R&R-Redeemer Relationships

Last night I had the wonderful pleasure of spending a few hours with a precious young woman who had suffered  horrific  childhood abuse, but was well on her way to  healing and wholeness. One of the topics of discussion was how difficult it  can be to have meaningful relationships, and to fully grasp that others could actually "love" us. And  that harder still at times is grasping  the fact that God actually, truly loves us, just as we are. Most people, if they are honest, struggle to some degree with the concept of God as a "loving Father."   But survivors of childhood abuse, especially sexual abuse, find it very difficult to believe this. How could a loving Father abandon us to such evil when we were so very young and helpless? Why didn't He respond to our cries and rescue us?
We spoke at length about what healing from these doubts "looks" like,  and how abuse survivors can attain it. We came to a very simple conclusion:  we need to ask God to reveal  His love  in  very special  ways that  cannot be misunderstood, but rather clearly recognized.

I have prayed this prayer many times in my own life over the last few years, and God has been faithful to reveal His love in simple ways that I truly grasp, in unexpected moments. Sometimes it's through nature, like when a beautiful group of seven deer crossed the road in front of me in broad daylight  just as I had been asking Him to "make my feet like the feet of deer and set me on high places." (Psalm 18:33). I will never forget the awe of that moment!

But most of the time He answers through people: "Redeemer relationships," I call them. A card in the mail just at the right moment from a caring friend, an encouraging  phone call, a financial need unexpectedly met through one of His children, and the list goes on. Just as my wounded finger is being healed (read The Missing Chunk blog) from the power within my own body,  the body of Christ can and should bring healing to the wounded. It is here that childhood distortions of what a real relationship looks like can be clarified. It is where we can experience God's love in a tangible, unmistakable way. It is here that we can be redeemed from past hurts, fears, and misconceptions  about relationships in general,  and gain insight into a healthy relationship with God.


To those who are on the journey of healing from childhood sexual abuse, I pray that you will have  the courage to ask God to reveal His love to you in a simple, special way.

To the body of Christ, the church, I pray that you will understand the healing power in "Redeemer relationships" and be a participant with God in answering the prayers of the brokenhearted.