Shed Shame
I believe there is no other trauma that carries the amount of shame like what one feels after sexual assault and abuse. The trauma is compounded when the victim is silent. They bear the pain alone, refusing to speak to others who would love and support them. The shame grows in power. They become convinced no one will accept them ever again.
What a bunch of lies!!! And I know because I let Satan convince me of these lies for years!
The abuser is the shameful one. They had no right to exert power over you or demean you as a sex object to fulfill their desires. They are the outcast, not you.
With all the happy, happy and Joy to the World of this Christmas season, you may be suffering, feeling neither happy nor joyful. But you can be.
Ask God to help you face your shame. Author Suzy Larson is right on when she says, “you must feel to heal.”
Don’t let the busyness of this week distract you from spending time alone in prayer with The One True God. Praying is talking to God as you would a friend. There is no formula or special vocabulary. Just tell Him what hurts you. News flash: He’s God. He already knows. He wants you to give Him your pain and let Him heal you. The Holy Spirit will replace the power of shame with the strength of God’s love. You CAN be joyful this Christmas, thankful, and satisfied with your new freedom.
Carefully read these verses from Psalms 107:10 and 14 taken from the Passion version of the Bible:
“Some of us once sat in darkness, living in the dark shadows of death. We were prisoners to our pain, chained to our regrets. His (God’s) light broke through the darkness and He led us out in freedom from death’s dark shadow and snapped every one of our chains.”
Let this truth replace the lies you tell yourself. And while you are at it, read the book of John in the Bible. If you have not already done so, believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior who died to pay for your sins, came back to life on the third day, and has prepared a home for you in heaven. Once you believe, the Holy Spirit will enter your life and guide you all your days. You will have His help to cope with everything that happens to you, good and bad. More than cope, you will have hope. God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Email me when you make your decision. I would love to talk with you more.
