If you or someone you know has ever been the victim of sexual assault, you’ll want to hear the story of my guest Lisa Saruga. Lisa is herself a survivor as well as an advocate for others.

We all work hard to create just the right balance in our lives between work, spouses, kids, church, maybe caring for aging parents, hanging out with friends and more. Small stresses can cause big disruptions, right? Imagine how your life would be disrupted by a call from a detective about a cold case from 35 years ago. A case you never thought would be reinvestigated. A case that changed your life forever.

It’s easy to wonder where God was in all of this. I certainly don’t want to imply to anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault that just reading a verse or two will fix everything, but I do hope that these words from Isaiah 43:2-3a can give you some comfort:

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…”

Have you ever felt like you were about to drown in the water of your life? What about walking a path that has flames burning all around? Just try to remember that even when the waters are at their highest and the flames at their hottest, you aren’t alone. God not only sees you there - He tells us in these verses that He is there with us. Even if you feel like no one in your life is willing to be there for you - God is.

National Sexual Assault Hotline

Season 2, Episode 17: I Thought He was My Friend - "Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town" by Jon Krakauer

Season 3, Episode 30: No One Believed Her

Season 1, Episode 17: A Survivor's Journey - From Victim to Advocate

Please visit my website to access more episodes, read my blog posts, or check out ways you can financially support the podcast so that together we can impact more people, more families, and more communities. If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting and investigative services, please email me at [email protected].

Connect with Lisa here