Journey from Abuse and Insecurity to Victorious Living

Raised in an abusive home, Demetria never felt safe or loved. Before she turned 13, overwhelmed with insecurity, she attempted suicide. In Junior High, still hopelessly struggling, she dropped out of school. At age 16, a wealthy uncle attempted to molest her. Thankfully, an adult intervened and stopped the attack, but no one held her uncle accountable.

Unable to understand why no one protected her, Demetria fell into a cycle of self-blame that deepened the darkness in her life.

After her father died, Demetria sought a fresh start and moved to Virginia to live with her sister. When that did not work out, she found herself homeless, finally settling in a group home. Determined to succeed, she threw herself into church activities and pursued her education. She obtained her GED but still battled insecurity.

None of the people Demetria thought should help her did, so she poured her heart out to God. He led her to the ministry of TD Jakes, which ignited her mind to consider God’s plans for her life. Demetria sought out a home church and began growing closer to God. Slowly her eyes opened to see all God had done for her – and the amazing plans ahead for her.

Demetria recorded the changes and truths from God into a book on victorious living, but the insecurities that chained Demetria to the past, kept her from publishing the book.

It took a vicious car accident that left Demetria unable to care for herself to help move the truths of victorious living from her head to her feet. The accident forced her to return to her mother’s home in Louisiana. The road to recovery took Demetria farther than she could have imagined!

She became a walking example of Romans 5:3-5.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

As Demetria persevered in her physical healing, her spiritual and emotional healing progressed as well. Returning to the church of her childhood, Demetria served with the youth. The Pastor and church leadership recognized God’s hand upon her ministry and eventually ordained Demetria into ministry.

One day while reading her Bible, Peter’s question to the Lord convicted her – how many times do I have to forgive? The reality that she hated her uncle’s wife for not protecting her pierced her heart. She felt God calling her to release her resentments and embrace forgiveness, but she didn’t know how that would happen.

Soon after, face-to-face with her aunt, the Holy Spirit nudged her to reach out in love. She did so, and almost instantly learned how love truly does cover a multitude of sins. Demetria and her aunt reconnected and loved one another – just weeks before dementia robbed the aunt of all family connections.

Freed from the chains of the past, Demetria saw more clearly God’s work on her behalf – and His plans for her future. As the truths of Scripture became part of her thoughts, old insecurities melted away. Demetria began to see that Satan had been stealing the Word planted in her for years. She began asking God to renew and restore all that had been lost.

Today, Demetria is on mission for and with God! She is now the published author of over 30 books, an international speaker, and a personal life coach. The desires He plants in her heart, she nurtures as seeds of His glory. Obedience to His call allows those seeds to flourish and His glory to be seen.

Demetria’s clarion call to those she encounters is this: “Right now, it’s time to forgive and let go! You can’t change the past, but with God holding you by the hand, you have the power to change your future.”