One of the commonalities between Sharon and myself is that when we were in the throws of trauma after an abusive episode from our spouse, we sought help from a church. Living with abuse, I can remember feeling ashamed, embarrased, and tried to cover up and hide the things that were happening. I remember being fearful of being judged, I already thought it was all my fault and was afraid that others would agree if I shared. I was isolated 6 hours away from all friends and family in the woods of the Upper Peninsula where when we first got there, I didn’t know anyone.

I remember the first time I left with the kids and went to the women’s shelter. I was terrified, traumatized and felt a deep lonliness. We were there a couple of days and I decided to go to a church I had been watching online (this was during Covid times) that was 30 minutes from the shelter. We three literally had nothing to wear that I thought was “church worthy”, so we got up, went to Walmart to buy each of us an outfit. I will never forget climbing into the back of my van to change my clothes. All I knew is I needed to go there no matter what. Looking back, I needn’t have wasted what little I had on clothes, they would have welcomed me.

We arrived for worship, I took the children to the children’s nursery and entered the sanctuary. I begged God to help, I cried, I heard the reassurance of His love for me.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

Then the preacher did an altar call and without me realizing it, my legs were walking me to the altar where I knelt down and cried. I woman came to pray with me, and I simply broke. She took my hand, led me into the office, and gave me a warm hug, her ear, her phone number, offered to help in any way they could. Her kindness, gentleness and the prayer she prayed over me filled me with peace at a time where my thoughts and mind were scrambling everywhere trying to figure out what to do.

“Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.” – 1 Peter 1:22

I found hope again in that place. The Holy Spirit worked through her to administer God’s greatest give, genuine love and compassion. There is help, dear reader, there is hope and the gift that God wants you to have is His love and when you receive it for the first time, nothing compares.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” – Romans 15:13

I pray that if you are still living in an abusive situation that you would seek help. You are not alone. There are so many women who have lived in it and thought there was no way out. There can be. Sharon and I are just two among many by the grace of God and our willingness to let go of what we wanted to have happen and step out in faith for what God had planned. You can always turn to God, always.

Prayers for Peace,

Angela K