“Daddy, am I beautiful?”

A little girl spins in her fairytale dress, a cloud of pink and purple. She stops in a flutter of satin ribbons and looks toward her father’s face. She holds her breath, waiting for his smile and the glow of approval in his eyes.

But, what if he doesn’t smile?

What if she looks up and he isn’t even there?

Years later, that same girl stands in a much different dress, one that shows off a body for sale.

She looks to a man who says he loves her and insists she call him Daddy. “You’re beautiful,” he says with a leering grin. “Now get out there and do a good night’s work.”

Daddy and beautiful are precious words to a girl. These words, which should make her feel safe and valued, have been stolen by the sex-trafficking industry.

A girl can be physically rescued from that life, given a safe home and a circle of loving support. “Redeemed” is a word we use, meaning something has been saved and the ransom paid. But how does redemption come to her mind and heart, where she still bears the wounds of her captivity?

Rebecca Bender, a survivor, advocate and mentor, says in her book, Roadmap to Redemption:

“When I first came to Christ, I would hear women pray out loud at Bible studies or prayer meetings; anytime they asked “Daddy God” to do something, I cringed inside.

“I found so much disgust in the word “daddy” from pimps calling themselves that; but God did not intend for such an endearing term to be tainted.

“…When I first started dating my now husband, whom I met in church, he would tell me that I was beautiful. I’d get upset with him, because that word made me think he wanted something from me. I was used to hearing that from tricks and pimps. I’d ask him not to call me that, but to find things on the inside he liked about me. I loved his response, ‘I’m going to redeem that word for you in Jesus’ name.’”

Behind that short response is a story that goes back to the beginning of the world. Throughout the pages of the Bible, the theme of redemption unfolds.

Adam and Eve stood trembling in shame, knowing their sin had brought an end to their innocence and raised a wall between them and their Creator. God provided a covering for them—tunics made of animal skin. Some think this was the first sacrifice; one of the words in the Bible translated ransom means “to cover”.

Abraham looked at the beloved son of his old age, lying bound on an altar. His heart was torn by dismay. How could God demand this sacrifice of him? But he continued to trust his Maker, even as he raised the knife. Then a voice from heaven called out to him, and a ram was given in the boy’s place.

Ten plagues broke Egypt’s stranglehold upon the Israelites toiling in slavery. The final plague was the death of the firstborns. The Israelites were told how to save their children from this curse. They must kill a lamb, and its blood had to be painted on the door posts and lintel, so God would “pass over” and the plague would not be on them. (Exodus 12:3-13)

And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem (cut loose from bonds) for Himself…For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You LORD, have become their God. (2 Sam. 7:23,24)

These and many more Old Testament accounts were shadows of what was coming.

Two thousand years ago, a disfigured, bleeding man hung on a cross and said, “It is finished.”

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins… (Ephesians 1:7)

Jesus Christ became the one and only perfect sacrifice, sufficient to cover the sins of every single person ever to be born if they will believe on Him. As Abraham said in Genesis 22:8: “God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.”

The One who paid the ransom for all of mankind is able to redeem misused words and broken girls.

“The only true road to freedom is the road leading to Jesus, otherwise we are only slaves to something else. This may offend some of you. I pray it doesn’t.”

(Rebecca Bender, Roadmap to Redemption)

Every girl who’s cringing right now when she hears the word Daddy, or shying away from people who tell her she’s beautiful, is God’s special creation. He wants to heal her and empower her to help others.

So, what part do we play?

Jesus calls us to reach out and be His instruments of redemption in people’s lives. As Rebecca writes in her book: “The healing process from sex trafficking is a lifelong journey. We don’t get saved and restored and then get amnesia, unfortunately.” She commented about her husband: “Boy am I thankful that God brought someone into my life who was up for a challenge!”

What might the process of redeeming the word beautiful require? Rebecca’s husband would have to do more than repeat the word. Everything he did would have to demonstrate that the word was true and his love for her was genuine. He could never “take a day off” and be careless about her feelings. He would have to give his life for her. He wouldn’t be able to do that alone.

A human husband will have failings, as will a human father. But their special, sacred roles are meant to be a living picture of God, the Father who never fails, and Jesus, the Bridegroom who loves His wife, the Church, with perfect love.

The way to redeem stolen words is by the power of the Word Himself, following the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Words must be used in truth, love, and wisdom. “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (ransom in full).” (Eph. 4:29,30)

What does the name of Jesus Christ mean to you?

Just think on that. Pray on that. Ask Him to show you His heart.

In a quiet place, the girl kneels down. She wears something pretty, but what really matters to her is the clothing of righteousness Jesus gave her. She lifts her eyes and asks, “Daddy, am I beautiful?”

And her heavenly Father smiles and says, “Yes, you are, my precious daughter.”