Jesus, be with Muchafraid today. Show her you see her. Show her you care. Please send folks into her life who represent Jesus with skin on. Rescue. Redeem.

Hi Muchafraid, I am unsure as to what things in life have caused you to desire death more than life – one would assume some trauma of some sort. I myself have been there many a time. I have pasted a little bit below of my book I am writing for those who have been sexually abused as children. And whilst your circumstances may not be sexual abuse it can be related to any kind of difficulty. I pray it gives you hope today. Blessings Sally Napthali (sallynapthali.com.au)

Real hope
When you’re experiencing a lot of emotional pain it can seem like the damage from sexual abuse is permanent and too much to work through. It’s hard to imagine feeling any different, let alone believing things will change and that the effort of facing the past is worth it. It’s hard when you can’t see any progress, and one day seems to be as difficult as the next day. It can feel like this process of healing is too hard, and is going for too long.

This feeling is like having two months of constant rain. We have had days and days of rain recently without seeing any sign of the sun, stuck inside all day. We wondered if we would ever have nice weather again. We’d wake up in the morning and say to ourselves “Gee we hope it’s going to be a nice day today” and sure enough, it’s still raining. There will be seasons for you where you’ll feel like every day is dark, like bad weather.

As you keep processing the issues of sexual abuse the smallest changes do take place, even if you don’t notice them in yourself. It takes persistence over a long period of time to see real change happen. There are no quick fixes here, healing takes time.

The funny thing about bad weather though, is that if you got in an aeroplane and fly above the clouds you would see a beautiful blue sky and warm sun. Be encouraged that above the clouds over your life are the sun and a clear sky. It’s all there waiting for you. As you continue working through issues, the clouds get thinner, the storm loses it strength and, very slowly, as each layer of cloud is removed, you’re another step closer to breakthrough. I want you to know sexual abuse is not permanent damage, there is hope for you. With every little thing you work through, you will feel lighter and freer. Change does happen. I, and thousands of other people, are a living testimony to that!

I want you to believe that there’s a great future waiting for you. This journey that you’re embarking on is not an endless merry-go-round, but a road that goes somewhere. It leads to gradual healing, restoration, forgiveness and wholeness. Each part of your broken heart can be restored.

There will come a time in your life, when you’ll look back and remember the abuse, and how it once hurt you, but it will no longer dictate to you. It will no longer tell you who you are or how you should think and be. You will be free from this pain, and you will be able to have a life without restriction. This is the truth. Trust me, the effort you choose to make now, and the determination you have to walk out this road to tackle one issue at a time will be repaid in absolute gold.

You are most welcome, Marlee.

Jesus, I lift up Mandy’s marriage. Calm the turbulence. Usher in the calm. Help them both welcome repentance and honesty. Rebuild from the ground up. We give You the glory in advance. Amen.