Dear Survivor: God Will Enable You To Believe The Truth

Dear Fellow Survivor,

This is my sixth letter to you. I’ve written you to tell you that you are a child of God. I’ve assured you that Jesus is with you in your struggles. I’ve told you that the abuse you experienced is not your fault. And I’ve reassured you that you’re not alone.

I shared my letters to you with a Christian friend of mine who also has experienced sexual trauma. This was my friend’s response: “I understand what you’re saying. I know it’s supposed to be comforting. But I feel worse because, even though I know what you’re saying is true, I don’t believe it.”

I understand where my friend is coming from. I, too, have struggled to believe what I know is true. I have struggled (and continue to struggle) to believe that my body is “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). I have struggled to believe that I am not alone. I have struggled to believe that the abuse I experienced was not my fault. I have struggled to believe that it’s okay to struggle. I have struggled to believe that I am a child of God. I completely relate to what my friend said: “I know what you’re saying is true, but I don’t believe it.”

You, too, may be saying, “Brother Survivor, I know that what you’re saying is true, but I just can’t believe it.” If that is the case, I’d like to share with you one of my favorite accounts from the Bible. It’s about a man whose son was possessed by a demon. This man brought his son to Jesus, hoping that Jesus would cast out the demon. I’ll let the Gospel writer Mark tell the story from here.

[The boy’s father said to Jesus,] “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”  “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:22-24)

I love what the boy’s father said. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” How many times haven’t I said the same thing! I love even more how Jesus responded. He didn’t rebuke the man for struggling to believe. He encouraged the man. He cast the demon out of his son. He strengthened the man’s faith and enabled him to believe.

Jesus does the same thing for us. When we cry out, “I know this is true, but I just can’t believe it!” Jesus is there, not to rebuke us, but to encourage us. He is there with his promises, which have the power to enable us to believe. Don’t let your struggles to believe discourage you. Instead, look to Jesus. He will enable you to believe the truth. Jesus’s truth will always win out in the end.

In Christ,
Your Brother Survivor