Healing For the Abused
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2) We live in an abusive and violent society, and the trend is getting worse. Domestic violence, police brutality, gang slayings, murder of family members and coworkers, sexual molestation and rape, robbery, burglary and vandalism, and all sorts of harassment are reported in the news every day. These we are aware of but some abuses are so subtle that we do not recognize the effect they have on us. Some are intentional, but many come from otherwise well-intended family or friends, co-workers or even fellow church members. No matter the source, they take a toll on our sense of well-being and self-worth. In some cases, they even lead the victim to themselves become an abuser. As a result of these blows, anger and resentment can hover just below the surface, causing us to flair at the slightest provocation. We are sometimes shocked to see how little ...