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[dropcap2 variation=”coffee”]L[/dropcap2]ife is tough.
Understatement of the century, right?
Yes, others will hurt us. And yes, we will hurt others. These are two indisputable facts of life. But we can also heal from those wounds. We can grow. We can love and be loved.
Almost anything can be overcome. Our most terrifying Goliaths can be defeated. Our biggest challenges can become our greatest assets.
A phone call out of the blue
At the close of last year, I got a call from Gorman Woodfin of CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network). He had picked up a copy of Not Quite Healed and wanted to talk. We chatted for an hour about life, God, and healing.
About a month later, Gorman called again. We spent another hour discussing how God can heal even the deepest hurts and bring amazing things out of the rubble of the past.
A few weeks later, I learned that a 700 Club crew was coming to town to do a piece on my story of healing from sexual abuse.
My first thought was, “Oh no.”
I tremble every time I tell my story. A wave of shame smacks me before and after I speak. Sexual abuse affects every part of life, and recovering from it has been an all-out war for me.
But I was also excited. Several years ago, I had prayed, “Lord, turn the abuse around. Make me a warrior against this evil.”
Gorman had called. The crew was coming. God was answering my prayer – again.
The 700 Club comes to town
Producer Shannon Woodland and her crew were marvelous. Before they arrived, Shannon encouraged me to think of them as family whom I had never met coming for a visit.
And that’s really what it felt like. They put me at ease right away. They were kind, compassionate, and professional. Somehow I felt they were in this with me. I wasn’t alone in this story.
As the cameras rolled and Shannon asked questions, I got a deep sense of God’s love for me. As Shannon had me walk back through my life, I was struck by the following:
- The abuse was awful, even evil.
- What happened wasn’t my fault. I was an innocent child victim.
- Healing is hard, and often painful. But it’s worth it.
- Compassion is the best revenge. Forgiveness is powerful.
- God was there. He endured the abuse with me. He was protecting me in the midst of it in ways I’ll never know.
In other words, I was never alone. And that made all the difference.
Healing is a team sport
Interacting with Gorman, Shannon, and the rest of the 700 Club crew refreshed my hope. I once again discovered the key to winning the biggest battles in life: refusing to go it alone because I’m not alone.
Healing is a team sport. We’re in this together.
If you missed the 700 Club piece, you can watch it here. The interview led me to prepare a free e-book, Never Alone: Where is Jesus in Sexual Trauma? It’s my gift to you. It’s short, easy to read, and you can download it today. I think you’ll be encouraged.
Whatever you’ve been through and whatever you’re facing, please remember this: Don’t try to go it alone, because you’re not. You never have been. You never will be.
Thanks goodness!
Question: What has helped you begin to heal from the wounds of the past?
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