A Reflection on My Assault in Australia and the Gift Hidden Inside the Pain

This week on the podcast, I shared one of the hardest and most vulnerable parts of my story. While traveling in Australia, I experienced an assault that shook me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It was unexpected. It was traumatic. And for a moment, it brought my life to a halt.

But as I continue to heal, something surprising has taken root inside of me.

I realized that I get to live my life… I do not have to live my life.
There is a world of difference between the two.

In the quiet moments that followed the assault, when the dizziness, headaches, and fear would come in waves, I began to see life with new clarity. Every morning I wake up is a gift. Every moment with my husband, my children, and my loved ones is a treasure. Every chance to do the work God called me to do is a privilege not everyone receives.

I never expected a traumatic event to teach me gratitude.
I never expected fear to lead me back to faith.
I never expected pain to remind me of purpose.

Yet here I am, learning that sometimes the most profound truths come wrapped in the most unwelcome moments.

Life is not guaranteed.
Breath is not guaranteed.
Our next moment is not guaranteed.

But what is guaranteed is the goodness of God, His presence in the rubble, and His ability to bring something meaningful out of the hardest chapters we never saw coming.

If you have ever walked through something that made you question everything, my prayer is that this episode brings you comfort, validation, and hope. You are not alone. And your life—no matter how messy or painful it feels—is still a gift.

🎧 Listen to the full episode to hear more of the story, the healing, and the unexpected clarity that came from a moment that should have broken me but instead awakened me.