Victory Over Sexual Abuse: Fruitful Friday

Friday, January 29, 2010

Fruitful Friday

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23

In my life, I frequently find hope in seeing others who've gone through similar circumstances and came out victorious on the other side... If they are progressing, it means that I can do it too! Let's share with one another the victories we've seen on our recovery journeys. The fruits that our Heavenly Father promises.

This is what FAITH looks like to me today.

God's Word has breathed life into me like nothing else. He is my redeemer, my restorer, my comforter, my provider and protector. My Heavenly Father. He continues to heal my heart, mind and soul. I have faith in his word - that I am special, loved, purposefully made, a part of His perfect plan. No matter what happens, I know that those things never change. He gave me a husband to walk through life hand-in-hand with. In the gift of my husband, God restored my faith in love and family. And, as if that wasn't enough, God has surrounded me with loving friends. Men and women that I've been in small groups, Bible studies and ministries with, school moms, neighborhood friends, sports families, even renewed friendships with childhood friends. Through them, God has restored my faith in humanity.

I praise God for the new lenses he's given me to see the world though. Faith is a beautiful thing.

Have you seen fruit in your journey? I would love to see it!! Write a post on your blog, linking back to this post, and leave a comment here with a link to your blog. I look forward to reading about the blessings in your life!

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Online recovery study

I lead support groups and have decided to take the information from the support groups and "teach" it here too. I will blog each lesson, give you time to think about it, comment if you'd like, email me privately, whatever works for you. It is always helpful to hear from others who are going through the same thing, so in the interest of supporting and encouraging each other, please consider sharing your experiences in the comments. You may do so anonymously if you'd like.

The workbook we are using is Shelter From The Storm by Cynthia Kubetin-Littlefield and James Mallory.

**Much of the content in the lesson postings is derived from, and even directly quoted at times, Shelter From The Storm. My personal comments are mine, but the process laid out here is from the book. I am merely a fellow survivor and lesson facilitator - NOT the author or creator.**

Why this blog?

I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. The daughter of an absent father who was brutally addicted to drugs and alcohol. The daughter of a woman suffering from diagnosed but untreated mental illnesses.

The "signs" of abuse and neglect started showing around age 8, but even I didn't recognize them until I was in my later 20's. I was very lonely, ashamed and embarrassed. I didn't know how to be in relationships and thought I was destined to be all alone, rejected and unloved. I tried desperately to "earn" people's love and acceptance, but pushed them away at the same time... For so long, so many people brushed aside what I'd been through, wishing I was lower maintenance and not who I really was - someone who'd been neglected and abused by her parents, a person who was completely changed by another person's failures and sin, someone who needed to be rebuilt, not cast aside or taken advantage of because she was broken.

I began to heal when I was finally loved unconditionally - first by my husband, then our firstborn child, then the Lord. My life was turned upside down - in a wonderful way - when I discovered that I am not the "orphan" I had felt like for so very long. I have a heavenly father!

I also discovered that what man means for evil, God will use to glorify him. What devastated me for many years is now something I draw on to help others as I lead support groups, talk to groups, and blog about the realities of sexual abuse and the hope there is for a complete recovery. I consider it a tremendous privilege to be able to share my experiences with you; hopefully encouraging you on your road to recovery. If you are not a survivor of sexual abuse, I invite you to stick around and read on. It is my hope and prayer that through this blog, you will learn more about how you can support a survivor in your life. Thank you for visiting.