Healed. Whole. Called.

In this hope-filled episode of Healed. Whole. Called., Wendy Melrose welcomes Katie Selby, a paraprofessional from St. Louis, Missouri, whose life story is rooted in perseverance and quiet courage. From infancy, Katie experienced developmental delays and significant language impairment, leaving her frustrated and often misunderstood. What some labeled as tantrums were, in reality, a young child’s desperate attempt to communicate.

At just three years old, Katie was enrolled in the Special School District of St. Louis County. Her early years were marked by behavioral struggles tied directly to her inability to express herself verbally. Yet even before she had the words, advocacy was already forming in her spirit. Through consistent support from her parents and teachers—who learned to redirect, reinforce verbal attempts, and patiently guide her—Katie spoke her first full sentence at age five. It was a small milestone with lifelong significance.

As she grew older, Katie recognized that if she wanted her needs understood, she would have to learn to speak up. A pivotal shift came during her junior year of high school when a teacher saw her determination. Later, an access office counselor at community college recognized her drive to pursue higher education. These mentors helped Katie see that she was not limited by the labels placed on her.

Higher education was not a straight path. Subjects like math and science required persistence and time, and completing her degree took years. But Katie remained steadfast. Her story dismantles the myth that academic timelines define intelligence or worth. Progress at a slower pace is still progress.

Today, Katie has served as a paraprofessional since 2005, walking alongside elementary students with disabilities as they learn to advocate for themselves. She understands firsthand what it feels like to navigate school without adequate support, and she intentionally teaches students that it is okay to not be “there yet.” It is okay to ask for help. It is okay to grow at your own speed.

Her work extends beyond the classroom. Through podcast interviews and motivational speaking, Katie shares her message widely: you are not defined by a diagnosis, and you are not disqualified from purpose. She is currently writing a book about her life, continuing the call to encourage others who have been told they are “not college material.”

Katie’s testimony is steady and clear—self-advocacy is learned, perseverance is powerful, and God’s design for your life is not limited by educational systems or early delays. The struggle was not the end of her story. It was preparation for her calling.

Facebook: The Girl Who Was Not College Material

You can also follow her dogs’ page on Facebook: The Mini Adventures of Barney and Fred

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

In this deeply moving episode of Healed. Whole. Called., Wendy Melrose sits down with Tracy Jablant (formerly Tracy Boone), who shares the sacred and painful journey that began with the unexpected deterioration and death of her husband in 2012. What started as subtle personality changes in a strong, faith-filled family man turned into a devastating neurological disease that took his life, leaving Tracy widowed at 43 with a six-year-old son.

The years leading up to his passing were marked by confusion, fear, and spiritual endurance. Tracy describes watching her best friend lose cognitive function as a rare degenerative condition consumed his brain. When the diagnosis finally came—just two weeks before his death—there was no medical solution. The healing they had prayed for did not come in the way they expected. Instead, it came through heaven.

On the night her husband passed, Tracy and her son experienced something that would anchor her faith for years to come. After an unexplainable phone call appeared from her husband’s phone while he lay in hospice, Tracy felt prompted to go say goodbye. That night, while her son slept in the hospice room, witnesses observed a radiant light over him. The next morning, when Tracy gently told her son that his father had passed at 7 a.m., he calmly replied that he had seen his father hours earlier, surrounded by angels, assuring him that everything would be okay.

That moment did not erase grief—but it reframed it. Tracy came to understand that God sees the details we cannot and prepares our hearts before we even know what we will need. As she leaned into Scripture, particularly Hebrews 4:12 and 1 Corinthians 2, she discovered that the Word of God is alive, discerning, and deeply personal. Healing would not come through denial of pain—but through intimacy with the Holy Spirit in the middle of it.

During her early days in hospice, a brochure featuring a horse caught her attention. While traditional therapy felt overwhelming, the image of being outdoors with horses brought peace. That small nudge became the seed of what is now Angels in the Arena—a Holy Spirit-led equestrian fellowship designed to restore peace, rebuild trust, and help people reconnect with God after trauma.

