You don’t know me but I care about you. That’s why this needs to be said.

First of all, I want to say that you are so brave. As I read the article to your attacker and learned more about your case, I am so impressed with you. Publicly addressing this terrible circumstance made you extremely vulnerable, but it also took away the power he gained from your silence. I can’t even begin to understand what you’re going through. But I know one thing for sure. Regardless of your religion, I want you to hear that someone is out there who genuinely loves and cares for no matter what happens.

See, God uses every situation for the glory of his kingdom, which is exactly what happened to you. He used a terrible experience to bring light to his people. Because He gave you the courage to speak up, it started a conversation. A conversation that will impact hundreds of thousands of people in days to come. I recognize that doesn’t make this any easier for you. The damage is already done. I also know there’s nothing I can say that will change what happened to you or the trauma you are still suffering from. However, I have a friend who always has the right thing to say. His name is Jesus.

In John 16:33, Jesus says, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world.” No matter what happens to you in this life, grace always wins. The evil and hatred in our broken society will never prevail against the love that Christ has for his people. Never forget that. God designed each and every one of us for a unique reason. “Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created.” (Esther 4:14) I’m not saying that God wishes horrible things for us, but he will make everything beautiful in his time. (See Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice to save us from both the sins that we commit and those committed against us. I hope in time you will not feel shame or embarrassment or guilt. Romans 3:38-39 proclaims “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

You are not broken, dirty or worthless. You are loved. You are saved. You are everything to Jesus. So keep being brave. Thank you.