Picture a woman, a mother, facing the harsh winds of adversity head on. Now, meet Elizabeth Stewart- Williams, our guest for today, who made it through some of life's toughest storms with a heart full of hope and a spirit echoing resilience. Her journey spans from being a survivor of abuse to an independent woman, and her story will remind you that sometimes, the darkest hours bring forth the brightest light.
Elizabeth will pull you into her journey. She was like any other mother, cherishing her daughter's first word, but also battling the harsh reality of physical abuse. She was the woman who found the courage. A woman who was determined to handle the situation herself without external intervention. Hear from her about how she navigated the trials of motherhood while dealing with abuse.
But that's not all.. The heart-wrenching moment when she discovered her husband's betrayal, and how she found solace in her faith and her sister's love, will leave you awestruck. So, join us as we explore Elizabeth's story, which is not just a tale of heartache and resilience but a beacon of hope, an inspiration for anyone facing adversity, and a testament to the power of faith. Don't miss it!
Picture a woman, a mother, facing the harsh winds of adversity head on. Now, meet Elizabeth Stewart- Williams, our guest for today, who made it through some of life's toughest storms with a heart full of hope and a spirit echoing resilience. Her journey spans from being a survivor of abuse to an independent woman, and her story will remind you that sometimes, the darkest hours bring forth the brightest light.
Elizabeth will pull you into her journey. She was like any other mother, cherishing her daughter's first word, but also battling the harsh reality of physical abuse. She was the woman who found the courage. A woman who was determined to handle the situation herself without external intervention. Hear from her about how she navigated the trials of motherhood while dealing with abuse.
But that's not all.. The heart-wrenching moment when she discovered her husband's betrayal, and how she found solace in her faith and her sister's love, will leave you awestruck. So, join us as we explore Elizabeth's story, which is not just a tale of heartache and resilience but a beacon of hope, an inspiration for anyone facing adversity, and a testament to the power of faith. Don't miss it!
And she knew the young lady he was messing with, who was very young, and she was like he comes in here. She was like I'll make sure, because she was. It was almost like she was posing as me, so I was like, just just in a, in a whirlwind, Welcome to the Call by God podcast with Adne Godin and myself, nixon Sylvain.
Speaker 2:
This show is about dialogues of biblical characters and testimonies of Christians who submitted to the will of God. Each week, we bring on one guest so that they can share their story of how they were called by God. I hope this show inspires you. Enjoy Hello world. Welcome to another week of Elizabeth Stewart Williams testimony. I hope you enjoy this episode. So sit back and enjoy the ride. Be blessed.
Speaker 1:
I will. There were times where I will wake up and just be like sad that I woke my eyes up, you know. And so so it was church, it was my mother coming, those were the pieces of hope. And then, honestly, it was my son. So my son would he? There were certain times where he would just grab my face and he would just kiss me and I'm, I'm like, it was almost like an awakening, like. And then it was like OK, we're going to make it today, me, you go make it today. And those were the saving graces. And then I would, I will literally in my closet, just I will lay and pray. When I would lay and pray, he would, he will bring his toys in there and close the door and would sit with me, like, and to me that was nobody but God, because that was like a. And then like, and then I'm pregnant at the same time. So this was not I mean, it was almost like I would. I would say, hey, you got to shake this, because who's inside of you is going to take on that nature? Like you got it, you got to say it was very, very, very, very difficult, but those were the pieces.
Speaker 1:
And then the gift of song, the gift of of I mean I listen on repeat spiritual all day long. Now I will say what brought me joy and this is what I learned, I had to learn and what has been a blessing even thus far. I found a show that I just enjoy. So I, you know, my family, we're all singers and so during that timeframe, was making a band, did he's making a band? And it was the first, it was like the first season that he like really came out and I used to laugh so hard or would bring me joy, or the note, like it was. Just it was something about that show that it was like oh, I'm going to laugh today. And then I was able to identify OK, there are things that that bring me joy, no matter what may have been said or how I'm looked or how I'm seen, like joy. And so what I did was day to day. That's what I held on to day to day.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I think you, you know. Thank you again for sharing that, because I know most people sometimes when they go through stuff, especially in the body, they run from God, like we're not taught, like I mean, it's easier to say when you go through your storm, come to church, listen to a word, fellas. It's easier said than done that stuff is hard. It's more so easier for women. I know when men go through stuff. Oh man, we put up walls, it's a wrap, nobody talking to us, nobody in penetrating through our heart. So I thank you again for sharing that. You know, hopefully you'll bless somebody. So moving, moving forward. Baby number two, because I know you had a second child.
