These women and men were brave enough to face their demons, battle them, and come out on the winning side. Their stories are a powerful moving testament of courage, compassion, and above all, the will to survive.

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Within these pages of SurvivingHer, you will find remarkably unique accounts that will leave you inspired, encourage, motivated, and empowered. Each contributing author offers insight into a moment that changed her life forever. They faced challenges, adversities, loss, overcoming fears, and circumstances that held her back in some way. They did not walk away untouched, but rather they did so with renewed strength and wisdom.

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Many of you have gone through something and if not gone, just keep living. Life can get extremely hard sometimes and we might wonder if God is even there. Trauma, brokenness, generational curses, low self-esteem, low self-worth, stagnation, insecurities, the need for validation and approval, and so much more will steer you in the wrong direction and keep you there if you don’t deal with the actual root of the problem that lies within you. 

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The first step in surviving anything is dealing with “YOU.” We can be our own worst enemy. Yes, things will happen to us, and it might not be our fault, but what happens afterward is still up to us. Second, realize exactly who the enemy is. Our battle is spiritual. The devil will use people and our past to make us think badly about ourselves. Negative self-talk is high on the devil’s list for seeking and destroying whom God says we are. But the devil is a liar.

Do not believe anything negative the enemy or others say about you. Do not allow them to let your past destroy your present and future. Third, replace every lie you are told with the truth. Silence everything in your mind that is negative or hurtful and says that you are not enough. No matter what you are going through, God loves you and HE will help you turn pain into purpose. Everyone has a past and adversity however, we cannot let our past define us.

Recovery is a process. Recovery requires constant and intentional acts of honesty. One must be willing to open about old wounds and current pains. Think about how your restoration can help change your life, your family dynamics, and the lives of others. Your testimony is for someone else. Removing your mask allows for the authentic person to come out. Doing this will take some time. Peeling back the layers of lies you believed and accepting who you truly are will not be easy. However, in doing so, realize what is unique about you and celebrate your uniqueness.

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Remember you are not like anyone else. God in his sovereignty set you apart. I have learned to live my life unapologetically. Learn to be okay with saying no, set boundaries, and balance family and work. Your journey will also require you to regularly examine your circle of influence. Not having the right people in your circle could hurt your journey to being who you truly are and living the life you have been called to live.

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In every heartfelt chapter of SurvivingHer, that I have the honor to introduce, you will witness God showing up and showing out. Every woman’s and man’s truth will touch your soul. I wholeheartedly believe sharing their story was part of God's plan.

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SurvivingHer is for anyone struggling to get their life back, or for anyone looking for hope and inspiration. The detailed accounts in SurvivingHer are more than just survivor stories, they are a compelling tribute to the enduring quality of the human spirit.

Maya Angelou once said, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you!" Use our stories to give voice to your own.