October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Please keep your eyes and hear open to a loved one who may be suffering. If you’re that loved one who’s suffering, know that there is help and there is hope. This is not your fault. You are worth more!
“You’re not good enough.”
“Can’t you do anything right?”
“You’re too (thin, fat, dumb, lazy…)”
“You’re not smart enough, pretty enough…just not enough.”
Have you heard any of those ugly phrases before? They sting horribly, don’t they? Even if we know in our heart of hearts that those words aren’t true, it still hurts terribly when they escape from the lips of someone who’s promised to love and adore us.
If you’re outside of an abusive situation now (and I so hope you are) and can see things–including yourself–more clearly, you know that these hurtful words aren’t true. Not even a little bit.
You know that those derogatory remarks, insults, and put-downs were a way to undermine you and a way for your abuser to gain control. You see, the more they say those things, the easier it is for them to convince you they’re true. (Even though they’re not).
When you hear someone who once adored you, who you believe loves you, tell you that you’re not good enough in whatever way they fashion their verbal abuse, you start to believe they’re right. (Even though they’re not).
And even when you’re no longer living under their harmful oppression, sometimes their words creep back into your head.
You know you have great worth but you start to wonder if you’re really good enough.
You know you’re beautiful, but then you start to wonder if you’re not pretty enough to ever attract the attention of the opposite sex.
You know you’re intelligent, but maybe you’re really not that smart and couldn’t possibly handle college or an impressive job.
You sometimes pick up where your abuser left off and your internal dialogue suddenly speaks in his or her voice of negativity.
I call those words and voices “old ghosts.” They’re the unpleasant lies that were drilled into your mind for probably quite sometime during a period of your life when you were vulnerable and probably heard them so often that you started to believe they were the truth.
But hear me, these things are not true.
You made precious and pure in His sight. You were created in the image of beauty and purity and preciousness.
You are good. You are smart. You are beautiful. You are capable. You are worthy. You are deserving of beautiful things and safety and realized dreams.
When those old ghosts creep in, tell yourself these things, that you are…good…smart…beautiful.
Call a friend who will lift you up.
Read this: “I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” ~ Psalm 139:14.
Remember, that you are worthy, you are beautiful, and you are enough.
Be reassured!
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