Speaker 1:
So baby number two came. That was actually a saving. She was she and to date she says it. She was just like I was. I was your depressed baby I was. I was your, I was your. I cluddled her. Oh, she, she would. Her first word was mama. That's how much she. She gave me such life. She was like she was right there. Now she almost always tell it is like both of my kids.
Speaker 1:
I made fun because I'm like y'all messed up mama's award winning shape Before. Y'all used to make them apologize. Like mama, we sorry that we messed up your award winning shape and I'm like you was worth it. But I let them know like sacrifices were done. But she, I breastfed her. She wouldn't take a bottle, so she, I couldn't just leave her. She refused to take a bottle, so she was like she was here. If you saw me, you saw her and she was like I called her. She was so fat she was. I gave her as much milk as she was. She was so fat and she was a almost like just a blessing in the sense of pure joy for me. And it was during this timeframe, so I had her.
Speaker 1:
This is when I started finding out that my ex was kind of dipping with others, cause my thing was like everybody kept telling me you can't leave him unless he's cheated, unless you call him cheated, you can't leave right. And so it was like there were certain things that were happening I'll never forget. One night I actually caught him talking to his ex this is how old I am through the my space, and so he got that's old, I know right. He got really mad and this is when the physical started back up. So with my situation, there's some people that have physical all the way through. So we had the physical initially and, like I say, I can fight. But he waited like three to four days.
Speaker 1:
After I had my daughter, I had my stitches in and I found out he was talking with her. He was nobody but God, and during this timeframe I taught myself so he would come at me about working at different things like that. But the reason why I was like I'm not going to work is because you're gonna live off of me, I won't see my kids, I'm working to death and then you'll be living the best life without, without. And I was like, no, I'm not doing it right. I look back on, maybe I could have did it a bit different, but I was like no. So when I had her, I had a plan.
Speaker 1:
But that's when I found out he was talking with her and this is when the, the, the violence, began to increase. So when he found out, when I'm looking at he's talking in my head, I'm like, if you talking to a, you cheating, that's it on my end. That's how I looked at it. He came in and I went back into the bedroom because I'm like, okay, he came in and took the. We had a bassinet. He took the bassinet and threw it against the wall. The blessed part is she wasn't in it, she was in the bed with me and so that's, you know, threats come in, he's going off or whatever. But in my head I'm like, okay, like that, that was that was a start of it Of him like, okay, you cheating.
Speaker 1:
So then the next day we got into it. We got into it again because I'm like, okay, let's talk, let's talk about this thing. And he didn't want to talk about it and I'm like, dude, like I got, I have evidence which I didn't need evidence. I'll get into that later but I didn't need evidence because God had already revealed. God revealed that. But I'm like, let's talk. And he would like. He just refused to talk to me. So I unplugged his game and that's when he jumped up and he came close and I kicked him like you too close to me Now, I still got stitches and he came. He came close. I was like, okay, like I'm that one, and we went round toe to toe. We ended up putting a huge big wall, like a big hole in the wall. He hit me so like and I'm like a cat, like I got on, like we were going at it Stitches came out, like it is what it is my wig, my wig flew off Like it was real right, and so by this time. So I'm just like, okay, like this is it. And I literally passed out. I was on the floor, I passed out for a timeframe, so I believe he felt it.
Speaker 1:
The next thing he does is he calls my daddy. He calls my daddy over Now. He doesn't tell my daddy that he hit me. He poses it that I hit him. Now my daddy is prone to believe it because normally, like I am that, like I have, I am that one. And again, this is what black women do. We're not gonna reveal. So my dad is just like. He's agreed to go to counseling. He's done this he done.
Speaker 1:
But my daddy didn't know the full story and that was on my end. I didn't provide it. But the reason why I didn't provide it is again you don't put your business out there like that. You handle this internally. This is what we're taught and I was one that held true to that right. So I'm livid because not only did he call my dad, he called. So he called my support system. This is the same support system you were moving away from. This is the same one where you, you know, you was like, oh, you can't be around them, this is the same. But he called them. So I ended up. He agreed to go to counseling. He agreed to do all of these other things. My dad was like because I told my dad, I'm ready to go, I give what y'all saying, I give what y'all is saying, but I'm ready, I'm ready to go. And so he went to counseling. He did a complete 180. He went to counseling. He was like we're not gonna move anymore, but I did find this house. He went to church, we went scheduled a whole. So this is going on for a whole year and a half right.
