Patricia Miller - Gods Wisdom for Women: Topical Scripture and Encouragement

Several years ago, I (Pat) took a pair of old eyeglasses and covered the lenses with pieces of hole-punched Scotch tape. I noticed that when I spent time with women who experienced abuse, it was as if they saw themselves through distorted lenses, seeing only through the eyes of their abuse. The taped-over glasses acted as a visual, showing them how they see their world. As they held the glasses and looked through them, many of them could visualize for the first time how distorted their perception of reality had become. These women viewed their entire livesemotions, self-worth, and familiesall through the blurry distortion of abuse.

Abuse is never acceptable, whether verbal, physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological. God hates abuse. Sadly, we live in a broken and sinful world, and abuse takes many forms and shapes.

Abuse does not define a personour identity is who we are in Christ.

The Lord Jesus himself suffered great abuse.

Isaiah 53:56 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turnedevery oneto his own way; and the L ORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (ESV)

Psalm 22:78 , Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, Is this the one who relies on the L ORD ? Then let the L ORD save him!... My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet. (NLT)

When we feel alone, God is there, and we can call on him.

Zephaniah 3:17 The L ORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. (NIV)

Psalm 142:17 I cry out to the L ORD ; I plead for the L ORD s mercy. I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me. I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me. Then I pray to you, O L ORD . I say, You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life. Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. Bring me out of prison so I can thank you. The godly will crowd around me, for you are good to me. (NLT)

God provides strength.

Psalm 31:4 You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength. (NASB)