God Is Not Our Enemy

Many survivors of child sexual abuse struggle with church hurt on various levels. Sometimes the abuse happened in a religious setting, like a church or a camp. Sometimes when we looked for support and comfort in the church, we found blame and shame and burdens instead of deliverance. Please know that there are many different paths to healing, and that Truth and godly Love can find each of us where we are. You don’t ever have to go into a church again—it is still true for you that evil cannot win.

“Our Creator,” “the Divine,” “our Sustainer”—there are many, many different ways to refer to God. (My father was not a good parent so I don’t really find it helpful to think of God as Father. Please search for the word or phrase that helps you most.) The name is not as important as the reality, which is that the Divine is your closest Friend. Here are famous words from Julian of Norwich: “There is a force of Love moving through the universe that holds us fast and will never let us go.” This is the One who loves you most and best. You never have to earn that love, and can never lose it.

There’s lots more to say! Please email me if you have comments or questions (Mary.Brown@SilenceBrokenNow.org). I’m pulling for you too.

Photo by Ksenia Makagonova on Unsplash.com