Roar

Growing up in a household where words were used as weapons is a reality I know all too well. The sting of harsh words can cut deeper than any physical wound ever could. It wasn’t just the shouting that hurt; it was the constant belittling, the way my self-worth was chipped away piece by piece. As a child, I believed every word spoken to me. I led me to believe I was worthless, unlovable, and that no one would ever truly care about what I had to say.

Over time, those words took root and stood firm long into my adulthood. I saw myself through the twisted lens that was handed to me. My voice, once full of exuberant hope and unconfined confidence , grew quieter and quieter until it seemed to disappear altogether. I became afraid to speak up, afraid that whatever I said would just be met with more vitriol and judgement. So, I stayed quiet. I hid my thoughts, my feelings, my dreams. I built walls around my heart, thinking that if I could just protect myself, the pain would lessen. But all it did was make me feel even more alone.

In the midst of all this darkness, I clung to the small glimmers of hope I found in my faith. I grew up hearing about God’s love, but it was hard to reconcile that with the environment I was in. If God really loved me, why would God allow me to go through such pain. Why did He let the very people who were supposed to love me most become the ones who hurt me the deepest? But Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”.

God is faithful, even when we don’t fully understand His plan. I remember the day I truly encountered Him—when I realized that His love wasn’t just a concept but a reality. It was during a time of deep despair when I stopped expecting an answer from God, but desperate for some kind of relief. And He answered by sending me a friend that knew the power of prayer and that prayed over me, reassuring that He was there, and that He had been there all along, holding me even in the moments when I felt most abandoned.

That was the turning point. Slowly, God began to heal the wounds that had been inflicted on my heart. Philippians 4:7 talks about “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,” and that’s exactly what I experienced. It didn’t make sense, but it was real, and it began to heal the deep wounds in my heart. He showed me that the words spoken over me were lies, and that my worth was not determined by another person’s inability to see my value. I started to find my voice again—not the timid whisper that I had resorted to, but a voice that was strong, confident, and rooted in the truth of who God says I am.

God started to replace the lies with His truth. He reminded me of Psalm 139:14, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” I began to see myself as God sees me—not as someone who was worthless, but as someone who is deeply loved, valued, and chosen by Him. The more I soaked in His Word, the more my confidence grew. My voice, once silenced by fear, began to return, this time stronger and clearer than before.

God didn’t just restore my voice—He gave it purpose. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says that God “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” I realized that the very thing the enemy tried to silence in me is what God is using to bring hope and encouragement to others. The words that once destroyed me have been replaced by words of life, and now I speak out, not just for myself, but for anyone who feels like their voice doesn’t matter. The very pain that once silenced me is now what God is using to speak life and hope to others. What the enemy meant for harm, God has turned around for good, just as He promises in Genesis 50:20

The journey hasn’t been easy, and there are still days when the old wounds try to reopen. But God is faithful to remind me that I am His, and that my voice is a gift meant to be used for His glory. What was meant for evil, God has turned around for good. The silence that was forced upon me has been shattered, and now, I speak freely, boldly, and with the assurance that God’s love for me is unshakable.

If you’ve walked a similar path, I want you to know that God sees you, He hears you, and He’s with you. Your voice matters to Him. The words that have been spoken over you do not define you—God does. Let His Word be the loudest voice in your life, and know that He can and will turn your pain into a powerful testimony. Speak up, knowing that your voice is a gift from God, meant to bring light and life into the world. And remember, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14).