Books, Events, God

When A Good God Allows Rape

This September, at the Manila International Book Fair in SMX, OMF Literature will be launching my first published book, When A Good God Allows Rape. Yes, the title is kind of a shocker but for those of you who have followed my blog, you already know that this event is something I have spoken openly about. Some parts of the book I have take from a few articles on this site but I am happy to say that it’s the first autobiographical account of the tragedy, the events that followed, and God’s hand in all of it. 

 This is a dream come true for me, a bucket-list-kind-of-accomplishment. When I was younger I hoped that one day I would have the privilege of declaring what God has done in my life through a book. Now that I am just a few weeks from its launch, it feels wonderfully surreal. 

Even if I originally wanted this book to come out ten years earlier, the timing of its launch is as it should be. The landscape of my life’s journey includes a postscript of experiences and memories that overshadow that black spot in the timeline of my life. People will be able to see the thread of God’s goodness. 

Everything was going smoothly between the publisher, editor and me up until two weeks ago, when one of my dear friends in the story requested that her real name not be used. I understood where she was coming from and completely respected her feelings so I honored her request. But having to make alterations at the nth hour wasn’t easy. We remain close and this change will not harm our friendship. She is so dear to me.

Initially, the stress robbed me of sleep. So I did the one thing that I probably shouldn’t have done. I went shopping on Amazon. There’s something ridiculously therapeutic about putting things in my cart and taking them out, then putting them back in and taking them out, and reading reviews. I am not advocating stress-shopping! But it did give me something else to think about besides my book. 

What this unprecedented turn of events taught me was to trust in God’s will. I was also reminded that this book is not mine. I may have written its contents. But God owns this story, and he allowed this last minute revision even after I prayed for my friend’s heart to change on the matter. So this is part of His plan. 

I am excited and nervous at the same time. Excited because this is my first published book ever!!! And nervous because what if it isn’t received well and I have made myself so vulnerable in it?!!! You can tell from my exclamation points that these are emotionally loaded statements. But I have done my part and must rest in the comfort that God will do the rest. 

On a side note, I think it is pretty amazing that my editor was a British woman named Victoria Hope. How cool is it that the person who helped me finalize this book had a name like that? Victoria means victory in Latin. So put the two words together and you get “victorious hope.” This is what my book is about. We can all have a victorious hope in God, who redeems our tragedies. He loves us and uses all things for our good when we choose to follow and trust in Him. 

May God get all the glory for this book! It includes perspectives from Edric and my parents. And it’s a book for anyone dealing with tragedy and loss, no matter what kind. 

Of course I hope you will come to the book signing on September 20 at 4:30 PM at SMX, too! This book will retail for P100.   To read the MIBF preview on the OMF Literature site, click this: when a good God allows rape. 

Print the image below to get free entrance to the book fair!   

68 thoughts on “When A Good God Allows Rape”

  1. Hi, Joy! Even if I’m not in Manila, I will tell my family and friends about your book launching (“,) Will be praying that many people will be blessed by your book and God will be glorified. Kung sa Manila lang ako, I will definitely attend your book launching (“,)

    Reply

  2. Ooh! How wonderful! I am definitely buying this book once it is out! And it is at a very affordable price! It will definitely help a lot of people Ms. Joy! Hope you will also have a book signing event at SM Megamall! Good luck and God bless!

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  3. Congratulations, Joy! Your life is truly a testament to God’s amazing grace, goodness, and love. I can’t wait to get my own copy. I hope my schedule permits me to attend your book launch as well. Will inform our DGroup. Praise and honor be unto the Lord!!!

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  4. My heart leaped when I saw the announcement of your book launching via OMF Lit’s FB page. I cannot wait to have a copy of your book Ms Joy. I’m one of the people who watched your testimony at 700 Club Asia and blessed through your faith. It’s tragic but we can never deny God’s goodness ever.
    I pray for the success of your first book and hopefully more people will have a transformed life after reading it. God bless!

    Reply

  5. Hi Ms Joy ..
    I’m blessed to read your blogs and this great news of you – launching your book.
    Being in CCF and hearing your testimonies ,from fellow Christians and your family made me realize how wonderful our Father in Heaven is…
    We have the same bucket list .
    Fervently praying for them to real..God’s time .
    Excited for your book.
    Thank you for inspiring us all

    Reply

  6. Hi Ms. Joy, I have watched your testimony at 700 Club Asia and from then on I regularly read your blog. I will surely get a copy of your book! You are blessed and you never fail to bless your readers. Thank God for your story! More to come! God bless.

    Reply

  7. Hi Joy, Congratulations on your book and looking forward to have one.
    I’m living in North America but I’ll ask my family to buy one for me. God bless you!

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  8. Hi Joy! Congratulations! As I always write here and tell my friends, you are a blessing and an inspiration. In everything, God is the Potter and we are just His clay. Because you trusted Him, you came out to be a beautiul workmanship of God who continues to glorify Him through your life and family. I am not from Manila would definitely love to be there during the book signing so I can also meet you personally. But I am sure Passages and Philippine Christian Bookstore maybe selling it here in Bacolod also. Thank you very much for writing this book.

    Reply

  11. I look forward to your first book launch and its success. As you said God owns your story and i believe that he has endowed you with the ability to write well to share that story and all those you have written in this blog. You are such an amazing person!!!

