I didn’t know that it takes about four pounds of pressure to pull the trigger on a 9 mm handgun, did you? I read that that’s like the pressure in a firm handshake. That’s not all that much, especially when someone is holding a 9 mm handgun to your head. If you found yourself in that situation, what would you do to survive?

Our book this week is “Four Pounds of Pressure: A Memoir of Rape, Survival, and Taking Back My Power” by Danielle Louise Leukam. Danielle is an author, speaker, and advocate for women who have experienced sexual trauma.

You’re going to love this week’s guest. Candice R. Reyes is a Speaker, Author, and Executive Director of Her Well. As a 2x survivor of sexual assault, Candice inspires other women to overcome their fear of the past and walk with Jesus through recovery. Through storytelling and practical tips, Candice helps women reclaim their hope, regain their voice, and resist their urge to isolate during this journey. She is an award-winning author who coaches survivors daily as they embrace their healing journey.

Don’t we all need to be reminded from time to time about how valuable we are no matter what has happened to us? That’s the message of this week’s passage from the Bible, Isaiah 43:1b-3a:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

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…”

Isn’t the picture of redemption from captivity a beautiful part of the history of God’s people? I believe that this is true on a personal level today as well. It doesn’t matter what has happened to you that continues to hold you captive - you can be set free from it. The ultimate power to do this is of course from God, but He uses people all around us to accomplish this healing. People like Danielle’s family and the trained professional who guided her as she navigated all of the different ripple affects her rape had. People like Candice Reyes who is working so hard to provide hope and healing to survivors of sexual trauma in her little corner of the world. And people like you. Look to see where God is working in your area to help victims of sexual assault and then join Him there. That’s an amazing way to be a different kind of P.I. - a Person of Impact.

If you learned a lot from this episode, you’ll want to listen to these:

Season 3, Episode 30: No One Believed Her

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

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].

Buy Four Pounds of Pressure

Check out Danielle’s website here

Read about Candice’s work at Her Well

Shop for the comfort bags

Read about the power of 30 Second Hugs