Counsels on Self-Identity

Counsel #18 — Assaulted

Picture: Counsel #18 — Assaulted CI 118.1

When femininity is met with exploitation instead of honor, the damage runs deep. Being objectified, harassed, or assaulted is an invasion of the body and a wound to the soul. Statistically, one in three women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime.^[119] CI 118.2

In the U.S. alone, one in six women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape, and for many, the trauma begins in childhood and lingers for years, silently shaping how women see themselves and the world around them. Whether your harm came from a stranger, a partner, a boss, or even a family member, your worth has not been erased. Your femininity is not something shameful or dangerous, and it’s still sacred to God. Sometimes, healing may involve therapy, medical care, or confiding in a trusted Christian community, but it always begins with coming to the One who understands your pain completely. He’s not repelled by your trauma, and He’s ready to cover you with compassion and make you whole. The brokenness you carry is not beyond Christ’s healing, so don’t let shame prevent your surrender. CI 118.3

“For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” Isaiah 30:18 NIV CI 118.4

“My heart longs to see you a restored woman. But very few understand what you suffer but Jesus does know, Jesus does pity, Jesus does love you and will hear your prayers.” Ellen White in Letters and Manuscripts, vol. 8, 1893, par. 4 CI 118.5

Reflect: What would it look like to bring your story out of the shadows and let God begin to heal it? CI 118.6