I've never been abused.
I've never been raped.
I've never been assaulted.
Yet, I'm ministering to women and girls who have been abused... raped... assaulted. Defiled... abandoned... destitute.
Some people... some Christians... say that in order to give advice to someone, or to help someone with their problems, it's best if you have experienced what they have. And I firmly, but respectfully disagree. Why look to the experiences of men when we can look to an almighty God for our answers? After all, He's "greater than our hearts, and knows all things"(1). Who better to seek advice from?
I had to keep that in mind earlier this month as I sat in a room of about eighteen women. Eighteen survivors of abuse. See, I may not know anything about being the subject of abuse, but I do know a thing or two about God. And so, I shared with these women what God has to say about comfort. I shared the gospel with them and told them that if they have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, then they are never truly alone. I gave them each sheet of paper that was filled front and back with Bible verses that they can look at when they're having "one of those days".
Verses like Psalm 55:22 that says, "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken."
And Lamentations 3:31-33 that says, "For the Lord will not reject us forever. Even if He causes suffering, He will show compassion according to His abundant, faithful love. For He does not enjoy bringing affliction or suffering on mankind."
And my favorite... 2 Corinthians 4:8; 4:16-18. "We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair... Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
After I finished teaching I listened to their stories. None of them shared the particulars of their abuse, but rather the effects it has had on their lives. Most of them struggle with making enough money to put their children through school. Some of them have trouble finding decent jobs because of their "status".
When they finished sharing, I told them that I couldn't help them in they way they really wanted me to. I can't put all of their children through school. I can't provide sewing machines for them to start a business. Not only do I not have that kind of money, but ultimately that kind of help isn't the most beneficial in the long run (and that's a topic for another day). But I told them I could help them spiritually by bringing them the Word of God and teaching them how to entrust their lives to the One who gave them life -- to the One who allowed them to survive their abuse. And they understood.
We have plans to meet again in July, and hopefully I'll be adding two more survivors groups to meet with. Right now the plan is to try and conduct a job training seminar for these ladies to help them find ways and understand how to start up and manage a business. You can pray for me as I find local women to join in with this ministry. Pray also for the ladies that we are ministering to, that they will all put their faith in Christ. I would love nothing more than to see them rejoicing in Heaven some day.
If you'd like to join in with this ministry, please feel free to let me know. We are partnering with the local YWCA, and the "survivors network" is just one of many ways to minister to abused women.
*Notes
(1) 1 John 3:20