God is Here

Abuse damages our ability to trust anyone. When significant people in our lives abuse us, it twists our walk with God. It is easy for victims to put God in the same group with those who have let us down. We wonder why he let others do wicked things to us. We tend to fear that God may approve with how others have misused us. Even if we manage to trust God to a certain extent (like believing that He will let us into heaven after we die), we are haunted by distrust. He loves us, we accept that--but will he help us?

Help is what so many of us wanted but were afraid to ask for directly. And the few victims who do ask God for help are often frustrated at the type of help He offers.

Sometimes when we want miraculous intervention, God gives us His presence and His strength to overcome the horrible trials. Sometimes we are praying for action right now, and instead God sets in motion a slow journey out of abuse and into healing. Sometimes we ask God to save our broken marriage or to set us free from abusive parents, and instead, God focuses on redeeming our relationship with Him. He answers our requests for help from His big picture perspective.

The Bible is full of God's reassurance that He is with us always. He is ready to help, we just need to ask. When we ask, however, we need to trust Him. We need to believe that He is good and that He has a good plan. If we feel unable to trust so deeply, however, we still have hope. We can ask God to enable us to trust Him. He knows why it is challenging for abuse victims to trust and He is happy to strengthen our faith. He can help us to be fearless in trusting him.

"God is there, ready to help;
I'm fearless no matter what.
Who or what can get to me?”

Hebrews 13:6 (The Message Bible)