“In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and blessed them…” (Gen. 5: 1-2).
Each of us is made in the image of God, and each unique. Abuse can bury that knowledge, along with our hopes and dreams. We can lose ourselves – can feel so downtrodden, so crushed, that we believe we are worthless. But that is a lie.
The challenge for abuse victims is to find ourselves again. To find ourselves and reclaim our lives.
A song like Kelsea Ballerini’s “Miss Me More” may lift our spirits (a step in the right direction). Even high heels and red lipstick may help. Scripture, however, serves as a more reliable guide.
Accepted
“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Rom. 15: 7 NIV).
In Christ, we are accepted. After a lifetime of rejection, this is an astonishing experience.
Loved
“…just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself…” (Eph. 1: 4-5).
In Christ, we are God’s beloved children, members of His own family, selected from the beginning of the world.
A New Creation
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5: 17).
In Christ, we are made new. The abuse no longer has a stranglehold on us. We can become the men and women God intended. This is self-actualization in the truest sense.
Redeemed
“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you” (Isaiah 44: 22 NIV).
In Christ, the very chains of sin and death have been broken. He came that we may have life, and have it more abundantly (John 10: 10).
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ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
This is beautiful. Very tender. Abuse is so very hard to recover from, and especially child abuse.
I am so glad you liked it.
Wow. I am adopting a new theme song. Amen to all your thoughts, Anna. 😎
Many thanks!
I second that- amen, Anna, to your tenacious character in rooting out evil. Blessings, my friend.
You are too kind, Lance. 🙂
My sincere pleasure, Anna.
“In Christ, we are accepted. After a lifetime of rejection, this is an astonishing experience.” — Yes! So true. Astonishing and glorious!
Scriptures are written by men. If you really want to know god, go to him directly and stay there, He will teach you all you need to know, way more than any scripture can. God has been with me almost every moment of my life. It’s been wonderful. I’m 66 and still getting lessons from him regularly. Religion is a distraction that perverts your view and you shouldn’t stay in it too long. 100 million books is not enough to teach you about God. He can do it in a day if you let him. Bless you and enjoy your journey.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I, myself, view the Bible as the revealed word of God. Since He is capable of inspiring men as you say He inspires you, He was surely capable of inspiring Scripture. But I agree that religion — as many practice it — is nothing more than a series of empty rituals. What I have (and what I wish for others) is a relationship w/ God. I am glad to hear you have that, as well.
Yes,it is true that scripture was written by men. Holy men of God, actually, who penned the inspired word as the Spirit led them.
I am thankful that my hope is in the covenant relationship I have with Christ and not man’s religion.
Blessings to you.
Anna, it is powerful and tender.
I love it.
Thank You, Anna!
Greetings from the beautiful Rhine-Highlands / Germany
🌺🦋❤🌺
🙂 Rosie 🙂
Ich bin so froh, dass dir die Post gefallen hat, Rosie! ❤ 🙂 ❤
Greetings from the sunny autumn …
Rosie 😍❤️🍂🍁🍂