On this episode of Melody and Friends, Melody sits down with Best Selling author Paul Young to talk about his story of growing up in West Papua, New Guinea, his divorce and reconciliation with his wife, and how he was able to experience rebirth after decades of abuse and trauma. 

Paul shares his story of abuse that he suffered while living in West Papua, New Guinea, experiencing sexual abuse at the age of 5. Between this and having an abusive father, Paul discusses how God is able to show us love and grace in these moments where all hope seems lost. He also explains that God NEVER violates human agency to accomplish His purpose and shows what that looks like from his perspective as an abuse victim.

Paul then explains his journey of “starting over”, meeting his wife and then having an affair, and finally how he began breaking down the walls he had built up over decades of his life, and how he backed away from the abyss of taking his own life. In the end he says that it wasn’t justified, but it was worth it.

Who is Paul Young?

William Paul Young was born in Canada and raised among a Stone Age tribe by his missionary parents in the highlands of former New Guinea. He suffered great loss as a child and young adult and now enjoys the “wastefulness of grace” with his family in the Pacific Northwest. He is the author of Lies We Believe About God and the New York Times bestsellers The Shack, Cross Roads, and Eve.

Things We Talk About In This Episode:

• What is the power of a word like ambivalence and why is that so important for us to understand?
• How do you begin breaking down walls built up from abuse?
• How is lying often used more as a survival tool than one meant to deceive? 
• Where can we turn when it feels like the world is collapsing on us and we feel separated from God?

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