Beat Your Shame the Jesus WayНамуна

Love the Jesus Way

Sexual abuse is unforgivable. It can entirely destroy and ruin your life. Perhaps you are reading this plan with hurt and resentment in your heart because of what has been stolen from you. Perhaps you are an adult trying to come to terms with your past. Perhaps you have behavioral problems that were born from abuse. You might be stuck and don’t know why. You probably don’t even want to think about it or speak about it. But there is a way out.

In the next few days, we are going to go through scriptures that will help us heal our souls—a journey where true forgiveness is possible even if we cannot see how. Shame from sexual abuse can linger well into adult life and has the potential to steal peace and joy. It ruins relationships and keeps us from having a fulfilling life. Victims of sexual abuse often struggle to find freedom, even if it is the one thing they desperately need.

Sexual abuse of a child is often referred to as the “death of the soul”.(1)

There is a big part of the soul that dies when one is hurt in such an awful way. Being a follower of Christ has helped others to regain life, though. It can take many years to recover, but it doesn’t have to be the same for everyone. One’s healing path doesn’t have to be 40 years in the Wilderness.

Christ can resuscitate us and help us heal in a way that would bring nourishment, not only to ourselves but also to those around us. Though, to heal The Jesus Way is not easy. One of the hardest things to do when it comes to healing the Jesus way is to love our enemies.

Luke 6:27 says: “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies”.

Sexual abusers are every victim’s enemy. But here in Luke 6, Jesus commands us to love our enemies.

We are challenged by scripture and Jesus himself to love those that do evil. Might loving our enemies bring us closer to forgiving? Might it be a doorway to complete healing for victims of abuse? Love has a way to remove darkness from life, even the dark umbrella of sexual abuse. Restoring life after sexual abuse is possible.

Loving your enemies is a tall order but let us dive into the Word of God and learn together how it is possible to love those that stole so much from us.

Reflection:

Do you struggle to find any love for those who have hurt you or any evil doers for that matter? Do you carry resentment from what has been done to you?

God is with you; He has been and will always be. He will never forsake you. He is with you on this difficult road to freedom. He can restore your life.

Prayer for today:

Lord, help me to heal in a way that will set me free from pain, anger, bitterness, and sadness. I have lost so much already. Help me not to lose my future as well.

Guide me through your word and help me understand what you have done for me by sacrificing your life so I can live in the same power and light. Lord, set me free from anything that is keeping me from moving forward.

Amen.

(1) Benkert M., Doyle T. P. (2009). Clericalism, religious duress and its psychological impact on victims of clergy sexual abuse. Pastoral Psychol. 58, 223–238. 10.1007/s11089-008-0188-0