Healing from abuse

Proverbs 24:29 - "Do not say, 'I'll do to him as he has done to me; I'll pay that man back for what he did.'"

Romans 12:19 - "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord."

Ephesians 4:31 - "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice."

Victims of any form of abuse know that the scars we bear are not just physical but emotional too, perhaps more so. The hurt is very real and can seem insurmountable.

When justice doesn't happen and life doesn't seem fair, bitterness can become an all-consuming emotion. This is not healthy and will not help you heal. Bitterness and the desire for revenge will poison your soul. It's really important to recognise and deal with the bitterness before it overwhelms you, otherwise you may not be healed and recover. Leave the justice to God to arrange so that you can focus on healing.

Matthew 5:43-44 - "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Matthew 6:14-15 - "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

This is probably the hardest act of all Christian life: forgiving those who have wronged you in an awful way without any expectation that they will change. However, forgiveness is the only way to rid your soul of all the toxins and bitterness. Once you are in a position to forgive others your heart will be changed so that you can move on.

It is important to forgive others so that your heart can become changed and you can begin to move on. When you forgive, you are not saying that the hurt and scars are not real or that the abuse didn't matter. Forgiving the abuser simply means that you refuse to let the abuser have any more control in your life. This act of forgiveness will prove to be totally life changing for you. Your mental wellness will dramatically improve and that big, grey could above your head will start to shift.

When you forgive an abuser, they do not have to be told. The act of forgiveness is still effective as it is actually a process which happens between you and God. God's power will heal you from the inside so that you can recover.

Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."

It's really important that in this process of forgiveness you fill your mind with pleasant and wholesome thoughts. Thoughts of what amazing things your future has in store for you, so that your mind has less room and less time to dwell on the past. If you can keep your mind clear of the past and focused fully on the future then your recovery time will not be as long.

 

Get rid of the bitterness and forgive!!!