In abusive relationships, hope can be in short supply.  I remember hoping and praying for real change.  Promises made and broken over and over again led to feeling lost, alone and hopeless.  One of the hardest lessons I learned is that I can’t help another person, if they have no desire to make positive changes and they believe they have no personal responsibility.  Abusers will always deflect their bad behavior to others, it is almost always someone elses fault, probably yours.  If they convince you that you are the one to blame, it is your fault, you need to do better…..they don’t have to own their behavior, look at how truly ugly their abuse is, and do something different.

Something I tell my children all the time now is the only thing you have control over is yourself and your choices. And there are ALWAYS consequences, intendend or unintended, based on your choices.  

Can you think back on a pivotal moment, a choice you made, that changed your life and its trajectory?  What were the consequences of that choice?  We can’t go back and make a different choice, but the blessing is that we are given a new day every morning to make new choices.

I chose to let go of what I wanted to happen, a healthy, loving relationship and stepped out into the unkown, where Jesus is.  The interesting thing about leaping into the unknown, at first it felt even more hopeless.  Where would we live? How would we survive?  How could I endure yet another failed relationship? How would I help the children understand?   My mind seemed to be on overdrive constantly trying to figure it all out.  

Psalm 39:7

“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.”

But Jesus does not leave us, it is when we are in the most need that He picks us up, steps in and moves. 

Isaiah 40:31

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Walking with Jesus requires faith and that faith allows us to hold onto hope for what we do not yet have.

And Jesus tells us, in Matthew 17:20, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

What do you choose?

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

Grace and Peace,

Angela K