Tracy is clear: the horse is not the healer. God is. The horse is simply a tool the Holy Spirit uses to create space for restoration. Through her 12-week framework focused on peace, trust, love, and partnership with the Holy Spirit, participants learn to master their belief systems and become doers of the Word—not just hearers.

Today, Tracy trains and certifies others in this ministry model and leads experiences both in person and remotely. Her work serves children, parents, grieving families, and communities navigating trauma. From suicide-stricken regions to grieving mothers in crisis, Tracy has witnessed firsthand that when peace is restored first, clarity follows.

Her message is steady and unwavering: God is not the author of the harm you have experienced. He is the restorer of what was stolen. As Psalm 24:7 says, “Lift up your heads, O you gates… that the King of glory may come in.” When we open the gate, healing enters.

Pain is not the final chapter. With God, restoration becomes the calling.

Website: Www.sowingtolive.org

Facebook: Angles in the Arena

For information about Holy Spirit-Led Equestrian Fellowship training, certification, or remote sessions, visit the website above.

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

In this episode of Healed. Whole. Called., Wendy Melrose sits down with Michelle Drew, a certified natural wellness professional and founder of Michelle Drew Naturopathic Wellness, to explore a journey marked by crisis, faith, and transformation. After 28 years in corporate America, Michelle faced a health emergency that left her in a medically induced coma for three weeks, with doctors fearing permanent brain damage. This moment became the pivot point for a spiritual and physical restoration, as she experienced firsthand the redemptive power of surrendering control to God.

Michelle shares the intense reality of her recovery, from relearning basic functions to rebuilding her strength over five years, all while discerning God’s calling for her life. Her encounter with God transformed her perspective on health, self-care, and purpose, inspiring her to help other women over 40 listen to their bodies, advocate for their wellness, and address root causes of physical challenges rather than simply accepting aging as inevitable.

The conversation delves into practical wisdom for holistic health, including grounding, hydration, and deep breathing, and emphasizes the importance of faith, patience, and asking God for guidance. Michelle also reflects on the brokenness of conventional medical systems and the freedom found in holistic and proactive care. Her testimony illustrates the profound intersection of spiritual obedience and physical healing, offering listeners hope, empowerment, and actionable steps to honor their bodies and their calling.

Website: https://www.michelledrew.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.drew.948

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

In this episode of Healed. Whole. Called., Wendy Melrose sits down with Sam and Ruth Vazquez, a husband-and-wife ministry team with over 30 years of combined experience in leadership, coaching, and faith-based healing. Together, they share a powerful narrative of trauma, transformation, and divine intervention.

Ruth vulnerably recounts the abuse she endured as a child, describing the deep shame, guilt, and powerlessness she carried into adulthood. Her journey of isolation, anxiety, and striving for approval led her to a point of desperate questioning: “God, where are you?” Despite her struggles, Ruth’s pursuit of God and commitment to faith created a foundation for healing.

A turning point came when Sam, guided by the Holy Spirit, was led to connect with Ruth at a time she felt unseen and unheard. Through patient guidance, the principles of biblical forgiveness, and intentional journaling, Ruth began to release the weight of bitterness and reclaim her sense of worth. Sam explains that forgiveness is a one-way street — a choice to relinquish the right to retaliation and entrust justice to God, freeing the heart from long-held pain.

Together, Sam and Ruth explore the distinction between forgiveness and reconciliation, emphasizing that setting healthy boundaries and remembering the offense are essential steps in the healing process. They highlight how God’s love, grace, and spiritual guidance were pivotal in Ruth’s journey to wholeness, ultimately enabling her to confront her perpetrator safely and embrace freedom.

Today, Sam and Ruth serve through Emerge Coaching Solutions, sharing their testimony with leaders and individuals across churches and conferences. Their ministry equips others to heal from past wounds, step boldly into calling, and experience the liberating power of forgiveness. Listeners are reminded that true healing begins with Jesus Christ at the center and that freedom, wholeness, and purpose are possible regardless of past pain.

