Day 5 - Watch the Company You Keep

Letters to my teenage self 

A Devotional for Trauma Survivors 

Day 5 - Watch the Company You Keep

Dear teenage self, 

Some of the people you're hanging out with are detrimental to your mental and spiritual health. So much of what you do is learned behavior.  You so desperately want to be healed, happy, and normal. You want to belong. You're willing to cut class, smoke with your friends, drink alcohol, and continue to defy every authority figure in your life. 

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

+1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)

Every time the Holy Spirit convicts you, you shut it out and ignore the voices you need to hear. Not all authority seeks to harm you. Not all friends are equal. Sometimes you become angry with the friends who set boundaries with you. Stop doing that. Those are the people who truly care about you. The ones who encourage you to deny "all that Jesus stuff" are not going to be your friends even a year from now. If you continue down this path, you will feel even more lonely than you do now. Sadly, you won't realize this until it's too late. 

Compromising your values will make the road to healing so much harder. You're going to struggle for many years, and then look back on this time and think "If only I had listened to..." I'm asking you to listen to the Word of God now and make different decisions for your future self. 

Let's Pray

Dear Jesus. I've made many bad decisions and listened to people I shouldn't have. When You have tried to guide me, I insisted on going my own way, even cursing Your name in the process. I cared more about what others thought of me than what You do. Please forgive me and lead me to a group of Christians who truly love You and will be good company for me. You are on the throne. You are my God. In all things, I want to honor You. It is in Your Holy name I pray. Amen. 

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
+Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

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.

 

 

 

Day 4 - Pearls Before Swine

Letters to my teenage self 

A Devotional for Trauma Survivors 

Day 4

Dear teenage self, 

You're misinterpreting scripture. I know you are stuck on the scripture from Exodus 20 that tells you to honor your father and mother. Stop. In this case, it doesn't look the way you think it should. Your parents are not going to choose healing for themselves, and instead are going to transfer blame for their pain onto you. To continue a relationship with them is to deny your mental health, sacrifice your relationship with God, and create long-term trauma for yourself beyond what you've already experienced. 

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."

+Matthew 7:6 (NKJV)

You don't realize this now, but in 20 years, you will break free from their clutches and start to heal. The peace you receive from severing this relationship will be like nothing you've ever known. You will be free. 

Jesus is walking with you through everything, even when you don't feel Him. Turn to Him now and trust Him with your pain and your healing.  He is capable. He is willing. He is waiting. 

You finally made it to NYC for your 41st birthday and it was everything and more you've ever dreamed of.

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.