While working in a counseling and prayer call center, I received a call from “Margie.” She described how she was sexually abused as a child, promiscuous as a teenager, and made some poor relationship decisions as an adult. She struggled with guilt, shame, and insecurity for most of her life, and wanted to know how God saw her. Even though she was a follower of Christ, because of her past, she never felt wholly accepted by God.

I described how her unaddressed childhood sexual abuse affected her actions during adolescence and adulthood, and there was hope for healing from her past. By God’s grace and mercy, He viewed her through the lens of her identity in Christ. Not only was she accepted by Him, but she was also forgiven, loved, and redeemed. As we discussed her identity in Christ in more detail, the burden of guilt and shame she carried her entire life lifted. I closed by praying for her, but before ending the call, she said, “Morris, I’m 62 years old and you’re the first person that I’ve told about the sexual abuse.” Yes, 62 years!

Margie represents a vast number of victims whose abuse has never been addressed. I have since spoken with or counseled many women and men who were sexually abused during childhood. Some received therapy; most have not. They are ordinary people who have consciously or unconsciously developed coping strategies to deal with abuse that affected the quality and direction of their lives. This may be you, or you may know someone.

This blog series will feature excerpts from a yet-to-be-named book that my co-author, Sherilyn Neudauer, and I are currently writing. It will be a Biblically based companion resource to the novels, Shelley’s Story and Shelley’s Petals, to address issues resulting from abuse. You may be in Margie’s position or, like I was, having a shepherd’s heart but feeling ill-equipped to help victims of abuse. Our hope and prayer are that you will be strengthened and encouraged by finding the hope and healing that God offers and be better equipped to help others.