Website: https://emergecoachingsolutions.com
Instagram: @emergecoaching
Email: [email protected]

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

In this episode of Healed. Whole. Called., Wendy Melrose sits down with Robin Carr — speaker, mindset coach, author, and founder of Thrive Unapologetically — to explore the path from despair to empowerment. Robin recounts years spent in corporate life, feeling suppressed, unfulfilled, and disconnected from her calling. Despite promotions and financial success, she experienced profound emptiness, culminating in a season of depression and uncertainty that left her questioning her purpose.

The turning point came as Robin began listening to the quiet voice of God, revisiting her roots in psychology, and reflecting on the lessons hidden in her pain. Through intentional journaling, social sharing, and a practice of gratitude inspired by The Magic by Rhonda Byrne, Robin learned to embrace her past — including her trauma — as preparation for her calling. She emphasizes that healing does not erase challenges, but it transforms perspective, enabling peace, joy, and clarity.

Robin’s Empower Framework became a guiding tool for her and for those she coaches, emphasizing surrender, reflection, and gratitude as steps toward restoration. She also reflects on the freedom found in moving past religious performance and embracing a personal, vibrant relationship with God. Today, Robin’s voice reaches stages nationally and soon internationally, offering encouragement, practical tools, and emotional support to those seeking to reclaim their joy and purpose.

Listeners are invited to see that no season of struggle is wasted. With faith, intentional practice, and the support of others, it is possible to rise from the darkest moments, reclaim light, and step unapologetically into God’s calling.

Website: https://www.thriveunapologetically.com

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

In this deeply honest episode of Healed. Whole. Called., Wendy Melrose sits down with Meg Harkins, a wife, mother of three sons, and ministry leader who knows firsthand what it means to be taken, broken, and sent.

Meg’s hardest season unfolded in 2020. Beneath the surface of everyday life, she was battling a severe alcohol addiction—one she refused to name, even as those closest to her expressed concern. The breaking point came when she slipped in her kitchen and fractured her hip. Alone in a hospital during the height of COVID, testing positive and isolated for days before surgery, she endured not only physical pain but deep emotional trauma. She was detoxing in a hospital bed while facing the consequences of years of self-medication.

Even that was not the end of the spiral. Months later, she was hospitalized again—this time in acute liver failure. Her children did not know if she would survive. It was there, at the edge of her life, that Meg finally surrendered. She laid everything at the feet of Jesus and admitted what she had been unwilling to say: she could not fix herself.

What followed was not gradual willpower—it was deliverance. Meg had been drinking a bottle of whiskey a day. Yet from the moment she left the hospital in February 2020, she has not craved alcohol. As she approaches five years of sobriety, she testifies that the freedom was not self-generated. It was the mercy of God.

But healing did not stop with sobriety. In prayer, the Lord began guiding her into deeper restoration—addressing nutrition, stress, and lifestyle patterns that had contributed to her physical decline. She radically changed her diet, releasing sugar, alcohol, and inflammatory foods, learning to nourish her body instead of numbing it. Even when professionals advised caution, she discerned the Lord’s direction and chose obedience.

Through that process, God rebuilt her life. He provided a new, lower-stress job. He introduced mentors and health coaches at the right time. He restored her relationship with her sons, transforming shame into testimony. Instead of hiding her struggle, Meg chose transparency, and her sons became some of her strongest supporters—learning that struggle does not equal weakness, and that asking for help is strength.

What began as personal healing became public ministry.

Meg launched a health coaching business that eventually evolved into something even more aligned with her calling. In recent months, the Lord led her to shift from nutrition coaching into deeper discipleship work. She now hosts women’s retreats and leads a group coaching program called Learn to Say Yes—designed for women who sense God calling them forward but feel paralyzed by fear.

The heart behind Learn to Say Yes was formed years earlier when Meg worked in hospice care and heard a patient confess that his greatest regret was not saying yes to the opportunities placed before him. She carried that lesson into motherhood, teaching her sons to embrace courage over comfort. Now, she teaches women the same truth—say yes to God’s assignment, not recklessly, but obediently.

This episode is not about perfection. It is about surrender. It is about what happens when a woman stops looking backward—like Lot’s wife—and chooses to step forward in faith.

For the woman listening who sees herself in Meg’s story—whether through addiction, domestic violence, shame, or fear—the invitation is simple and profound: ask for help. Tell one person. Turn to Jesus. You do not have to overturn your entire life overnight. One surrendered step can change everything.

