By Jennifer Percell
The #MeToo movement is growing. Each day more people come forward and I am saddened by how many suffer from the selfish acts of others. Me too.
As I listen to brave women tell their stories I remember my own isolation and crippling fear. I remember being physically captive and mentally isolated from others by the stigma of the shocking and repulsive acts. During the abuse and for many years after, my mind fought the lies my abuser recorded there for his own protection. Messages seared into my brain by his words and actions caused despair that seemed insurmountable. I was wounded and broken, and I felt no hope for rescue from the hopeless life that trapped me.
Then one day I found myself with a bunch of church kids. I had gone to a retreat with them to escape for a day and had entertained thoughts of running away while I was out of the house. That afternoon we were all sitting under a tree. One boy with a guitar, one with a Bible. The boy with the Bible read:
“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:37-39).
Now, 43 years later I can still feel the shock, someone was telling me that there was power and love that was stronger than my abusive father. That was the first glimpse of hope in my life and I craved more and more of this new information.
I learned that God is the Great Physician, He heals, His love is real, and He sees me as precious. I could trust Him, He made me, and He could fix my brokenness. And best of all, He could go with me into the horrible places I was suffering. He could enter my mind and emotions during the abuse and hold me close to Him. He could protect my soul from the pain that was killing all hope in me.
Three years later I could finally leave my abusive home. I knew I needed lots of help. God provided counselors and medications and a support network of good people. All of these were priceless as I fought hard for healing and I recommend that anyone who has suffered use all these tools.
But I believe that it is God who truly healed my heart and soul. It was only when I crawled upon the lap of my heavenly Daddy and let Him hold and comfort me did I truly feel relief. I remember how He gave me 15 minutes of peace and later twenty. How there was a whole morning without hyper-vigilance and focus on my own surroundings. How one day I noticed I had been in the middle of something for a whole day, living my life and not fearfully on the outside looking in.
Only my God could go back through all the pain with me and let me be a needy child again. This time one with a strong, safe and kind Father. A Father who could carry me out of the worst of times and into a life of hope and joy and peace.
If you have suffered abuse and not yet found healing from the inside out, go to the Great Physician. He was there with you protecting your mind and heart from irreparable damage. He is there today ready to repair every broken piece you give to Him. For nothing in all creation can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus your Lord.
May all of us who have been healed by our Great God say, “Me Too... God has healed Me Too”
Jennifer Percell
If you would like additional information about the #ChurchToo movement as well, we invite you to read this article by the Christian Chronicle.
#IronRoseSister #womenspiritualhealth #metoo #healed
