To Women Who Have Been Sexually Abused

I have a lot of labels that have stuck to me over my life.  Christian.  Mom.  Wife.  Daughter.  Sister.  Aunt.  Niece.  Friend.  Teacher.  Author.  Blogger.  and the list could go on but it tends to stop at Sexual Abuse Survivor.  That’s the one that send my heart into a quicker rhythm.  That’s the one that I have worked the most on with the Lord to walk in total freedom.

With the recent vulgarity splashed across the TV every time I turn it on or screaming at me in all caps on Facebook, my heart has been beating more rapidly than normal.

If you wear that same label as me, I’m guessing you may be feeling like me.  Wow, this is hard for me to write and I’m sure it’s hard for you to read, but let’s walk through this together.  Hold my hand, whisper a prayer, and keep reading.

This is not a post about who to vote for. It’s not a post about judging sexual perpetrators.  No, this post if for the woman who has survived the inconceivable.

Friends, when I find myself feeling yucky on the inside.  You know that feeling like you want to take a shower to wash off the ick of the words you have been hearing because they remind you of things you haven’t thought about in years.  When that happens, there is only one place I can go.

To Jesus.

Jesus reminds me of who I am.  He doesn’t see me as a Sexual Abuse Survivor.  He sees me as His.  I’m a child of God.  I’m a coheir with Jesus.  I’m redeemed.  I’m beautiful to Him.

We were fearfully and wonderfully made! (Psalm 139:14)  And we were created to do good works that He has prepared for us.  (Ephesians 2:10)  I can lift up my face without shame.  I will stand firm and without fear.  (Job 11:15)

My parents are on a cruise and sent this picture to me one day last week.  I kept thinking of how there is a verse in the Bible that talks about a double portion.  Tonight I typed into Google, “Bible verse double portion.”  It sent me to Isaiah 61:7.

I cracked open my Bible and there in the margin of Isaiah 61 I had written a date, 10/7/13.  I remember the moment the Lord and I talked through this chapter.  I remember where I was clearly.  I remember writing the date.  I remember coming back and sharing it with my friend.  I know this is part of the call on my life, “…the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”

Friends, here is what God says to us, “Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.  ‘For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity.  In my faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them.  Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples.  All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.’  I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God.  For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels.  For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.” (Isaiah 61:7 – 11)

We can trade our shame and disgrace for a double portion of God’s grace.  Jesus died on a cross and bore our shame and disgrace so we wouldn’t have to because He loves us.  You are loved by Jesus.  And He calls to you, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28 – 30)

Jesus describes Himself as gentle.  If you have been abused, then those words jump out at you.  Gentle.  What is that like?  Let me tell you, it’s wonderful.  Jesus will love you fiercely and gently.  He will fight for you.  If He is for you, who can be against you?  (Romans 8:31)

So, when you want to run away from the memories, run, run with all you have to Jesus.  Run into his open arms with nail scarred hands.  Let Him carry you.  Let Him show you how gentle He is.  Feel His love wash over you.  Give Him your pain.  Give Him your shame.  He already took them to the cross with you in mind.  He laid down His life to give you life, to give you freedom!

Tonight as I finish writing this my heart is no longer pounding.  I have peace.  If you would like to know peace like that reach out to me.  I would love to share with you who Jesus is and how you can walk with Him.

Run to Jesus and begin to walk in freedom!