When Hell Comes to You (Introduction)

     Abuse. It's something you hear a lot about in our society. Domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, unfortunately sometimes spiritual abuse, verbal abuse? What? Yes, verbal abuse! This is more than just your average everyday name calling on the playground, or sharing a laugh with someone and throwing jabs at one another, this is painful. It's the regular attack of someone's self-worth, or the use of horrible words to manipulate someone's emotions. If you read the very first post I ever did in Out of the Ashes, I told you this blog was going to go to dark places. And you may not think this is one of them, but it is. There are so many people that have had their lives ripped in two by verbal abuse. It not only affects self-worth but it stirs up emotions to the point that one is unable it seems to control how he/she thinks because those words ring over and over in their heads. I'm not here to compare one form of abuse to another, but verbal abuse leaves scars that people don't always see! I say this, because like so many others, I have been affected by this. God has been and still is working on me to heal me and I believe this blog series will not only help me heal but God is going to use me to show others, we can overcome this. There is freedom from the pain it causes. There is freedom in Christ Jesus from the guilt, the shame, the discouragement, the death! May this blog challenge all who read it and I pray God's blessings on it. Lastly, I pray for his strength and guidance as I write this series. Because the one thing I want to make very clear throughout this whole series is that even though it will take dark, sometimes angry turns, I love my abuser, and it took me a long time for me to say that, a very long time. In a later post I will show how God brought me to a place of being able to love, but for now, may this series challenge you, and encourage you as well.