^“16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
    he drew me out of deep waters.
¹⁷ He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
    from my foes, who were too strong for me.
¹⁸ They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
    but the Lord was my support.
¹⁹ He brought me out into a spacious place;
    he rescued me because he delighted in me.”
Psalm 18:18-19

Our society tells us to victimize ourselves. Everything that happens to you is someone else’s fault. You don’t contribute to the problem at all- it’s all on another person.

Sometimes this is true- especially in cases of abuse, neglect or general mistreatment. 

But even when it not you and something is done to you- you don’t have to live under the label of “victim” forever.

The past couple of weeks I have found myself stepping out of “victim” and into “victor” only to find out that in Christ I have always been a victor- but I was living below my privilege. 

I have never been a hopeless or abandoned, yet in the midst of the storm it sure felt like it. 

Sometimes when we are mistreated or rejected by those that are supposed to love us the most, or anyone really, it leaves us feeling completely useless. To life. To ourselves. To others. To God. 

But beloved, you are so much more than what happened to you and what you have done. 

Forgive your oppressors and live in freedom. 

Confess your sins and ask forgiveness if needed.

I can’t say that there was one day I just woke up and said “You know I’m tired of being the victim.” It has been a process.

Truth is living in victimization and unforgiveness is hard work and leaves you unhappy, unsatisfied and unable to move on.

Family. Friends. Therapy. Prayer. Spending time with Jesus. Many break-downs. Driving dirt roads. Going to the creek. My student’s smiles. Finding a church family. Growing plants in my house. Lots of laughs.

Even the little things help. 

But I choose to walk out of my victimization of annulment of a marriage and mental illness. God will use these things, but they don’t have to define who I am. I will admit them; I will talk about them, but they don’t have to be the bulk of my focus.

I don’t have to live in constant fear and shame. I am more than rejection and fear- and so are you. 

You will be changed. You can’t expect it not to affect you. You will have days when you cave. You will have moments when it comes out.

 I still struggle with men, trust and self-image. 

But beautiful, don’t stay there.

You will rise. God will rescue you. He will use your story for something and for someone. 

You are loved. 
You are valuable.
You are useful.