Peace
I have struggled for my entire life with something that happened to me as a child. I was able to forgive my perpetrator face to face years ago but I still struggled with what happened to me and other issues that come with it. I can honestly tell you, after years of prayer and working on forgiving others who impacted how things were dealt with, that God has granted me complete and utter peace now. I can think about every aspect of it, and no longer feel a tremendous, gut wrenching pain. I HAVE PEACE! Yes, I am shouting because this has been a tremendous journey for me!
I realized about 12 years ago that God had allowed this in my life because it gave me great empathy for others and I really feel like He has given me opportunity (and will continue to do so) to talk to other women who are hurting. That was the start of my healing and it has taken this long to really feel healed! I KNOW in my heart that the peace I now have, has nothing to do with me and everything to do with God. He has given me the peace that surpasses all understanding. I have held fast to Jeremiah 29:11 and if you had ever been to our old house you would have seen it painted on my living room wall, as a constant reminder to myself that God loves me and has a plan for my life. He has no plans to harm me, though Satan might. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Jeremiah 29:11-14
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. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. [b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
If you are hurting and need some prayer or someone to just talk to, email me. I long for everyone to have a heart that has peace and knows our one and only peacemaker, Jesus Christ!