God still takes what is broken, blesses it, and multiplies it for His glory.

How to Connect With the Guest

Website: http://www.anchorednutrition.net

Facebook:

Email:

Retreat Location:

Upcoming Retreats:

Connection details for additional retreats and cohort opportunities are shared through Meg’s Facebook page and direct email inquiry.

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

In this episode of Healed. Whole. Called., Wendy Melrose welcomes Stephanie Shaw, host of Hello Hot Flash and producer of the limited series podcast Christian Women and Menopause, for a grounded and grace-filled conversation about a season of life many women experience—but few feel prepared for.

Stephanie’s journey into this work was not theoretical. It was personal. In 2017, while on a business trip in New Orleans, she experienced a sudden onset of alarming symptoms—numbness, shaking, rapid heartbeat, tingling, insomnia, phantom smells, and more. What followed was a two-year search for answers that included visits to 18 doctors and two world-renowned medical facilities. Despite extensive testing, she received little clarity.

During that time, Stephanie found herself largely confined to home outside of work, managing more than 40 symptoms commonly associated with perimenopause. In the absence of medical answers, she leaned more deeply into the Word of God. Like King Hezekiah turning his face to the wall in prayer (2 Kings 20), she sought the Lord with intentionality, asking not only for healing but for understanding. She began to recognize that this season was not simply hormonal—it was transitional. A spiritual invitation into deeper dependence, discernment, and surrender.

Alongside prayer and Scripture, Stephanie pursued practical wisdom. A naturopathic evaluation revealed significant nutrient deficiencies, prompting her to rebuild her health through targeted supplementation and a complete nutritional reset. She adjusted her macronutrient balance, increased protein, embraced healthy fats, prioritized nutrient-dense carbohydrates, and reduced sugar and processed foods. What she discovered was profound: during midlife, the body requires thoughtful nourishment, not restriction. In many cases, eating more of the right foods and exercising wisely—not excessively—supports hormonal balance and metabolic stability.

Stephanie speaks candidly about stress, cortisol, sugar dependence, and the compounding effects of lifestyle choices during perimenopause. She emphasizes that no two women experience this transition the same way. What works for one body may not work for another. The key is awareness—listening to physical cues, seeking appropriate medical testing, and prayerfully discerning what adjustments are needed.

One particularly helpful clarification she offers is this: menopause itself is technically one day—the one-year anniversary of a woman’s final menstrual cycle. The broader struggle many women describe is perimenopause, a season that can span years and often coincides with other life transitions such as career shifts, empty nesting, or caregiving responsibilities. Recognizing that this is a layered season—physical, emotional, and spiritual—allows women to approach it with compassion rather than shame.

Through her coaching and podcast platforms, Stephanie integrates faith and health intentionally. She believes women cannot fully navigate this stage apart from God’s guidance. Scripture addresses anxiety, depression, healing, and bodily care throughout its pages. By helping women see themselves in those stories, she reminds them they are not alone in their struggle—and they are not disqualified from purpose in midlife.

This episode is for the woman who feels confused by her symptoms, frustrated by shifting weight or brain fog, or spiritually discouraged by changes she did not expect. It is a reminder that midlife is not decline—it is transition. And when surrendered to God, it can become a season of refinement, strength, and renewed calling.

Your body is not betraying you. It is speaking. And God is not absent in this season—He is inviting you deeper.

How to Connect With the Guest

Website: https://hellohotflash.com

Podcast:

Limited Series Podcast:

Social Media:
https://linkedin.com/in/stephanielynnshaw

For additional resources, podcast episodes, and coaching information, visit:

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

In this episode of Healed. Whole. Called., Wendy sits down with Faith Pereira — single mother, corporate leader, author, and founder of Born Again Professionals — for a steady and faith-filled conversation about loss, obedience, and the cost of discipleship.

Faith’s story unfolds through layered seasons of grief. After losing her mother in her early twenties, she later entered into an arranged marriage in India to a non-believer. Years into the marriage, following the death of her father and during the onset of the COVID-19 lockdown, her husband presented her with an ultimatum: abandon her faith or lose her marriage. He rejected her prayer life, her worship, and her devotion to Christ, demanding she choose a different path.

