A New Story: Rica McRoy

Rica McRoy

Rica was born in Orissa, India and immigrated to America when she was two years old. She was raised in a loving, devout Hindu home, but at the age of 28, beheld the beauty of Jesus Christ and her life has never been the same. The desire of her heart is for people from every nation, tongue and tribe to know the great delight of being fully known and fully loved by Christ and for that knowledge to compel them to share His grace in radical ways.

A New Story

“And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” Revelation 21:5

I remember how mysterious and marvelous it was for me to make the discovery that nothing could be more powerful than a word. One day, strange curves and shapes, lines and bends began to form together and create something. Words I could say. Words I could hear. Words I could see. Words I could imagine. I was given a powerful vehicle, through which I was not confined by time or location or my limitations. Through words I could do or say or say anything. Through words I could be anywhere or anyone I wanted to be. Words helped me escape my reality. Who knew words could be so liberating? In my reality, words had been imprisoning. Consonants and vowels merged together, fueled by breath, released into the atmosphere – out of my abuser’s mouth and into my ears, my mind and my soul. Words could shape. Words could define. Words could shackle. Words could create. Innocent. Young. Joyful. Through words that accompanied action, that little girl was shaped into something new. Ugly. Broken. Unloveable. Dirty. This was my reality. Written words helped me escape into stories where I could be anyone but me. But the words weren’t real. And so, when I closed a book, I was right back where I started. Back to the words that defined my reality of worthlessness and insignificance. Long after the abuse ended, the effect of words continue to to wound me.

I was older now. A written story no longer was as powerful to me. I would still read to escape, but in the back of my mind I realized, the story isn’t true. “I can escape for a few hours, but at the end of this book I will still be me.” Words were killing me like a slow acting poison. They almost won. It was there. At the very darkest moment that I remember realizing that nothing could be more powerful than a Word. I had heard the Gospel countless times. But this day was different. Consonants merged with vowels, fueled by the breath of the Holy Spirit, were released into the atmosphere. Out of someone’s mouth, into my ears, my mind and my soul. Words can shape. Words can define. Words can liberate. Words can create. Words saved my life.

My love for the written word was reignited. I found a new Story…a true Story. Every time I would enter into this book, my reality was transformed. The Word was in the beginning. The Word was the beginning. He, the eternal One, made Himself small and wrapped Himself in flesh to step into time and live and walk amongst us. A Word, the Word brought me to life. The Word created someone out of nothing. I once was not a person, but now I am a person of God. I no longer read to escape who I am, I read and I discover who I was created to be. My story is being re-written. The dark moments are being infused with light. Everything sad is coming untrue. I am being made new. There is nothing more powerful than a word. My consonants merge with vowels, fueled by my breath – released into the atmosphere, to declare the glory of the One who called me out of darkness into His marvelous light.

“Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'” Revelation 21:5

Testimonies

Tags: faith, Huntsville, made new, Our City On A Hill, Rica McRoy