Speaker 1:
Right Moved into a 5,000 square foot home. Great had great equity in it. I actually agreed with the move because I was like, okay, great schools. He's like we can just move here. This was the first time that when I signed, at least everybody wasn't around me clapping. I could ask questions. We're going to church every week.
Speaker 1:
It looked like a complete 180, right, as soon as we moved into that house he reverted back and then he started just being gone. So something in me said, hey, go get. And before that timeframe my sister actually had came to visit me because she had saw what I was going through and she saw a bit of the change. But she looked at me and she said it's okay, you don't have to just stay in this place. And because I was still coming out of a dark place and that was the other element, it was my mom and my sister. My sister said you don't have to stay in this place. God gives leeway for separation, that you don't have to continue on. So her sounding voice and then my mom, that's what sustained me. But this complete 180 was a shock. But they weren't. I don't believe they were fooled.
Speaker 1:
But I was in this place of hope, because now I got two kids by him. I don't wanna be statistic, I'm a preacher's child for a preacher's child. So all of these things are going in my head and if he's willing to go to counseling, we're going to church, like I'm just gonna put this work in, but it was all the front. So we get up into this house and he's like barely there. So something in me was like, hey, you need to get your own. So I ran and I got my own car without his name on it. And then I ran and I said you need to get you. Like the Holy Spirit was leading and I was listening, Like you need to just go ahead and get your, get you a job, go ahead and go back part-time. And by this time so, baby girl, she wasn't even completely one yet. And I got a position with the state. I got a position with Child Protective Services as a legal worker and so and it was flexible. So I was like, okay, I'm gonna do that. So he was actually excited that I did that.
Speaker 1:
And then he began to really run the streets and what was a major indicator that? So my sister really saw my sister had got married that year and they stayed at our house that we just moved into and she saw how he was responding and acting and she knew something wasn't right, like something wasn't up and I'm sitting here like I have the kids, I'm doing everything, and she's just looking like something isn't right and he was flirting with all her bridesmaids, so she's looking like something isn't right with that. So then what? He stopped really coming home the way he was supposed to come home. I knew his schedule, I knew how to call in and find out where he was. So he wasn't truthful about. He would say, hey, I have a turnaround, I'm not able to come home. But I already knew that that wasn't the case. So here it is.
Speaker 1:
So I'm going to church by myself with two toddlers. I was sitting there like, and in me, this is so. This is the first time where someone walked up to me and said hey, how are you doing? You know, at church they were like how are you doing? And I looked at them because I was like I was about to lie, because this is what we do. Oh, I'm great, I'm great, straight lie. I was like I'm not lying, I'm not lying anymore. What's going to happen is I'm horrible and I think my husband and she know me and the shock factor, the shock look, oh oh, that brother and sister face who asked me how I was doing. They were so uncomfortable but it was so freeing for me because I was like I'm going to tell the truth in this place that is supposed to help me and connect me with Christ, who is who and and and who is a comfort, like this place is the place that is supposed to pray for me and and and bring me to a space where I know everything is OK. This is a place.
Speaker 1:
So I got to the point where I was like I'm not lying, like it was so freeing and I was like and so the deacon wife, the one who used to help me with my son in the back, she overheard me and she pulled me to the side and she looked. She said baby. She said now you're about to go through something. She said don't let the health Don't, let, don't let him bring you down mentally and health, you stay close to God and he's going to pull you through. She pointed at her husband. She said this is my second husband.
Speaker 1:
I was in a very abusive relationship and he was there for me. She said you're about to go through it. I didn't even know what she was really talking about at the time. But she said you, any questions, you come back and you, you talk to me. She's like I love you and I'm here for you. And I was like I said I didn't know it, but this is how God is. God will place people in your path to give you forewarning and give you some type of peace and comfort when you're authentic about where you are in your world, in your life, and so so I'm like I'm looking at her and I'm like, okay, go home the next day. So I had not seen, I had not seen my ex in like two, three weeks. So I'm like, okay, well, I'm gonna go pick up the kids. So I text them. So he was telling me he was coming. He actually texts me that day that he was coming home. Now this is what. Seven, seven either, seven days after our anniversary, we at that this time we've been married eight years. Seven years after our anniversary, I went picked up my kids from the daycare. So I had a full day at work pick my kids up.
