When
something happens that triggers our memory of an abusive situation, it is
because our soul is desperately trying to gain our attention and to make us
take the abuse seriously enough to stop it or to acknowledge it and to recover
from it.
Snippets of
words, body language, the shape of certain plants, an over-reaction that we
cannot explain, our bizarre behavior that has no basis in reality are all ways
that our soul uses to force us to face and validate the incident(s).
We may
develop PTSD, much like any survivor of a battle zone, and react to life with
this fractured thinking and behavior. Medication may be necessary to help us to
remain calm and lucid when some memory is triggered.
Journaling also
enables us to get in touch with the episode(s), and to tell our story without
having to make it public knowledge. Writing (typing) out our thoughts and
feelings helps us to heal.
We teach our
Inner Parent to nurture our Inner Child through affirmation of the event,
validation that we were not at fault, and encouragement that God loves us
unconditionally now and always.
We diffuse
the shame by realizing that we were the victim and could not have prevented the
abuse from happening. The perpetrator had his/her own issues, which they were
dealing with, that caused their behavior.
God's Spirit
will reveal His truth to us about each wound from our past. He may show us a
picture of Himself ministering to us in some way, or He may give us a Bible
verse, or just tell us His truth pertaining to this issue.
He also exposes
Satan's lies that are holding us in bondage to the event in our past. He gives
us the opportunity to believe His truth, and to heal us from the residual
effects of Satan's lies.
God washes
away our shame and replaces it with the righteousness of Christ (Romans 8:1).
He makes us new in every area of our life, and He restores to us what the evil perpetrator
stole from us (Joel 2:25).
Prayer:
Father God, thank
You for caring about every aspect of our life. Nothing ever happens to us that
You are not aware of and with which You are not concerned (Psalm 56:8). Show us
that holding a grudge against the perpetrator, and not forgiving their humanity
that caused the issue in the first place, is counterproductive for us. They are
rarely effected by our unforgiveness or nursed anger; yet, the negative
emotions affect us adversely.
You promise
to render vengeance on evil actions that occur to the innocent (Romans 12:19).
We trust in Your goodness, grace, mercy and love toward us, even while we are
still sinners. We are Your children, brought into Your family by the blood of
Jesus and the word of our testimony, and You care for every aspect of our life
(Proverbs 3:5-6).
Thought for
the Day:
Forgiving
our abuser does not negate what they did to us, or minimize the severity of
their actions toward us. It simply turns our pain and grief over to God to deal
with in His own timing and way.
- Psalm 56:8