    Reply

  12. rejoicing with you Joy for this milestone! My prayer is that your story woven by the Great Master weaver will ever reflect His salvation, compassion and hope for all of the women out there. I’m sure your book will reach Iloilo and by then I could get a copy of my own and share it to our recovery group. With the words of David my heart is blest with goodness and I proclaim ” this is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes”

    Reply

  13. Courageous Joy, by GOD’s grace! Congratulations! I hope your book will be on sale at CCF-Malolos. I want to read the full details of your journey.

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  14. Hi Joy, congratulations on your first book launching! More to come next! I hope your book will be available at CCF bookstore also so we can get a copy 🙂

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  15. Congratulations, Joy! I’ll surely buy your book. I always cry when I hear you speak about the rape. It was tragic but God caused it to work for good. You are touching a lot of people through God’s story in your life. Remain steadfast in Him.

    Reply

  16. Congratulations on the book! Would you know if this will be sold in National Book Store after the book fair? Thank you!

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  17. Hi Ms. Joy, is this gonna be available in NBS branches or PCBS in CCF-Ortigas? I hope I can come to your book-signing, I would be glad to meet you personally. Been reading your blogs and it really bless me. Thank God for your life. God bless you! 🙂

    Reply

  18. Hi Joy,

    I hope your book will reach OMF CDO branch so that I could grab a copy of it. I’m so blessed by your story and how the Lord restored. Continue to bless other people. God bless!

    Reply

  22. Hi Ms. Joy,

    Congratulations to your new venture. I was at the book fair yesterday and I saw the long queue for your book signing. Thankfully, I was one of those who lined up earlier. I commend your bravery in telling your story. More than tragedy, it speaks of hope and inspiration. May the good Lord grant all the desires of your heart. You are a blessing to this world. God bless you and your family.

    Reply

  24. Hi Joy,

    I’m so blessed by your story on how our good God lifted and healed you from the pain of your past. I can feel deep inside my heart his amazing and eternal love for you. As I was reading this blog of your’s, my inner being stimulates me to genuinely entrust all the pain and suffering that has been brought by any human relationships. Indeed, God is sovereign above all things. Yes, we don’t need to understand now, and we may not have the answers today rest assured that “..in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28), and He will restore us to health and heal our wounds (Jeremiah 30:17).
    Thank you very much, Ms. Joy.
    May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to use you boldly in proclaiming and demonstrating His love and goodness.

    Reply

    1. Praise God! Thank you for the encouragement and for your insights! May God continue to bring healing to your life…

      Reply

  26. Hi Ms. Joy,
    I bought your book last week and finished reading it last night. I am indeed blessed on how you and your family respond on that situation. Your story moved me and help me understand God in a deep and wide perspective – God can even turn our darkest moment to light and lift up others and in the end magnify and glorify His Name. Though some people can harm us but God intended it for our good. You ministered to me so much and it’ll definitely help me to process and move forward from the same situation you once have been. Truly, we find victory in Christ Jesus! God bless you and your entire family.

    Reply

    1. Yes it is! It’s available in National Bookstore, OMF Lit Bookstore, CCF Bookstore, online through kindle at amazon.com and others 🙂

      Reply

  28. Hi Ms. Joy! I just finished reading your book today. I am a fellow CCFer and a 4th year law student in San Beda. I have read a lot of rape cases but only those written from the legal perspective, which is too formal, too legalistic and has more to do with vengeance than with real redemption. Your book is truly a blessing not just to victims of sexual abuse but to victims of any and all kinds of difficulties as well.

    I hope you would consider making a Tagalog version of your book so that Filipinos who are not that knowledgeable of the English language would be able to read it and be encouraged as well. Honestly, I would like to volunteer to help with the translation. However, I think that I might not be able to do it until after I take the Bar exams this November. Nevertheless, should you still need my help by that time, it would be a privilege and an honor to take part in the ministry that God has caused you to start in the lives of the hurting women. And should you decide to publish a Tagalog version of your book, I commit to donate as much copies as I can to legal organizations catering to the marginalized sector.

    From the bottom of my heart, thank you for sharing your life with us. You are an inspiration and your story will forever be an encouragement to all. Truly, our God is sovereign.

    P.S.
    I have been attending Kids’ Church during the 9am service wth my 18month old son and I was able to meet you daughter Catalina. I am amazed on how well-behaved she is! I have been thinking of homeschooling my son ever since I read your blog but I am still praying about it. I hope you won’t mind if I drop some queries regarding  homeschooling every now and then. Thank you! 🙂

    Reply

  29. Hi, Joy! I would just like to ask where your book might be available for me to purchase? I would love to get a hardcopy of it as I have been truly moved by your story.
    I hope you get back to me as soon as you can!
    May God continually bless you and your family! 🙂

    Thanks,
    Chel.

    Reply

  30. I will get a copy. I have followed your life and testimony for some time. Last night I got a message from one of my young people from church that she could not sleep because of what happened to her when she was younger. I pray for her everyday and I thank God that He is working in her life. Some days it is just hard for her like last night. I will read your book and pass it on to her. Thank you for your powerful testimony. God bless you more! To God be the glory!

    Reply

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