Speaker 1:
So it's about three, three or four o'clock on a Friday. I get a text. So I'm texting him say hey, what's coming you home, I'm cooking, right. I get a text from him that says you've been a good wife. I have to do me. I'll be back in two years, I need you to hold it down. And so I'm looking at him, like I'm looking at my, my phone, like full of it, like boy, stop, yeah, what time will you be here? And he said the lights, the gas, the water, all will be off. You got to get that. You got to get that. You got to get that in your name. And so I'm looking like what it's for? So it's closer to like five and I'm texting and calling, then pick up, so it's closer to like five o'clock. And this is during. This is like this is like January. So it's cold, it's cold and it gets dark quicker. It hits about five o'clock. Everything comes off the lights, the water, to get everything comes off. I'm sitting there like I said what now? In order for us to get this house.
Speaker 1:
What I didn't tell you is, even though I didn't work, I, even though I didn't work at a regular job, I am somewhat of I Wouldn't say so much a techie, but I like tech. So my brother, my older brother, is a computer engineer, and so that kind of has rubbed off on me. So I, while I was pregnant even though I was going through all of that was going through I taught myself how to do websites. I Talked myself. I was one of the first to buy, before Bitcoin was really Bitcoin. I they had something else that was called. It was one of the first tokens, right, and I actually had like ten of these tokens that converted Into big Bitcoin later, but I didn't keep those tokens. I actually had gave them to someone who bought pizza for me because we didn't have any food, and so I mean I regret it now, but I'm, I am like, so I, I like to read about what's happening in tech and the movement of it, and so I became what's called a jumella expert. It was one of the first content management systems. So I thought myself all of this. I even I was trying to connect with him so bad. I even Created an online car show because he was into cars. So I taught myself a lot.
Speaker 1:
And then, at the same time, I Would take and I would any monies that I made. I would kind of put up, all right, and I would put away, but we I mean, we didn't have that was just for, like, a rainy day. So what ended up happening is I Ended up out and through the house, was able to Secure enough money to where we did not have to worry about. When we got this house, I was like this is the house my children are gonna grow up in. I agree with it, had all this equity in it. And I was like, okay, lord, we had come to an agreement, we are work things out.
Speaker 1:
We went to the Bahamas for you know, this is before he was leaving and we had taken money and I take, I took my money, I put into this account. We don't touch this account, this account is for rent. And so by January, when he said everything will be off, we were with Wacovia. I'm looking at my text. My text is showing in the account zero, zero, zero. I said what in the world? So we went from what you would consider, or what I would consider, pretty well off to like Nothing, that I did have, a small amount that I had set aside because I'm not dumb, but we really didn't have.
Speaker 1:
So I'm like I said, okay, lord. I said okay, I took my kids to my mom's house and the next day I got up, caught my sister. My sister was like you got to get out the house. I was like no, I'm gonna try to figure out. This is the house they're supposed to grow up in. I'm gonna figure it out like this is what's happening. Plus, we had over $60,000 worth of equity in the home. So so I go to the bank.
Speaker 1:
The woman felt so bad for me. She was like mr, we were supposed to been foreclosed on this home. I Said what are you talking about? There has been an exact amount. So the exact amount that was being taken out of the account was being Transferred or transferred out. She said the only reason why we haven't is he opened up a personal account. He opened a personal account and withdrew that amount into that personal account. So we see that the money is there. We're just waiting for him to pay it.
Speaker 1:
So I'm like I said what, okay? Well, what? How can it be? My like, what do we need to do? Like, but he was the primary on the home. She said we can try, I'll try to get you to speak with the banker, this and that. But I was like I Said she said but you gotta. She said prepare if he, you know, if he doesn't, if he decides not to. And she knew the young lady he was messing with, who was very young, and she was like he comes in here. She was like I'll make sure, because she was. It was almost like she was posing as me.
Speaker 1:
So I was like just Just in a, in a whirlwind, and so I'm like, okay, well, maybe I'm going through all these things in my head. So my sister was like you got to get out the house is gonna be okay. And I'm in tears. I Mean, I'm like, okay, well, maybe you know we could. I can figure this out, this and that which again I'm going back to. I Can't be a statistic. I did it right, like I did, like I was not a bad wife. In fact I have the text message that says I'm a great wife. Like why is this happening, right? So then my sister calls me and she gets real.
