LEND ME YOUR HOPE

Lend me your hope for awhile, I seem to have mislaid mine.

Lost and hopeless feelings accompany me daily, pain and confusion are my companions.

I know not where to turn; looking ahead to future times does not bring forth images of renewed hope.

I see troubled times, pain-filled days, and more tragedy.

Lend me your hope for awhile, I seem to have mislaid mine.

Hold my hand and hug me; listen to all my ramblings, recovery seems so far distant.

The road to healing seems like a long and lonely one.

Lend me your hope for awhile, I seem to have mislaid mine.

Stand by me, offer me your presence, your heart and your love.

Acknowledge my pain, it is so real and ever present.

I am overwhelmed with sad and conflicting thoughts.

Lend me your hope for awhile; a time will come when I will heal, and I will share my renewal, hope, and love with others.

(adapted from the poem "Lend Me Your Hope,"  by Eloise Cole of Scottsdale Arizona)
 

"We break down every thought and proud thing that puts itself up against the wisdom of God. We take hold of every thought and make it obey Christ."

- 2 Corinthians 10:5 (The New Life Version)

Even as a Christian, you may live the words in the poem above.

Often, in the life of a believer, there are issues of abuse in it's various forms (verbal, emotional, physical, sexual, spiritual) that hinder them from being able to accept the claims and truths of Christ as their own. They have no problem speaking the many wonderful revelations of Jesus into other's lives, but cannot fathom that those truths also belong to them. Sadly, their head-knowledge never makes it down to their hearts, leaving them lost and wandering, with a feeling that they have no purpose in life.

STILL HARD AT WORK....

The Enemy lost his power over a believer at the cross and now his most effective trick is to deceive and keep them from the truth of who they are in Christ by keeping their minds believing the lies that their unfortunate circumstances have told them about themselves. Lies that tell them that they must fight for God's approval, that they don't measure up and must be perfect, and that they're worthless and unlovable by God and other people. Put simply, Satan no longer has the chance to claim their spirit, so he attempts to destroy their soul (mind, will, and emotions). These hurts, if not dealt with, can lead to trouble dealing with situations in work and day-to-day living, as well as broken relationships between friends, husbands and wives and children. As a way of dealing with the pain, they can also result in addictions to alcohol, sex, drugs, homosexual behavior, and more. The abusive behavior often carries over to the next generation.

TO THE WOUNDED....

You may wonder how God could allow such horrible things to happen to you. Please trust that He didn't ever want you harmed. Your hurts are a result of Satan and sin working in the heart's of men and women and a fallen world. God was deeply saddened by what happened to you and wants to take your pain away. He has the ability to heal totally and completely, in the wink of an eye, but more often than not, as the Great Physician, He chooses to hold us when we make the choice to go through the storms rather than remove them.

Take heart! He promises to take the evil you endured or are presently enduring and turn it into something glorious if you will only trust Him with it and let Him walk you through the healing He so badly wants for you. ("Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."  1 Peter 5:7) Absolutely nothing is ever outside God's control and He doesn't waste anything. If these words are ministering to you, the very fact that you are here and reading this is a testimony to God's mercy and love. I know that is often a difficult thing to understand in the midst of misery. God understands your confusion.

I realize that for someone who has been abused, trust is the hardest thing for you right now. Jesus knows it too.
 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

- Jeremiah 29:11-13 (New International Version)

THERE IS A HOPE....

Rejoice, beloved, because you needn't stay where you are! You can be whole again! I've only touched on a few points here, but I do understand what you are going through. If you haven't already, and will take a chance and put your trust in Jesus, you can believe me when I say that, with Him as your foundation, although the path ahead may be long and difficult, your healing is inevitably certain!

The Bible says that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). Basically, garbage in, garbage out. The ultimate goal of Bible-based Christian counsel is to root through the massive lies a person has come to believe about themselves and replace them with Truth. The links below, as well as the books in the Resources section, will help you in your journey to recovery. 

Take the words of God to heart: "Be strong and courageous." (Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:9). Courage is not the absence of fear, but exists in spite of it.
 

HELPFUL LINKS

Smalley Relationship Center - Help for husbands/wives/families.

Blazing Grace - "For those who want freedom from Sex Addiction and Pornography."

Focus On The Family - Help for husbands/wives/families and the online ministry of Dr. James Dobson.

FamilyLife.com - Radio, tape and print ministry of Dennis and Barbara Rainey. Help for husbands/wives/families.

Christian Care Network - "Christian Care Network is a national referral network of community and church-based, licensed professional counseling providers, offering care that is distinctively Christian and clinically excellent."

New Life Ministries - Since 1985 New Life Live! (formerly called The Minirth-Meier Clinic) has been broadcast as a nationally-syndicated, interactive talk radio program which deals with mental health, emotional, relational and spiritual issues from a biblical perspective.  Regular hosts include Steve Arterburn, Dr. Henry Cloud, Dr. John Townsend, Dr. David Stoop, and others.

National Domestic Violence Hotline - Whether you are a victim (man, woman or child) or the concerned friend or family member of a victim of domestic abuse, someone is waiting to help you here.