It is important for survivors to address the issue of forgiving (and please email, admin@SilenceBrokenNow.org, if you’d like a free copy of our booklet on forgiveness). But it is also important for survivors to lament and grieve; that’s an important part of the healing process which is often overlooked.

Yes, when we were children our enemies did awful things to us (I’m a survivor too), things that should never have happened. So you can encourage us to name those things—even if only in prayer, or saying what happened out loud when no one is around, if we’re not ready to tell someone else.

Please never press or urge a survivor for details of their abuse, and never push them for public disclosure. Some people take a long time to get to that point, some never disclose publicly, and that’s all right. But we can all privately lament and grieve the loss of innocence, relationship, safety, security. All of that is important for healing.

After that, gently encourage survivors—and all other believers—to look to the Lord so that we can move on. We don’t have to stay stuck; we don’t have to keep thinking about our enemies. Let’s listen for God’s response in our hearts and work to do our part. Let’s be confident, based on Scripture, that God is present and lovingly active in our lives.

Photo by Ioann-Mark Kuznietsov on Unsplash