Rescued by the Light: Let Go and Let God, Even If It Isn’t Fair

By Yelena Ruidoso

It all began one late afternoon when Yelena Ruidoso crawled her little five- or six-year-old body on the kitchen floor to escape the person molesting her. She managed to get away by telling him she needed to go to the bathroom. It wasn’t until years later, at a women’s conference, as she told her story, that she became compelled to write about it.

In Rescued by the Light, Ruidoso tells about her childhood, the abuse she suffered, and how she saw a light that made her wonder if there was something bigger than this world that could help her. She shares how the Lord rescued her again and again throughout her life and offered her grace more times than she can count.

Ruidoso describes a life of hope in a way only God could perpetuate, including miracles that happened throughout. She has passion to share the word of God and the blessings he still performs in the world today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664262041

Yelena Ruidoso

Yelena Ruidoso es conocida por su corazón generoso y por su don de aliento. Dios la llamó a escribir luego de compartir su historia en una conferencia de mujeres en The Cowboy Church de Ennis. Yelena tiene un título en Procesamiento de Textos y Apoyo Administrativo y vive con su familia en Ennis, Texas. Como autora se anima a compartir en La luz que me salvó, su pasión por Dios y los milagros que vivenció a lo largo de su vida.

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Copyright © 2022 Yelena Ruidoso.

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This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author

and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of

the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of

people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

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and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International

Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc.

TM. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6205-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6206-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6204-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022905717

WestBow Press rev. date: 04/23/2022

May prayer shine to the living in the darkness

and guide into the path of peace and walk

stronger in Spirit and into the light.

You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord

turns my darkness into light.

—2 Samuel 22:29 NIV

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1     The Innocent One

2     Fear to Boldness

3     Life Is Short and Fragile

4     A Life Miracle

5     The Chase

6     He Never Gives Up on Me

7     Our Little Hero

8     A Safe Place

9     He Is Worthy

10   When We Don’t Understand, We Trust

11   The Time Has Come

12   Numb from Head to Toe

13   Love the Way He Holds Me

14   Forgiveness

15   The Wind of God’s Grace

Invitation

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I thank you Lord for your mercy and grace; Your strength and guidance; Your love and vision. I thank You for the people you placed in my path to guide me, protect me and love me through a process of healing to the road of restoration and peace. The peace that surpasses all understanding.

INTRODUCTION

This book is dedicated to women all over the world who have experienced abuse in their lives. When asked to speak at a women’s conference, it was time to share how the Lord rescued my life over and over again. A life full of pain, regrets, and brokenness. It is the story of a child comforted by a light in a dark room. A girl done with men when later a knight showed up to care for her. A story of suicidal attempts and angels that came to the right place at the right time. Fear was no more when having to face my perpetrator in a hospital bed not knowing what would happen. But God always wins at the end.

CHAPTER 1

THE INNOCENT ONE

I was raised in a church my entire life. As a child who knew when a storm was coming, I would hide in dark rooms. There was no one to run to, no one who could help. At least that is what my abuser would say to me constantly. So I leaned on Him in dark rooms. The One I only heard of in a book, the Bible. The One who performed miraculous things centuries ago. The One I have never seen, but I felt His comfort when my life became a horrific tale.

It all began one late afternoon when I was five or six years old. My little body crawled on the kitchen floor to get away from the person molesting me, so he would not see me. I managed to escape by telling him I needed to go to the bathroom. I crawled my way to the front porch of the house, where the rest of the adults were laughing and having a fun time. I laid myself down on the concrete floor of the porch, next to the house pet as he licked my face and wagged his tail. I hugged him back ever so tightly. I felt safe as he barked at people walking by. The man in the room out back of the garage, had come out and Joined us. I was numb and afraid of the words that he constantly told me in that room, warning me against ever saying anything to anyone. It was a nightmare that haunted me for decades.

It started with a wave and an invitation to come to where he was, in that room in the garage. What was about to take place would change my life forever. He knew when to call me to him. He found opportunities when no one was around.

He put lies and fear in my little heart. I was helpless, held down by strong arms. What took place in that room caused great trauma that prevented me from thinking for myself. That mind-numbing captivity held me prisoner for years, wishing those thoughts would go away forever. But unfortunately, they never did.

Describing the details of the abuse that happened in that room would be too graphic, and it still triggers an emotional sob in me, but does not consume me anymore. My silence is for the protection of readers of all ages.

At times I wanted to say something to my parents but could not. His words were engraved deeply in my soul. He claimed no one would believe me because I was just a child. The awful truth was he may have been right. No one would believe me or hear me. Or worse, my family would be taken away from me, as he repeatedly reminded me. I hesitated to tell anyone out of that deep-seated fear.

But as strange as it may sound, his words drove me to love and obey my parents even more. No little girl wants to be taken away from her parents, ever. I was a clingy child who wanted arms to always hold me. I would have full-blown meltdowns in a soft but continuous cry wherever I was left to be looked after by someone else.

Trusting others was never a hard thing to do. I would never blame any adults in my circle for their naivety. They loved and committed to their families the best they could. They did their best to give us the best of themselves.

As a scared little