Faith chose God.

What followed was not immediate relief, but deep testing. As a new single mother with a toddler, she faced unemployment, financial instability, unpaid bills, and the emotional weight of raising a daughter processing abandonment. Yet in that wilderness season, Faith cried out not for ease — but for stability. She asked God for a home where she would not have to move her child from place to place. Though she lacked the down payment for a mortgage, provision came in unexpected ways, and within two months she moved into her own home — a testimony she still cannot fully explain.

The Lord’s faithfulness extended beyond finances. When she needed practical community support, God led her — through what seemed like a simple restaurant encounter — back to a former youth pastor. The church she visited stood only 250 meters from her home. There, her daughter, who had developed fear and resistance toward male figures, began receiving gentle, fatherly care from her pastor. Faith witnessed healing unfold not through spectacle, but through consistent love and safe spiritual covering.

At the same time, Faith navigated repeated professional setbacks. Despite being a top-performing corporate leader in human resources — exceeding targets and receiving awards — she was laid off more than once. Rather than retreating, she discerned that her calling was not separate from her profession. She began to see herself as a missionary in the corporate world, refusing to compartmentalize her faith.

Through prayer and obedience, the Lord led her to co-found a cybersecurity firm only days after losing one position. What seemed like disruption became redirection.

Faith also launched Born Again Professionals, a small but growing Christian community on LinkedIn connecting believers across nations. Without a content calendar or corporate strategy, she shares Scripture, encouragement, intercession, and practical job opportunities as the Holy Spirit leads. Drawing from her HR background, she supports believers not only spiritually but professionally — helping them navigate employment and calling with integrity.

Her children’s book, Garden Mission, echoes this same conviction: mission is not always overseas — sometimes it is exactly where God has placed you.

Faith’s testimony is not one of dramatic spectacle, but of steady surrender. She reminds listeners that earthly fathers, spouses, and employers may fail — but the Heavenly Father does not. As Scripture declares, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

This conversation is for the woman walking through rejection, financial uncertainty, or spiritual opposition. It is a reminder that when everything shakes, obedience becomes the anchor — and that choosing Christ, even at great cost, is never wasted.

How to Connect With Faith Pereira

http://www.linkedin.com/in/faith-pereira-0545b2195

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

n this episode of Healed. Whole. Called., Wendy Melrose sits down with Beatrice Cortes — graduate counseling student, mother of three daughters, author, and aspiring therapist — for a deeply honest conversation about domestic violence, faith, and reclaiming identity after trauma.

Beatrice’s story begins within the church. Raised as a pastor’s kid, she grew up with a deep reverence for marriage and a belief that divorce was never an option. When she found herself in a domestic violence relationship where her life was threatened, the internal conflict was profound. She not only faced the reality of leaving for her safety and her children’s protection, but also wrestled spiritually — questioning whether God was disappointed in her and whether divorce disqualified her from sharing her faith.

In prayer, during one of her lowest moments, Beatrice sensed a powerful reminder from the Lord: He had not abandoned her. In fact, He had protected her. That encounter reframed her suffering. What she once interpreted as divine absence became evidence of divine intervention.

The healing process did not happen overnight. Beatrice confronted long-buried struggles with self-worth, disordered eating, generational patterns of abuse, and the pressure to perform spiritually. She began to separate identity from performance and learned to value herself as a daughter of God. Through counseling, community, and honest spiritual surrender, she discovered that empowerment — both clinically and biblically — is essential to healing.

When she remarried, she approached the relationship differently. She chose discernment over outside opinion, boundaries over fear, and authenticity over image. In her current marriage, she describes experiencing safety for the first time — a lived example of what it means for a husband to love with humility, repentance, and a contrite heart before God.

Beatrice also shares practical wisdom for women currently navigating abusive situations. Safety planning, trusted support systems, emergency contacts, code words, discreet location sharing, and legal consultation are not signs of rebellion — they are acts of wisdom. She emphasizes that leaving is often the most dangerous season, and no one should attempt it alone. Community matters. Preparation matters. Safety in numbers matters.

