Day 21 - Love Those Who Hurt You

Letters to my teenage self 

A Devotional for Trauma Survivors 

Day 21 - Love Those Who Hurt You

Dear teenage self, 

Love those who hurt you. Don't allow bitterness to creep into your heart. Take a moment and sit quietly, giving your pain and anger to God the moment it begins to appear. When you finish praying, if it comes back, pray again. Don't give the devil a leg up by entertaining any thoughts of revenge, anger, bitterness, or hatred. 

When Richard Wurmbrand was freed from prison, he was asked if he hated the men who captured and tortured him. He said that no, he didn't hate them. He loved the men. Though they could never be friends, he would always pray for them to find Christ and to love them.

 This becomes even more inspiring when you find out that even the torturers ended up in jail alongside the very Christians they had tortured days prior. Communism is a dog-eat-dog way of life. To show their torturers Christ-like love, many times the Christians would volunteer to take beatings in place of their previous torturers. This opened a door in the torturers' hearts to hear the Gospel. 

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

+Romans 12:17-21 (ESV)

You've been hurt a lot. You were badly abused by those who were tasked with keeping you safe, teaching you to love, and disciplining you. That hurt broke your heart and changed the chemistry of your brain for the worse. Even today, 30 years later, I suffer from the effects of what they did. Yet...I have also found beauty in healing and loving them from afar by praying for them. You will have days where you don't hurt so much. They're coming. 

Let's Pray

Heavenly Father, sometimes the hardest choice is to be loving and to give my hurt over to You. Often, I just want to take matters into my own hands and see justice right here and now. I want to lash out and show my abusers, bullies, and enemies how much they hurt me, but I know that isn't what You call me to do. Thank You for showing me, through Your own example, how I am to react to those who hurt me. Thank You for the strength that You give me each day, and the faith to trust You to take care of the things You have promised You will. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. 

On a smaller scale of loving those who hurt you - this is my daughter petting the cat that peed on her dresser this morning. Charlie is a menace, yet we love his furry little bum!

Stay tuned for another episode. See you next time! And remember, if you or a loved one is in danger, get help immediately, and don't stop talking until someone acts on your words.

National Domestic Abuse Hotline: 800-799-7233 Hours: 24/7. Languages: English, Spanish, and 200+ through interpretation service. SMS: Text START to 88788

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 Hours: Available 24 hours. https://www.rainn.org/

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Hours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish. https://988lifeline.org/

In Christ alone our hope is found

Run, don't walk for help! You're worth it.