In 2006, Cherry Simpson and her husband, Larry, found out that their daughter Regan was the victim of spousal emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.

A daughter's story

For seven years, Regan lived through a cycle of abuse. She stayed for a number of reasons, many of which are familiar to those trapped by abusers. Mainly she stayed so she could always watch over her sons.

But one night after they attended a wedding together, Regan's husband handcuffed, raped, and beat her so violently that she was hospitalized. From her hospital bed, she signed papers to press charges. He was indicted for aggravated sexual assault, unlawful restraint, and aggravated domestic battery. Cherry says Regan views the crime as God's way of rescuing her: "It was because of the crime she was able to escape the abuse."

But escaping meant dealing with never-ending court and custody battles, leaving her lifelong home because of continued threats, and starting a new life in another state. "Though she knows God has kept her and her children safe thus far, she still struggles with many fears and worries. She will always look over her shoulder," says Cherry.

A mother's pain

The crime affected Cherry as well. "When my child became a victim of crime, I became extremely afraid. I shook. I had to see a doctor because I couldn't stop crying," says Cherry. She wasn't sure how people would react, so she tried to hide.

Cherry's pastor understood and offered support, but she still was afraid to go to church. Every time she went, she cried. "If someone saw me crying they would ask what was wrong. I would be faced with having to tell them," she explains. "What would they think?"

Then she remembered the story of Hannah in the Bible. Humiliated by her situation, Hannah went to church and cried before the Lord. "She made me realize church is exactly where I needed to be—and it's okay to cry," says Cherry.

When Cherry went back to church, she tried to be discrete about her tears. "One time my husband looked at the stone floor and leaned over to ask, 'Where's all the water coming from?' He thought there was a leak. Then he looked at me and realized I was the leak," she says.

A mother's faith

In the middle of her tears, Cherry found the strength to move forward. "I know my strength comes from his Word," she says. Cherry started to see Bible stories in a different light. She had read the story of the flood before, but after the crime, "I saw that Noah was surrounded by violence for 120 years and still he did what God wanted him to do," she says. She used to think Paul was singing in prison because he was full of faith and joy. "Now I see he did it because he needed to be reminded of God's promises, and it strengthened his faith," she says.