Praying
TO OVERCOME ABUSE
Helpful Scripture
Psalm 34:18 - “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
Matthew 11:28 - “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'”
Isaiah 41:10 - “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
Proverbs 31:8-9 - “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.”
Joel 2:25 - “The Lord says, ‘I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.’
Genesis 50:20 - “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”
Isaiah 61:7 - “Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.”
Starting Points
One of the biggest causes of shame in the world is sexual abuse. Approximately 1 in 5 women and 4% of men experience sexual abuse, with 85,000 women and 12,000 men experiencing rape or sexual violence annually. One in six children have been sexually abused, predominantly within family environments.
In the words of Joyce Meyers: “Pain doesn’t have the final say in your life—God does. And He can take any situation and turn it around for His good. You were never meant to live a life defined by words like ashes, mourning, and heaviness. Jesus died to give you a life of beauty, joy, and praise!”
God can set you free from the feelings of guilt, shame and hurt which result from abuse. Knowing that the people who should have loved and protected you and did not can cause you to isolate yourself, be emotionally detached in your relationships and give you a distorted and false view of your own self worth. Sadly, abuse victims often find it hard to trust in the Lord as their loving Father and feel that the Lord does not love them as much as He loves his other children.
The truth is that you are wonderfully and preciously made in His sight... you are chosen and called by name. Abuse seeks to rob you of a deep relationship with Jesus.
The key to healing is surrender. Surrender your pain, your hurt, memories and grief and allow Him to trade your ashes for beauty. He promises to give you the oil of joy for mourning. Abuse victims mourn, whether that be the loss of childhood innocence, trust, protective parents or the loving relationship/marriage. Surrendering to the Lord means that, with the help of the Holy Spirit, you can begin the journey to forgiveness.
Letting the Lord heal us brings holistic restoration to every part of our lives. He uses our ‘Valley of Achor’, which means our trauma and turmoil, and makes a ‘door of hope’ from them. He uses all things in our lives, bad and good, for the purposes He has for us.
Hosea 2:15 There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will respond as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.
How Do I Pray?
Lord, in moments of weakness, I draw upon Your divine strength to lift me from the depths of despair. When the weight of the past feels too heavy to bear, remind me that You are my refuge and fortress. Clothe me with Your unwavering might, empowering me to rise above adversity and embrace a future filled with hope. Amen.
Lord, heal the memories that haunt my mind, causing pain and anguish to resurface. Fill those moments of darkness with the light of Your love, transforming painful recollections into sources of wisdom and compassion.
Grant me the strength to confront these memories, knowing that You are my refuge and the One who brings healing to the deepest wounds. Amen.