They may be afraid to ask for help. They may have been told God wants them to stay. They may believe this is all God has for them and their children.
One of the women I walked through domestic violence wrote this after feeling abandoned by her church for not returning to her husband. She writes to her husband,
To the Abuser:
Why did we leave? Most of the time you are a “normal” guy. There are even times we have a lot of fun and laugh. So it isn’t because you are awful all the time. You are not always that monster. Maybe 10% of the time you are an abuser. And at first look that doesn’t seem like a lot. And for awhile I was even wondering if I could live with the 10%. Should I throw away the 90% for the 10? Did the 10% justify leaving??? But then I realized that after the 10% was over for you, the tears and the blood were not dry yet. The painful words are still lingering. We were still in fear. In fear of the next time, wondering when and what would set off the next barrage. And I realized that your 10% became our 100%. And that is enough to leave over.
I cry when I read this.
I cry because it’s so real.
It’s terrifying.
It’s demonic.
And it’s not at all what God desires for his daughters.
He never intended us to live in a prison cell of fear.
Because He’s GOOD.
Sweet sisters, God is GOOD. SO SO GOOD. He’s such a good Father. Would any good father regulate his children into living like this? Afraid of being hit. Afraid of watching your kids be hit, be locked outside at night or threatened with knives and other weapons if they ever tried to leave?
NO.
He wouldn’t.
He doesn’t.
He protects. He guards. He heals. He loves. He provides rest. He provides safety.
Because He’s GOOD.
This is an outcry to challenge the church to walk like Jesus. Just read the gospels. Watch Jesus’ character. What do you believe he would tell an abused, beat up woman seeking safety from her abusive husband?
I will say it again.
He’s a GOOD FATHER.
AN AWESOME FATHER.
He hit me