From Survival to Surrender: How God Met Me in My Brokenness
- Fonda Royster
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
At fourteen years old, I became an unaccompanied homeless youth. I did not have the language then to describe what that meant, but I understood the fear. I understood what it felt like to be without protection, without guidance, and without a safe place to lay my head. When you are young, alone, and navigating the world without adult support, survival becomes the priority. Safety becomes conditional, and trust becomes dangerous.
Homelessness is not just the absence of housing—it is exposure. As an unaccompanied youth, I was vulnerable to violence, manipulation, and exploitation. I learned quickly that predators recognize desperation. They sense unmet needs and exploit them. In those moments, I often felt unseen by God, questioning how He could allow such things to happen to a child. Yet even in my confusion and pain, God was present, working quietly in ways I could not yet understand.
Scripture tells us, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18, KJV). I did not know that verse then, but I lived it. God was near even when I felt abandoned—near when I was afraid, near when I was trying to survive situations no child should ever have to face.
The Invisible Scars of Violence and Exploitation
Violence and exploitation leave scars that are not always visible. They shape how you see the world, how you trust people, and how you see yourself. I carried shame into adulthood, believing that what I had endured somehow defined me. I learned how to be strong on the outside while remaining deeply wounded on the inside. I became self-reliant, believing dependence was weakness and vulnerability was unsafe.
But survival is not the same as healing.
Purpose Rising from Pain
As I grew older, God began to reveal something unexpected: the very experiences that almost broke me would become the foundation of my purpose. I was drawn to social work, advocacy, and serving vulnerable populations—not by accident, but by calling. I recognized myself in the faces of youth navigating homelessness, violence, and exploitation. I understood their silence. I understood their hyper-independence. And most importantly, I understood their need to be seen.
Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” For a long time, I struggled with that verse. How could violence, exploitation, and abandonment be used for good? But God does not excuse harm—He redeems it. He does not minimize pain—He transforms it.
Healing required surrender. I had to release the belief that my past disqualified me from being used by God. Instead, I learned that my lived experience gave me credibility, compassion, and discernment that could not be taught in a classroom alone. God used my story to prepare me to serve unaccompanied homeless youth who are still facing the same dangers I once did.
Founding and leading programs that support youth affected by violence and exploitation has been an act of obedience. Every safe space created, every conversation about healthy relationships, every moment of advocacy is rooted in the understanding that vulnerability does not equal weakness. These young people are not broken—they are surviving systems that have failed them.
Doing the Work While Carrying the Weight
There are moments when the weight of the work feels heavy. Hearing stories that mirror my own can reopen wounds. But Isaiah 61:1 anchors me: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted.” God did not heal me just for my own freedom—He healed me so I could help others find theirs.
Faith, for me, has evolved. It is no longer just belief in God—it is trust in His timing, His restoration, and His ability to bring beauty from ashes. I have witnessed young people escape cycles of violence. I have seen survivors of exploitation rediscover their worth. I have watched fear turn into confidence and silence turn into leadership.
Through it all, God has remained faithful.
If you are reading this and carrying shame from something you endured as a child, know this: what happened to you was not your fault. Your story does not end where your trauma began. God sees you. He has always seen you. And He is still writing your story.
Living Proof That God Restores
My journey—from unaccompanied homeless youth to advocate, leader, and servant—stands as living proof that God restores what the world tries to destroy. He redeems what others exploit. And He brings hope where despair once lived.
Fonda Royster is a social worker, entrepreneur, and advocate leading Open Arms Transformation Living and RESA Solutions LLC. She empowers at-risk youth through education, mental health support, and resources to break cycles of violence and exploitation. Fonda is passionate about resilience, safe communities, and creating opportunities for marginalized youth.
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