Her calling into therapy grew from both lived experience and lifelong instinct. Even as a child, people gravitated toward her with their confessions and burdens. Today, she is pursuing advanced training in psychology with the desire to integrate faith and mental health responsibly — offering trauma-informed care without condemnation. She is also developing a nonprofit initiative and safety-planning tools to support individuals in crisis.

Beatrice’s vulnerability extends beyond domestic violence. In her book, The Depths of His Love, she shares about suicidal thoughts, sexual abuse, and the internal struggles that often remain hidden within church culture. She speaks openly about how secrecy allows darkness to grow — but truth, brought into the light, becomes liberating.

For the woman listening who feels trapped, ashamed, or spiritually disqualified, Beatrice offers this steady reminder: everything has an expiration date. The enemy does not have permanent authority. There is a God who is stronger than the one who torments you.

This conversation embodies the heart of Healed. Whole. Called. — that pain is not the headline. Healing is. Trauma is not identity. Wholeness is. And through Christ, what once threatened to destroy can become the foundation of calling.

For more biblical encouragement and testimonies of restoration, visit .

How to Connect With the Guest

Book: The Depths of His Love by Beatrice Cortes

Additional contact details, website, and social media handles were not mentioned in this episode. Please check the show notes or Wendy Melrose’s social platforms for updates.

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.

In this deeply honest and redemptive conversation on Healed. Whole. Called., Wendy Melrose welcomes Vernisa Williams, founder of Reclaiming Your Voice and a social worker with more than 20 years of experience in human services. Vernisa’s story is not one of surface healing—it is a layered testimony of trauma, pride, exposure, surrender, and restoration.

As a young woman, Vernisa was gifted and talented, working successfully as a professional hairstylist. But beneath her success were unhealed wounds—sexual abuse at the hands of her grandfather at the age of two, a father absent from her life, a mother battling her own mental health struggles, and years of seeking validation through promiscuity. What looked like confidence was rooted in a desperate need to be seen and loved.

In her early twenties, pride led her to walk away from a stable job without wisdom or preparation. What followed was a long season of financial hardship. For nearly two years, she was unable to secure consistent employment. Rent went unpaid. Fear mounted. A kind apartment manager quietly provided food and transportation tokens—acts of compassion she would later recognize as God’s provision through a fatherly covering she had never experienced.

Eventually, Vernisa and her young son entered a Christian transitional housing program. There, in the backyard of that shelter, she encountered God in a way that changed everything. In a moment of spiritual clarity, she felt the Lord reveal the root beneath her circumstances—pride. Scripture came alive in her heart: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). What felt like devastation became divine correction wrapped in mercy.

Later, while studying social work, God gently uncovered the suppressed truth of her childhood abuse. Through visions and confirmation from family members, the reality surfaced. Instead of destroying her, the truth became a doorway to deeper healing. She began confronting the patterns that trauma had created—people-pleasing, codependency, lack of boundaries, and silence.

Rather than remaining broken in ministry, Vernisa chose to do the internal work. She utilized therapeutic tools such as cognitive behavioral techniques alongside Scripture and prayer. She became both student and practitioner, applying what she learned to her own healing journey. Slowly, her identity shifted from survival to daughtership. God was no longer distant—He was Father.

Her ministry, Reclaiming Your Voice, was born from that revelation. Vernisa now walks alongside women—especially Christian women—who appear strong but carry hidden wounds. She speaks to those struggling with shame, father wounds, validation-seeking, sexual trauma, pride, and silence. Her message is steady: you are seen, you are known, and your trauma does not get the final word.

As Psalm 27:10 declares, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” Vernisa’s life reflects this promise. The covering she longed for as a child became real in Christ. The voice that was silenced by shame now leads others to freedom.

Pain did not define her. Surrender did. And from that surrender came calling.

Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1761196

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vernica.williams.391

Organization: Reclaiming Your Voice

Connection details were not mentioned in this episode. Please check the show notes or Wendy Melrose’s social platforms for updates.

If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.

The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.

You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.

Your story is not an accident.
You are healed.
You are whole.
You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.