Speaker 1:
She was like because she has seen over the years, there are accounts over the year there was one account where I had taken the kids. She needed surgery and I needed to go to Chicago and I had taken the kids to. I had taken the kids to with me to Chicago and he dumped me off with no money, nothing Like my kids could barely walk. You know, you need the little gold card and stuff. It was just a blessing. And so she had a little kid. I was the only one left and I was like, you know, I guess, in this young lady pick my bags up and took me, took me through, and when I got to Chicago, my sister, she was livid Because she was just like, why wouldn't he just take care of care of you? My sister paid for the plane flight. It was just. But those were the elements.
Speaker 1:
I'm not in a loveless place. I mean, I'm in a loveless place, right? So my sister was like, because they don't have to live like this and this was the first time, me and my sister do not argue, we do not fight, we do not raise. But she showed so much, auntie Love. She said you can stay in this, you can stay in this toxic place, but they don't have to experience it. And that's when I agreed okay, I gotta get up out this house.
Speaker 1:
So the blessed part is she called around for me and found an apartment. And let me tell you how God works. Cause I didn't have enough. I didn't have enough money for an apartment. But what God did? So the leasing agent? She was pregnant. And what the leasing agent did is she was like, okay, we have a special going. First and second month free, half off. Third month half off. Last month rent no, I didn't have to pay anything to apply no security deposit, they just waived everything. It was completely free for me to move in and fill out.
Speaker 1:
So they ran my credit, my number. So I knew from having the house we just got the house a year ago I knew my credit score. I didn't have anything on my credit but student loans. But they ran the number. And during that timeframe, when you were married, if your husband used your social with his name, it wouldn't pop up on my credit. But when you run the social it shows everything. There were apartments, there were things all in my name. There were lights, there was water, there was. I said what.
Speaker 1:
None of it. What if she was looking and she was just rubbing the belly and I'm crying and I'm calling these people? They didn't have my name, they didn't have my name listed at all, they had his name. So I'm like, and they sent paperwork over saying no, this is not hers, this is not hers, this is not hers, it was his. So I said okay, so this is what we're doing. And she rubbed her belly and she gave. She said the only apartment we have is on the third floor and I said I'll take it and I was able. So when they ran that it deemed him.
Speaker 1:
So I had called my brother, my younger brother, and my brothers did not know, my dad did not know. My brothers and my dad are just finding out a lot of details in these last three years because we were trying to keep them in the ministry. He put it on for real life. I kept the light because I'm like, you know, I'm like it's more important for him to preach the gospel Cause, you know. So my brother came, he came with the truck. I said hey, you know I'm cause I had and by this I hadn't seen my ex in like going on a month, I move. I started trying to move stuff out. He runs home. That day he said everything in this house is mine Like, and I'm looking at him like I don't know who or what has been in here. So at this juncture the way that I felt was like just give me the clothes me and my kids clothes and we took some maybe some forks since the spoons and literally left. So I'm in this apartment empty. I'm like in a whirlwind.
Speaker 1:
But this was the first time that my kids ran around laughing out loud. My kids did not laugh the first and I'm looking at, I'm sitting on the floor with my hand in my head like and I'm looking at my and they are giggling and laughing. I called my sister. She said what's that in the background? Y'all got a TV. I was like no, that's the kids. She said what my kids did not. If you look at pictures before, my son looks so strained, like there were moments of, you know, when we would have happiness outside of the home, but not like this. And they ran around and I just looked.
Speaker 1:
So then the next day and I'm gonna progress this really quickly then the next day I get a phone call and the phone call is from a friend who is at Court Clerk, and she said do you know you're going through a divorce? So let me tell you this I never prayed that I would stay with my husband, never prayed that. My prayer was this I said God, if he's going to pull me and you, me and my kids away from you, remove him. That was my prayer. My prayer was never to stay. My prayer was if he's going to pull me and my kids away from you, remove him. Right. So the next thing I know she called. She said do you know you're going through a divorce? I said I had no idea I was like. She said yeah, they can't find you to serve you.
Speaker 2:
Stay tuned for more as we delve more into Elizabeth's powerful, god-given testimony. See you next week. That's it for now, but before we go, please continue to listen, subscribe, share our podcast. Also, if you want to support our show, please scroll down to the bottom of the show notes and click on the link that says Buy Me a Coffee. We were greatly appreciated. Thank you for listening. I remember God is good all the time, and all the time God is good, and also Jesus Christ loves you. Thank you. Sanctuaries.