The power of using Your voice

Be BRAVE!!!

You may wonder, why would I need to share these deep things that I have expereinced in my life. I did too.

I want to encourage you and ask for you to find a speck of hope (if that's all you have) to reach out and ask God to show you who those safe people are! I know that part of being in a grace-filled community is allowing others into your life that are safe and will honor your story is imperative. Being able to share what you have experienced and the impact it has on you is important to talk about with people that truly care.

Becoming vulnerable about past situations and hoping that you will be believed and accepted can seem very scary. Perhaps you have shared your story years ago and you were dismissed and somehow blamed for someone elses violence, abuse towards you and you don't want to take that risk again of being rejected and left abandoned... AGAIN. Perhaps it was your own family members that abused you or people that are still in your life and you do not want to be "the trouble maker". I want to personally tell you...IT'S TIME! It's time for you to get your life back and to stop allowing the enemy to win by keeping you silent.

You must be BRAVE!!!

The lies you need to watch out for..."it happened so long ago, its fine and I am over it, it really didn't affect me, it's my fault, I am responsible for the abuse, I was drunk, I was....blah, blah, blah.... those are lies!

Please, allow yourself to start being truthful and honest about what you have been through.

Please, reach out! Isolation is the tactic of the enemy. He loves to get you to believe that there is no hope, that you are all alone and that no one will understand what you have been through.

For me, I have experienced that both as a young child and as a young adult. I shut down and internalized my sexual abuse at the age of 7. My abuser was my elementary school janitor. When I walked through my healing and discovery journey (as a 38 yr adult, nearly 13 years ago) I couldn't believe that I had told myself that it didn't happen to me. I never told anyone! That traumatic event at a young age was used to set me up for hiding my pain and not telling my family or the school until years later.

I understand the pain and impact.

But what I did not realize was how much it affected who I became becuase of it. My self worth was diminished and I lost my voice and courage. I internalized the abuses and I ignored my instincts and dicernment. Becuase I saw my abuser from 3rd grade until 5th at school, I lived with an internal fear system going on ALL THE TIME!!! My nervous and limbic system were being triggered to fight-flight-freeze-appease and I had no idea what was going on internally.

This is just a small sliver of sexual abuse impact, but I pray it helps you to get the courage to reach out and use the wonderful gift that God gave us to use...your voice!

Speak up... if it's your story...SPEAK UP!

If it's someone you know...pray and gently encourage them to reach out to safe people.

You do not have to do this alone.

Heavenly Father, I ask and pray right now that You would reveal Yourself to whoever is reading this right now! That they would first cry out to You and that You would meet them right were they are at and bring Your supernatural comfort, love and suport to them right now. If they are losing hope, please give them hope. Bring them Your peace, Your love and Your strength to reach out and get help. Thank you that we can TRUST You Jesus! You will bring help and restore their broken heart and crushed spirit. That's who You are, Jehovah Jireh the Lord who provides. Provide for them right now and show them what to do. I pray you would give them the ability to use their voice to share hard things with someone that could help them. Shower them with your love in Jesus Name AMEN!