As a survivor of trauma, loss and abuse, I have had many people say, “you are so strong.”  Sometimes it was an encouragement, sometimes I just wanted to say, I don’t want to have to go through this to demonstrate strength, but every time, I pointed to the heavens and said, this strength is not from me.

One of the cruel dichotomies that abused women don’t see while they are in the thick of the abuse cycle, is they don’t believe they are strong.  The abuse whittles away at confidence, self-concept, and self-esteem. It drives you down to the point of not recognizing who you are anymore. I let go of so much of myself because it was tramped on by the abuse. Trying to find who I was again and love that person was very hard.

I challenge you to step outside of your situation and look closely at yourself.  If you are still living in abuse, YOU ARE STRONG, you need to channel the strength you pour into defending yourself from the abuser into loving yourself.

Hurt people hurt people and humans are a broken people, but God says you are:

Unique
Psalm 139:13, “For you formed my inward parts, you knitted me together in my mother’s’ womb”

Special
Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”

Lovely
Daniel 12:3, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever

Precious
1 Corinthians 6:20, “You were bought at a price, therefore honor God with your bodies

Strong
Psalm 18:35, “You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great”

Chosen
John 15:16, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you”

When I fell on my knees and asked Jesus to give me the strength to step out in faith to save myself and my children, he daily provided.  I had never felt so loved and cherished as I did when God stepped in, the Holy Spirit infused me with strength and my feet were set upon the rock of Jesus.

May you turn to Him who can do greater things than you can imagine.

Peace,

Angela K