Abuse: treat a person with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly.

Unfortunately, childhood abuse is common, and if you have experienced it, whether physical, verbal, or sexual, I want to say that I am sorry for what happened to you. No excuse in the world can excuse what that person did to you, but I want you to know that there is still hope for you. You do not have to be a product of what you went through. You can and will overcome the emotional trauma that you experienced, and I want to help you get through it.

I have experienced much abuse in my lifetime, mostly verbal and some physical. Abuse, in any form, is detrimental to one’s well-being. Abuse will make one feel inferior, insecure, unworthy, and unlovable. This is a classic attack from the enemy, to make a child of God feel like they don’t belong. The enemy wants you to question who you are so that you can’t act out who you indeed are. If you don’t know that you’re worthy, then you will act unworthy. If you don’t see that you are entirely accepted, then you will act rejected. So, the enemy will put people in your life, even as a child, to mistreat you so that you will end up lost and confused. He does this because he doesn’t want you to live out God’s call for your life, so as a child, he begins fighting for your soul.

I thank God for what I went through

I hated my life when I was a child, but now, I thank God for my childhood. As horrific as it was for me at times, Genesis 50:20 says, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for my good. He brought me to this position so that I could save the lives of many people.” My pain gave me purpose. I have a massive heart for people because I know what it’s like to be in a low place in life. I know what it is like to be mistreated, so I will never mistreat others. The enemy intended to harm me with the abuse he sent my way, but God intended it for my good to save the lives of many.
How did I get to this place in life? I had to forgive every person who abused me in life. This isn’t an easy thing to do, but with God, it is possible. To be set free, you must forgive. To fully forgive, you must view your abuser with merciful eyes. As the old saying goes, “Hurting people will hurt people.” If that person hurt you, then ask yourself, “Who hurt them? What abuse have they gone through in life?” When we feel sorry for those who hurt us, it makes it easier to forgive them. If they truly knew better, they would have done better.

My abuse caused me to make inappropriate decisions.

I ended up on drugs, in the porn industry, and I became verbally abusive to people in my life. The abuse you’ve endured has probably had a similar impact on you. You might have a lot of anger, maybe porn has become an escape to you, or perhaps you battle with insecurities because the person who abused you robbed you of all confidence.

I bet the same is true for those who have abused you. The abuse they might have endured caused them to harm those around them, and sadly you got caught in the crossfire.

Today, let’s choose to give them grace. Let’s look at them with eyes of mercy. Let’s pray for them. Unforgiveness is too great of a burden for you to carry. Give your cares to God; He cares for you.

Let’s pray together

“God, I trust you. I believe that you are making all things work together for good. I don’t want to hinder my life any longer by holding onto unforgiveness. So right now, I choose to forgive every person that has hurt me. I will no longer allow my past to dictate my future, and I will not transfer my hurt onto others. Father, heal my heart and give me the strength to help those in need. Jesus, you are my Lord and my Savior; lead my life, and please fight for those who have hurt me so that they can find you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Forgiveness can be a process.

I encourage you to process with a trusted friend or counselor. When you give forgiveness, God gives you freedom. If you’ve been battling with porn, forgiving is one massive step in the direction towards healing.

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