
I grew up in an environment of severe abuse, surrounded by addiction and dysfunction in an alcoholic and drug-dependent home. For 30 years, I remained in the presence of my abusers, silenced and intimidated as they manipulated those around me against me. It’s common for abusers to twist the narrative, planting false stories about their victims to manipulate others into believing they are the real victims, all while discrediting and isolating the person they’ve harmed. In my younger years, I turned to drugs and alcohol as a way to cope with the unbearable memories of sexual abuse. Although I eventually quit those harmful behaviors, the lingering effects of being around my abusers left me battling Complex PTSD and crippling anxiety.
While I hold my abusers responsible for their actions, I don’t blame them or harbor any ill will. In fact, I forgive them, understanding that abusers are often created through their own unhealed trauma.
The abuse I endured as a child left me vulnerable, making it easy for other abusers to recognize that I could be taken advantage of. As a result, I found myself stuck in a cycle of abusive relationships, feeling hopeless and unable to break free for years. One day, overwhelmed by anxiety and the weight of despair, I realized I couldn’t do it on my own anymore.
I thought of my grandmother, a kind and deeply devoted woman of God. She had always modeled a life of faith. I turned to God in prayer, asking Him to deliver me from my abusers, free me from anxiety, and transform my life. While I had prayed before, this time was different—I made it a daily practice to seek Him through prayer, reading the Bible, and striving to turn away from sin.
What followed can only be described as God’s intervention. He gave me a strength I had never known. A strength to walk away from my abusers, something I had never been able to do before. After leaving, I experienced a peace that truly surpasses all understanding, a peace that only God could provide.
God is still working in my life, healing me from my past, growing me in faith, and leading me into His purpose. I believe He has given me a calling to share my testimony, spread His Word, and be a blessing to others. He has also placed a passion in my heart to study social work so I can help the homeless and those in need.
If you’ve experienced pain, hopelessness, or despair, I want to encourage you to turn to God. He is faithful, and His love has the power to heal, restore, and transform.
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Photo credit: Image provided by the storyteller.
