Rested Soul, Resilient Heart

Are you in a dark storm of brokenness?

Have you been devastated by abuse, betrayal, rejection, lies, deception, loss, separation, or divorce?

Have you been wounded by these statements:

• “I’m not attracted to you anymore, I deserve to be happy!”

• “You’re a loser, who would ever want you?”

• “I will get custody of the kids; no one will believe you.”

• “You’re crazy and I’ll prove it in court!”

• “Do you want to look over your shoulder the rest of your life? I’ll find you!”

• “You’re just over-reacting again! Get over it and fix my dinner!”

You may have heard different words, but the intended messages are the same:

• “I’m in control!”

• “I hold the power in the relationship!”

• “You have no value to me.”

• “I can hurt you emotionally, verbally, physically.”

• “Do not oppose my authority, I will get my way.”

• “Only my needs are important.”

• “My words and actions are justified.”

The person creating your storm is an abuser and he has specific goals:

• to assert power and control over you

• to destroy your self-confidence and self-worth

• to avoid responsibility and consequences

• to minimize your pain

• to make you think you are crazy

• to create a different version of events

• to shift blame onto you

• to place his needs above yours

• to continue the abuse and/or betrayal

Which storm has devastated you?

• Is it a dust storm of accusations blinding you to the truth of your value?

• Is it sudden lightning strikes of slaps, punches, or kicks causing you to cower in fear?

• Is it an ice storm of unrelenting verbal abuse which has frozen your emotions?

• Is it a storm surge of anxiety and panic caused by rejection and broken trust?

• Is it a cold blizzard of loneliness and despair?

• Or are you in the unsettling calm just before the dark tornado of anger whirls you into confusion and chaos once again?

Devastating physical storms are caused by external forces and survival becomes the primary goal. Your storm of brokenness is caused by damaging internal forces in your life; by the one who promised to love and protect you. Do you wonder if you will survive emotionally?

Statistics are alarming: 1 in 3 women will experience domestic abuse in her lifetime and 1 in 2 women will experience betrayal or divorce. It has been said that it takes years to build trust and seconds to break it. If you have experienced the wounds of abuse or betrayal, you know that to be painfully true. The deepest wounds come from the closest relationships. Abuse and betrayal break the covenant of love, trust, and honor. You are instantly forced to deal with confusion, disrespect, lies, secrets, rejection, fear, loneliness, and shame. Resist hopelessness; there is always hope in the Lord!

Knowledge is empowering in breaking free from deception and abandoning the lies:

• Abuse is never justified.

• You are never to blame for abuse or betrayal.

• Any form of abuse is inconsistent with the Christian way of life.

• God’s love and promise of hope can heal your wounded heart.

God is the only One who can heal your soul-wounds. He promises rest for your weary soul and strength for your broken heart. “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken (Psalm 62:5-6 New International Version).

There are several steps to begin the rebuilding process. You will learn how to trust in God’s plan for your life, set healthy boundaries, develop and maintain a safety plan, build a support network, manage your stress, grieve your losses, and refocus on God’s faithfulness.

• In Week 1, “Devastated,” you will begin to assess the damage caused by your storm of brokenness.

• In Week 2, “Deceived,” you can allow God’s truth to help you abandon the lies of your abuser.

• In Week 3, “Distressed,” you can find courage to address your fears.

• In Week 4, “Defined,” you will learn to appropriate God’s promises for your life.

• In Week 5, “Drawn,” you will affirm your worth as a child of God.

• In Week 6, “Determined,” you can accept God’s plan for your future.

• In Week 7, “Derailed,” you will learn how to avoid traps intended to sidetrack you.

• In Week 8, “Devoted,” you will learn how to abide daily in the presence of God, the one who loves you unconditionally and will never fail you.

Rested Soul, Resilient Heart can encourage your wounded heart and increase your faith in God, the only One who loves you unconditionally. You will have the opportunity to receive hope and healing each day. There will be difficult decisions ahead, but Jesus is the true anchor that holds securely in every storm. You can learn to trust him to deliver you safely through your storm and to provide the answers you seek. He can be trusted to heal the pain of your past, keep you safe each day, and guide you in the future. You can confidently place your past, present, and future in God’s capable hands.

Relying on God’s promised faithfulness is the key that unlocks hope in the darkest emotional storms. A journey which began in brokenness can end in renewed trust as God faithfully provides rest for your weary soul and strength for broken heart.