Recovering from Rape

[Emily Klotz]

Reader Question: I am a victim of rape and know I dont see hope of living anymore. Please Help me face life again

I too was a victim of a violent attack and rape--but Jesus healed me so that I am more free today than even before it happened! He will always turn the enemy’s plans for good if you ask him to. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Also, Genesis 50:20 says, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so that I could save the lives of many people.”

So please don’t despair! It’s absolutely the devil’s plan to use a traumatic experience like a rape to try to destroy your life. Like Jesus said in John 10:l0, “The thief [devil] comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; but I [Jesus] have come to give you life more abundantly.” What an awesome promise you can stand on--abundant life instead of destruction!

One practical thing Jesus helped me to do, that brought much healing to me, is I forgave the man who raped me. I didn’t want to, but I asked God to help me forgive, then I spoke it out loud, ‘I choose to forgive [name] for the terrible things he did to me--and I ask you Lord to bring him to repentance before You.”

I received a lot of peace and a great deal of healing from that simple prayer. I still had to deal with things like anger at times, and unforgiveness tried to creep back in, but I continued to stand on Romans 8:28 (see above) and watched God turn this horrible event around and bring good out if it! I don’t have enough time and space here to tell you all the amazing things God did and how Jesus turned the devil’s plans for destruction into abundant life for many people.

So be encouraged, because God will do the same for you. I would encourage you to find scriptures you can speak to yourself every day that lift you up. There is “life and death in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21), so be sure to speak words of life over yourself. Like Isaiah 61:3, “To all who mourn in Israel, he [Jesus] will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.” Jesus came to set you free from your pain!

Also Isaiah 43:2-3, which is a very precious promise: “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” The Lord is on your side and will never abandon you in your time of need! This reminds me of Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.”

I also encourage you to ask God to help you forgive the person who hurt you so that you can heal. Then choose to forgive, so that instead of destruction and depression in your life, you can have peace and freedom!

Hopefully this helps you. Jesus wants you healed and whole! If you have any other specific need or question, please feel free to respond or ask another question.