Shattered, Still ChosenSample

When They Didn't Protect You

Tamar had every reason to believe that someone would fight for her.

She was the daughter of the king.

She lived in the palace.

Her father had power, authority, and influence.

But when Amnon, her half-brother, violated her, David—her own father—got angry… and did nothing.

No justice.

No comfort.

No protection.

Just silence.

And if we’re honest, that silence is familiar.

Maybe your father stayed quiet too.

Maybe your mother looked the other way.

Maybe someone you trusted to protect you minimized your pain… or dismissed it altogether.

That silence can be deafening.

And the wounds it causes run deep.

Sometimes the pain isn’t just from what happened—it’s from who let it happen:

• Who saw your suffering and said nothing.
• Who turned away.
• Who could’ve done more… but didn’t.

I remember feeling that kind of pain. Eventually, that frustration found its way to God.

“Where were You, Lord?”

“Why didn’t You stop it?”

“How could a good Father let something like this happen to His daughter?”

Those questions felt too heavy to ask out loud… but they burned in my heart.

Maybe you’ve asked them too.

If that’s you, hear this: God is not afraid of your honest questions.

He’s not offended by your tears.

He’s not distant from your pain.

He’s the only One who knows exactly how it hurts and how to heal every part of it.

What happened to you was never His will. Your pain was never His plan. But He was there.

We don’t always understand why God allows certain things, but Scripture reminds us that while people may fail us, God never does.

Psalm 34:18 says,

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Isaiah 63:9 says, “In all their suffering, He also suffered.”

God wept with you.

He saw you then, and He sees you now.

While David failed to act for Tamar, God does not ignore the cries of His daughters. He is your Defender, your Redeemer, and your Healer. And even when your earthly protectors failed, your heavenly Father never stopped loving you.

You are not invisible.

You are not abandoned.You are deeply known, and eternally safe, in His hands.

Reflection:
Have you been angry at someone who failed to protect you? Have you ever directed that anger toward God? Take a moment to name those feelings honestly. Lay them before the Lord without shame.

Prayer:
God, it’s hard to understand why certain people failed me. And sometimes, it’s even harder to understand why You didn’t stop it. But I’m choosing to bring those questions to You. Help me heal from the silence and neglect. Remind me that You are not like the people who hurt or ignored me. You are faithful, just, and always present. Teach me to trust You with the parts of my story that still ache. In Jesus’ name, amen.