F is for FREEDOM

I do not know where you are in your journey through abuse, but I just want to remind you that F is for FREEDOM. Perhaps you are still living under the same roof as your abuser. You are in the head scratching phase, wondering why your heart hurts so much. You are telling yourself that you must be going crazy. Or perhaps you have come to realize that things truly are as bad as you think they are, but you don’t see any possible way out. You believe that you are hopelessly bound in your messed up situation. Maybe you have packed a safety bag and are in contact with your local shelter. You are planning your escape, and are praying that you will make it out alive. Perhaps you have found the courage to break away. You are living in a temporary shelter, or sleeping on your sister’s couch. But you are facing divorce proceedings and are dreading what is to come. Maybe you are like me. You have made it to the other side, and no longer endure the day to day terror that comes from living with a batterer, but you still have to share custody with him. You still endure rage texts and hostility. He is still at large, charming everyone around him and seemingly facing no consequences for what he put you through. It weighs you down and makes you weary. I am writing to remind you that F is for FREEDOM. Whether or not you realize it, there is an invisible spiritual battle raging for you and for me. The enemy is real. He came to kill, steal, and destroy, and your abuser is his operative. Jesus came to bring life more abundantly, and he is fighting for you.The good news is that Jesus wins, every time. But the enemy will use his lies to cloud our minds and bring discouragement and despair. So I will say it again… F is for FREEDOM!

The enemy would also have us believe that F is for fear but the opposite is true – F is for FAITHFUL. I understand that the circumstances you are facing are scary, but the truth is that you do not face this mountain alone. God is a refuge. He is a strong tower. He is a deliverer. He is worthy of our trust. He is faithful and true. He does not break his promises and he is fighting for you. If we keep our eyes on our circumstances we will be overwhelmed with fear. Just remember that the God who spoke the galaxies into existence is fighting for you. He will not let you down because F is for FAITHFUL.

R is for REDEMPTION. The enemy would love you to believe that R is for regret. Don’t let him do that to you. So you made a mistake. You got bamboozled. You ignored red flags. You stayed way too long. Let it go. Our Heavenly Father is in the business of redeeming impossible situations. And he is a double portion restorer. He is bigger than any mistake you think you have made. Give all of the guilt, shame, and condemnation to God and tell the accuser to take a hike in the name of Jesus. Redemption stories are the very best kind of stories. R is for REDEMPTION.

E is for ELEVATE. Did you know that God uses everything for our good and his glory? Everything! Not just trips to Disneyland and getting a new puppy. He says that he uses all things; even the really bad stuff. Because he is full of compassion and mercy, he will allow us to rise above every single thing that the enemy has thrown our way. He will not only get you through your trial, but he will cause you to rise up with wings like eagles. You will walk and not grow weary. You will run and not grow faint. And when you have made it through to the other side, you will be able to proclaim his faithfulness and goodness with an authority that only comes from walking through the fiery furnace of affliction. E is for ELEVATE so get ready to soar!

E is for EMANCIPATION. This is such an awesome word. It means to be set free from slavery. Are you tired of being a slave to fear? Manipulation? Control? Lies? Confusion? Rage? Then get ready to be emancipated! You are no longer a slave to any of these things.You were destined for freedom. Jesus willingly and lovingly paid the price for our emancipation when he went to the cross. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Don’t allow the enemy to keep you bound in shackles. He does not have the authority to do so. He can only exercise authority over us if we allow him to. It is time to say no more to slavery in the name of Jesus. I can’t wait to see you dance right out of your chains! E is for EMANCIPATION.

D is for DELIVERANCE. The enemy wants you to believe that D is for defeat, but he is wrong. You will be delivered from your abusive situation. It may take longer than you want, and be more difficult than you imagined, but trust me when I tell you that your deliverance is assured. It is during the delays and difficult times that the enemy will whisper his lies. He will tell you that you have been abandoned by God and that you are alone. He will tempt you to wave the white flag of surrender and return to your place of captivity. Don’t listen to him. He is a liar. God will deliver you. You will not be defeated. Just don’t give up. You are going to make it. I am living proof!

O is for OVERCOMING. Don’t listen to any voice that tells you that O is for overwhelmed, because that voice is coming from the one who wants to you believe that your are incapable of surviving your circumstances. He knows that the victory is already yours. He understands that Jesus has already walked the path that leads to your freedom and is waiting on the other side to greet you with a victor’s crown, but he wants to cause you to feel overwhelmed by the negative things that you are facing: pain, rejection, loss, betrayal, anxiety. He will continue to barrage you until you feel overwhelmed but the truth is that O is for OVERCOMING. You don’t even have to be especially strong or brave to overcome. Simply run into the loving arms of the Heavenly Father and allow him to fight this battle for you. Stay fully surrendered to him and fully surrendered to his plan for you. Resist the evil spirit and refuse to partner with his will for your life any longer. You will see that God is fighting for you and will make a way for you.

M is for MIRACLES. In case you have told yourself that you will need a miracle to survive this trial, I have great news for you. There is a beautiful, loving, tender God who wants to pull out all the stops for you. He wants to exercise his power on your behalf and bring you to your knees in utter amazement. He is going to wow you with his love and faithfulness. I know the difficulties that you are facing because I faced them myself. And I can honestly say I would not be alive today writing this post if God had not performed some serious, awe inspiring, legit MIRACLES on my behalf. He did it for me and he will do it for you. Just don’t forget to thank him when he does, and make sure to tell everybody because he deserves the praise!

When you start to doubt, which is easy to do, just remember that F is for FREEDOM: Faithful. Redemption. Elevate. Emancipation. Deliverance. Overcoming. Miracles. This is your destiny. Believe it. Declare it. Experience it today.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21.