Who Jesus Says You Are

The most insidious and damaging identity lie victims of sexual abuse believe is that they are forever stained and disgraced; not just physically but in in the very core of their being and dignity as a woman. “He robbed me of my dignity” is a lie that kills the life of a woman’s soul and blinds her to the unchangeable Truth that she is a precious daughter of God. Our inherent dignity and sacredness as a child of God is our birthright and no one, no impure and violent act against us, can defile our true self. We are Christ’s beloved.

Sexual abuse leaves us bearing the weight of crushing shame – shame that does not belong to us for Christ has said,

“Hear me, all of you, and understand.

Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;

but the things that come out from within are what defile.” (Mark 7:14)

I will always remember the day when, in spiritual direction, Father Michael opened his Bible and read this Scripture to me. I had just told him that I had been sexually abused as a child and believed for 46 years that I was and had been all my life “damaged goods” and, therefore, deserving of the sexual abuse I endured in my marriage. When Father insisted that this was a lie straight from satan, the father of lies, and that Jesus had never seen me as defiled and disgraced, I could not believe it. I looked up at him and said, “Wait. Are you telling me that I am not who I thought I was, that what I have always believed about myself is not true?” He just smiled and said, “That’s exactly what Jesus and I are telling you.” That moment was the beginning of my quest to find healing and truth in Christ, to listen for His quiet, tender voice amid the din of lies in my mind, and to let Him tell me who I am.

Listen and hear the voice of your gentle Savior, “The shame you have been carrying does not belong to you. Will you take off the garment of disgrace and guilt, lay it down at the foot of My Cross, and let Me clothe you in My garment of grace and dignity? I will bestow on you a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. You are My beloved and I am yours.”

If you are a victim of any form of abuse, struggling to hear the voice of your gentle Savior calling you His Beloved, please take a moment to slowly read these words. Perhaps, whisper them aloud and imagine Jesus sitting across from you. You can click the link at the bottom of this post to hear Father Michael Stalla speak Jesus’ message to you.

Jesus’ Message To You
“Beloved child of the Father, I am with you,

I see you… I see your beautiful radiant soul blooming like a pure white rose;

I see your broken yet still beating, still loving heart;

I see your resilient marvelous body;

I see the pain, shame, and fear you carry like a crushing cross and I love you.

You are precious to Me. You are my Beloved.

I desire to heal you, to lift the cross from your shoulders, and to dance with you.

I have seen you always. I know this sin and shame that hold you captive do not belong to you.

And I want you to hear Me say ‘Enough. No more.’

My Beloved, you have suffered long enough under this weight that is not your burden to carry.

If you will only invite Me into your wounds, your aching heart, into your fear and your memories,

I will love you into wholeness and clothe you with My garment of dignity and grace.

I await your coming to me for I will not violate or force.

I am Love… I am only Love… Love is who I am…

and my loving is gentle, patient, and trustworthy.

You are safe here in My Heart.”

My Response
Dear Jesus, Yes. I invite You into all my brokenness, my wounds, my memories. I give You consent to touch me with Your gentle healing hands and help me grow in trust so I might truly believe that I am safe with You.

I desire to hear Your voice of Truth and Love, to hear You call me Your Beloved and to be crowned with beauty. Please, Jesus, take the cloak of shame from me and clothe me with Your grace and dignity.

Thank You, Jesus, for seeking and finding me so that I may be healed and know wholeness and love again.

In Your Most Precious Name, I pray.

Amen.

Know that our Lord weeps with you. He desires to heal you. He delights in you.

We pray with you and for you. You were created by Love, for Love, and you are Loved.

Click here to listen to Father Michael Stalla speak Jesus’ message of healing love to you.

https://vimeo.com/735215446

Please come and join us in Hope’s Garden, our community of Catholic women healing and growing together in Christ’s love. Learn more and download the app here: https://youaremadenew.com/join-our-community/

Copyright 2023, Laura Ercolino