Category Archives: Christianity

abuse, belief system, biblical divorce, children, Christianity, church denial, conflict, disrespect, divorce, domestic violence, emotional abuse, enabling, faith, fear, God's faithfulness, hypocrisy, leaving an abuser, marriage, religion, shame, trauma, wisdom

Wisdom in the Counsel of Many?

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“Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.”  Proverbs 15:22

We know there is wisdom in the counsel of many.  Even in the midst of overwhelming heartache and confusion, we may have some vague idea of what we want or need to do, but out of a sincere desire to do the right thing, we prefer to secure a measure of validation from others before we proceed.

Unfortunately, when dealing with an abusive spouse, some of our most well-meaning advisers may offer up various measures of godly-sounding legalism rather than the kind of balanced, practical support that the one living in the cross-hairs of an abuser desperately needs.

Continue reading Wisdom in the Counsel of Many? →

abuse, belief system, biblical divorce, Christianity, church denial, conflict, denial, domestic violence, emotional abuse, enabling, faith, fear, leaving an abuser, marriage, recovery, trauma

Trusting Your Instincts

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If you have followed me for any period of time or read some of my articles, you may know that I encourage those in abusive relationships to trust their instincts, to listen to what their hearts – and the Spirit of God – are saying to them.  Please forgive what may be redundant for some of you, as I share an important message with those who may need it.

Unfortunately, I learned the hard way the value of listening to that Voice above all others – even my own.  As a believer in Jesus and the living God who sent Him, I believe that our instincts are absolutely connected to the presence of the Spirit moving in our lives.  Yet how often do we choose to diminish, ignore or override what we sense to be right or wrong?  The issue is whether we are willing to live our lives without apology in the light of an uncomfortable truth or choose instead to defer – even with the best of intentions – to other, lesser voices.

Continue reading Trusting Your Instincts →

abuse, betrayal, Christianity, conflict, confusion, cruelty, domestic violence, faith, fear, recovery, religion, trauma

The Trauma of Betrayal

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“For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, then I could bear it; nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, then I could hide myself from him.  But it is you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend…”  Psalm 55:12-13

Betrayal.

I’m almost certain that the majority of those who read this have at one time or another experienced the trauma of betrayal, a moment when someone you trusted broad-sided you, leaving a cavernous wound on your heart – the gravest kind of wound, the kind of wound that may never really heal completely.  It is a wound that has changed the way you see people and perhaps even made you cynical as to whom you may be willing to trust going forward and to what degree.

You didn’t do anything to deserve what that person did to you, but he or she did it anyway.  Your trust was so steady that you didn’t see it coming, never imagined for a moment that your spouse or friend or family member was capable of inflicting such pain without flinching, without remorse, without regret.

The knowledge of what that person did produced – and may still incite – an ongoing and perhaps overwhelming burden of grief, doubt or even despair.

Yet even as you try to move on and live as though the matter has been addressed, the secret burden remains, and you may even feel guilty or wonder whether you have become bitter because you can’t seem to shake it, can’t figure out a way to get past it.  The traumatic event is replayed over and over again in your mind, as you try to reconcile what you experienced with what you believed.

Then there are those who will tell you, “It’s time to get over it.  Forgive as Christ forgave you.  Remember that love covers a multitude of sins.  Seventy times seven.”  But those easily offered platitudes may do nothing to explain what transpired or do anything to help heal the wound.

No doubt you have tried to let it go and move on.  But the question haunts you: Why? Did your offender betray you out of selfishness or resentment or envy?  Did you unintentionally offend them in some manner that could justify their decision to come against you so cruelly?  Did your relationship mean so little that sacrificing your heart to their will constituted a moment of pleasure or victory for them?

Those of you who have been betrayed may never really understand why it happened.  But the bottom line is that you were betrayed.  And although your offender’s actions were a reflection of their character, not yours, the questions remain:  How can you fully trust anyone ever again? How can you keep from being blindsided the next time?  How will the wound ever heal?

I believe the answers lie in time and truth.

Time:  No one – and I mean no one – can tell you how long you are allowed to grieve such a deep wound.  That is between you and God.  And grieving requires acknowledging:

  • the one who inflicted the wound;
  • the possibility that your offender may never be safe for you;
  • the depth of the pain associated with the event itself; and
  • (perhaps most importantly and the most difficult part of all); an understanding that neither your offender nor the offense committed against you hold the power to define you.

