masks off

Jesus Christ, The Suffering Servant that "despised the shame and endured the cross" Hebrews 12:2 CanvasChristfollower.com Portrait

In your current relationships, are you able to take your "mask" off and get real with other believers in Christ that are safe and say, "hey, I am struggling with this... I am stuck, I need healing and deliverance."

For me (Emily) personally, I was unsure of how to navigate that.

Example, I needed language. Using my voice and expressing myself has not been the easiest. When I was going through different situtations in my life- I would reach out for support. What I needed was understanding and someone to listen and help me to process my experiences with.

The empathy and listening when I was being vulnerable was the key for me to come out of hidding. When you are meet with telling and advice giving in the beginning instead of presence... it can cause you to "keep it to yourself."

It's hard to sit with people in their struggles. I know, I am guilty of doing the very thing as well. It is something that I have had to learn how to do. And I can still revert back to that if I am not careful.

When I first started healing in community it was so helpful to hear other women share their stories and the impact of what they had been through. I realized I was not alone in my struggles. When I went through "The Path to Sexual Healing" journey, I was able to face the deception I was in and allow God to heal and restore parts of me that I had left buried.

Even after years of marriage, God was guiding me to His comfort and compassion. He was unmasking my unhealthy view of my sexuality and the integrity of His view of marriage with Him and with Jeff. God was restoring me with mature sisters in Christ.

As a believer, I "knew" that, but it was another relational level when I was sitting in a grace-filled environment where we could share openly about specific traumas like sexual abuse, being raped, multiple sexual experiences outside of marraige, domestic violence and partner betrayals. I was clueless of the impact it had on me. To sit in the presence of women that had gone before me, addressed their own personal wounds with Christ and others, was yet another story of freedom and redemption.

I never knew the power of vulnerability and being able to express what I had been through and being held by other believers- this was very impactful. I am eternally grateful for how God brought me multiple sisters and brothers in Christ to journey through my sexual redemption story.

The shame and fear mask OFF! All glory to God!

Restored to glory! =Free to love and to be loved. =Free to discern who to trust.=Create healthy boundaries.