“I grew up in a sheltered, Christian home. My parents took me to church every Sunday. They sent me to a Christian school. We had Christian family friends who we met regularly for meals. I heard a lot about being a Christian, but I don’t think I understood it. I even did Christian Studies at high school, but I don’t remember much. I was a bit of a loner. Then, after school, when it came to dating, I made some bad choices. One day, I met a guy online and he came back to my room … and he assaulted me. I couldn’t believe it.”

“Afterwards, I had post-traumatic stress syndrome. A few weeks later, I was at work and I started vomiting. I had no idea what it was. A colleague said, ‘You need to go and get tested.’ I went to a clinic and I did the pregnancy test but I didn’t know what it meant. I was too upset to ask the lady, so I waited for the doctor. The room was full of people but once the doctor came in, the room was clear. I said, ‘What are the two blue lines on the stick?’ When the doctor told me, I burst into tears. I ran out of the room.

“It was horrible to go through and it took me a good long time to get used to it. But now, my son is the joy of my life. He’s an awesome kid. And a lot of my new friends at church have been really supportive. One of them helped me to see a psychologist. Others brought me meals after my son was born. They organised a roster.

“And now, I read my Bible every morning, while I’m eating breakfast. I sit at the kitchen table and I have my devotional book next to me, and I take notes. Sometimes, I write out my prayers.

“When I first read Matthew 6, it resonated with me. “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (v 26)

“I know that God is always there with me. There have been times of financial hardship, when I haven’t been able to buy groceries. But I have had to put down my pride and ask for help. God has provided in so many ways and I have grown in my faith. I know that he never changes. He is the same yesterday, tomorrow and into the future.

“Although … I try not to think too much about the future. I just go day by day. And I know that he is with me today.”

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the Domestic Violence hotline on 1800 737 732 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

If it’s an emergency, dial 000.

You can find other support services here.

Sally’s story is part of Eternity’s Faith Stories series, compiled by Naomi Reed. Click here for more Faith Stories.