It may take time – a great deal of time – but I know that every one of us has an opportunity as well as the privilege and God-given authority to relinquish our identity as a victim and walk in our identity as a victor.  And, yes, ultimately it will be to your benefit to forgive your offender.  Doing so does not obligate you to return to relationship but simply releases you from the unhealthy bond you have with that person.

Truth: I think it is important to acknowledge that our Lord understands betrayal.  He was betrayed too, not only by Judas, but by each one of us at one time or another.  And He saw it all – everything that happened to you.  He knows full well the weight of the grief you carry.

Identifying the truth in your life also means seeing past the person you thought your offender was and seeing more clearly the nature of his or her heart and motives, whatever they may be.  Perhaps that person has acknowledged what happened and apologized.  But only you know whether that apology was sincere and whether it justifies the risk of entering into relationship again.  Trust your instincts and measure the risk, no matter what anyone else imposes upon you as your obligation.

Ultimately, the truth is that you may never receive the kind of resolution you seek with the one who inflicted that terrible wound, but you can receive healing from the nail-scarred hands of the ultimate Healer and walk in the victory and peace He has already secured for you.  That is what I would wish and hope for – for all who know the trauma and heartache of betrayal.

“As for me, I shall call upon God, and the Lord will save me.  Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, and He will hear my voice.  He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle against me…”  Psalm 55:16-18a

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You might also want to read, “The Truth About Reconciliation.”

Cindy Burrell/Hurtbylove.com

Copyright 2019, All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

 

abuse, belief system, Christianity, conflict, disbelief, domestic violence, faith, God's faithfulness, marriage, religion

Abusers Choose

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“He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”  And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.”  Matthew 13:54-58

So it is that Jesus went to reveal Himself to those who had seen Him grow up.  He arrived at His hometown willing to do the miraculous, to demonstrate the power of God to people He knew in gracious, tangible ways. Continue reading Abusers Choose →

abuse, biblical divorce, Christianity, communication, conflict, confusion, controlling abuse, domestic violence, emotional abuse, faith, fear, religion

Trying to Communicate with an Abuser

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“It’s like he can’t hear me.”

“He makes me feel like I’m crazy.”

“When I try to talk to him, he treats me like I’m his enemy.”

These are some of the things abuse victims might say when they share with me how they try to communicate with their abuser*.

I want those of you who can empathize with those sentiments to understand that there is no real misunderstanding.  The man hears you, he wants you to feel crazy, and it’s not surprising that he is treating you like you are his enemy, because that’s pretty much the way he sees you.

Healthy communication and conflict is part of any relationship, and all of our communication should begin with a recognition of our many differences coupled with a desire to find compromise and meet one another’s needs. 

But abusers are not interested in reason or resolution.  Even though you may approach him in a moment of calm and everything you say may make perfect sense, the truth is that he is not the least bit interested in what you have to say. Furthermore, the fact that you have to find just the right moment to talk to him may be evidence of just how risky trying to communicate with him really is…

As you are speaking – trying to find just the right words to keep him from attacking you – know that he is probably strategizing as to how he can twist your words and turn them back on you.  Expect any comeback to be irrational or unnecessarily harsh, coupled with a how-dare-you, who-do-you-think-you-are kind of attitude. 

The truth is that he views your attempt at finding compromise as a design to undermine him.  In his mind, you are trying to claim for yourself some measure of power he holds – power he has no intention of relinquishing.  

His over-the-top response speaks to his agenda.  He wants you to become so frustrated that you will simply give up and leave him alone.  He also wants to make sure you understand that any future efforts to petition for help or positive change will be met with similar ferocity. 

He is neither ignorant nor innocent.  He doesn’t care if your requests are legitimate or if you are hurting.  He only cares about his absolute right to have his way in everything all the time.

When it comes to communicating with an abuser, you really can’t.  He only hears what he wants to hear and will vigorously reject everything else.  That doesn’t make him right.  It just means that you are seeing who he really is.

It’s not your fault.  It’s that his mind is set.  As difficult as it may be to accept, you need to understand that it’s not that he doesn’t know how to communicate; it’s that he is actually a master communicator when it comes to knowing how to shut you down, shut you out and shut you up. 

No matter how badly you want to find a way to make it work, communication requires two people willing to listen to one another, while the abusive relationship is, in fact, a dictatorship.

“Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men who devise evil things in their hearts… they sharpen their tongues as a serpent; poison of a viper is under their lips.” Psalm 140:1-3 (in part)

*Although abusers may be of either gender, the overwhelming majority of abusers are male; therefore, the abuser is referenced in the masculine. The reader’s understanding is appreciated.

Copyright 2019, All Rights Reserved

Cindy Burrell