"Childhood sexual abuse shatters many areas of a victim's life, but perhaps the greatest damage is done in the area of our relationships. Whether the abuse was a one-time exploitation or long-term trauma, its effects impact all our adult relationships. For many of us, the physical aspects of abuse don't even compare to the relational damage we carry into adulthood." - From the book Breathe by Nicole Braddock Bromley
I read both books Nicole has written, Breathe and Hush. Nicole is also the founder and director of OneVOICE Enterprises, an organization that is bringing healing change into the lives of victims of sexual abuse.
Healing is a life long journey. God has delivered me out of some very vital "stronghold messes." Unfortunately, stronger and deeper strongholds are harder to get rid of though. Like shame, guilt and lack of self worth. Those have deep roots and create a Big Mess in my life still.
I visualize on days that I feel strong emotionally, that these deep seeded roots are drying up. Becoming brittle. Then I have those days where I feel defeated, overwhelmed and vulnerable. Those days bring my rooting system unwanted strength. A sudden burst of saturation feeding off painful memories.
Even though I may not feel it on those days, I am choose to believe that my Heavenly Daddy is right there within my rooting system. He has to be. He is the ultimate surgeon with the sharpest and yes, painful at times, scalpel to cut through those stubborn roots. He is the only one that is able to cut that evil living force that grips and strangles so strongly at time my little girls heart......
Lovely JBR! Yes its painful when God cuts open those parts, but the tumor has to come out.
ReplyDeleteHugs ♥
Hi JBR,
ReplyDeleteIt is such a long journey towards healing and I love seeing how Daddy is touching and healing you.
Blessings,
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Hi JBR,
ReplyDeleteIt is such a long journey towards healing and I love seeing how Daddy is touching and healing you.
Blessings,
<><
Thinking of you. Thanks for telling us about those two books.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful metaphor. Your roots may be painful, JBR, and I am so sorry about that. But you have other roots too! Roots that are strong and built with love and care. And although I have not been with you since the beginning of your struggles, I am here now to help support you while you your Daddy make you stronger. Every day you are making progress, and I can see it!
ReplyDeleteBe well,
NOS
Hi JBR,
ReplyDeleteOnce we have believed in Jesus we are grafted into another plant, the True Vine. Our new root system is far stronger than our old one. God bless you.
The beauty of a relationship with Jesus is that we don't have to feel it to know that it is real. It has taken me a long time to understand that, but it is actually a wonderful thing to me. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteHi there:)
ReplyDeleteI feel like writing about 'it'- what ever our 'it' is one step forward in healing of past pain and hurt, regret or shame- don't you think so?
Remember that nothing is to hard for God, nothing at all- even those seemingly harder strongholds will go crumbling down.
God often takes us through a process walking through break, through break of the chains that are tying us to that old bondage- but because we walk with Him let us think of a Holy walk we journey through- for it isn't a walk of any other kind or with any other person therefore, let us call it holy. We follow none but Him so the journey sometimes in low places and the high places can only be led by our Great Shepherd who means only good for us.
Bless you dear one, I really wish that you would never have known the pain and hurt of sexual abuse. My heart breaks for you.
But, I rejoice with you because we know who our God is!!!
~Deanna