God Heals All Hurts
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. -- Matthew 18:6
The subject was child abuse. We all sat around the table and shook our heads. How to explain why God allows such evil to happen? No one knew. We can't possibly understand it. Sure, it comes from Satan. And, yes, we live in a fallen world with free choice granted from God. But to abuse an innocent child? Horrifying doesn't begin to describe it.
Children of abuse grow up to think badly about themselves and sometimes about God. They blame Him for not protecting them. They blame themselves for somehow "allowing" the abuse to take place. They see themselves as someone who got what they deserved. They sin again and again because they believe they are the evil that was done to them.
God is ever seeing. His heart breaks for the little ones Satan and his minions have harmed and led astray. He stands ready, arms outstretched, to snatch his children into His loving embrace. He waits patiently, knowing that He can heal and use the small victims He longs to reclaim. And woe to those who harmed His precious children. He will judge those who are guilty.
How do we heal from childhood abuse? The scars never fade away. They are ever present, much as the nail wounds remain present on Jesus' arms. But God can and will heal the open wounds. He will soothe the hurt and empower the victims. He will lead the innocent to victory. But, first, we have to take that first step. We have to reach out. We have to call His name. We have to let ourselves be enfolded in his embrace.
Why does God allow children to become victims? I don't know. My mind tries to explain it but my heart screams out in anguish. It's something I will probably never understand. But I do know that God heals all hurts, even those that run deep into the soul. He is waiting to heal your hurts. Will you let him?
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