Isaiah 61:1–11 promises that God’s people are free to rejoice, heal, rebuild, proclaim, release, comfort, and restore—even after seasons of oppression. Rising from ashes, they become living signs of the Lord’s righteousness and resurrection power. Their transformation is not only for their own good but also for the good of the devastated lives and communities they help restore.
In this reflection, a survivor leader—formerly trafficked—speaks to what she is now free to do. She refuses shame, embodying a holistic healing that calls her into service. Her voice joins the chorus of those being made new.
As you read, pause with Isaiah 61:4. Let the text frame her story and guide your prayer for survivors and for those who accompany them in healing and justice. May this testimony strengthen our resolve to participate in God’s restoring work.
Ramelia Williams
Ramelia Williams is the director of ministry initiatives for Love Mercy Do Justice.
“They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.”
–Isaiah 61:4 (NRSVUE)
I experienced pain and deceit as others took control of my God-given life, stealing my God-given dignity. I ran away from my husband after experiencing terrible abuse and found a woman who told me she could help me get a job in a new city. Little did I know, the life I hoped for would be filled with even more horror when she sold me to a brothel. I experienced unspeakable pain and trauma for many years.
When I finally received help to leave the district, I found freedom from the daily violence and began a journey of healing. This journey brought me to know Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). I have come to know Jesus as the one who knows the pain of darkness and loneliness and who experienced the breaking of his body on the cross. Jesus understands the depths of my suffering, and I draw comfort from being seen fully and loved deeply by him.
In the midst of pain, God continues to reveal Godself as the way, the truth, and the life by inviting me to experience love and healing. As I heal, I find more freedom to live life in its fullness and to help others do the same. Through my healing, I bear witness to Jesus, the giver of life, through our ministry of making communion wafers. Other women who have lived through similar experiences and I lead this ministry and experience economic freedom as we support ourselves and our children.
Making the elements of the sacrament reminds me that I am part of God’s story, where the elements and my story hold the dual reality of pain and suffering alongside God’s faithfulness, freedom, healing, and transformation. Through my life and ministry, I bear witness to the church of the power of hope in the midst of pain and the promise of God’s presence speaking truth and life into who I am as a beloved child of God.
Prayer
God, you breathed life into me when you formed me. In the midst of the evil that tried to take away this breath and the truth that I matter, you continued to pursue me. You reminded me of this truth even when I found it hard to believe it myself. I am grateful that you continue to reveal who you are and invite us to experience your way, truth, and life daily. Today, reveal yourself to any who struggle to believe that they matter. Continue to heal us. Amen.
This reflection comes from the Evangelical Covenant Church’s 2022 Week of Prayer guide. It is part of FREE, the denomination’s anti–sex trafficking initiative. Learn more at covchurch.org/free.
