Abuse

Like a wound that bleeds without ceasing, the effects of abuse can be ever present. The psychological marks of abuse, whether emotional, physical, sexual, or spiritual, can persist and shape people for a lifetime.

God is always ready to lift up and sustain us. Nonetheless, God also uses our fellow humans to help us heal and overcome. Abuse must be reported and ended. If you are experiencing abuse, it is critical to get yourself out of that situation and report it to the appropriate authorities. If you are aware of abuse being perpetrated on someone else, it is vital that you do everything you can to aid the person being abused, including reporting what you know. It is easy to find reasons not to report abuse, such as fear of ruining someone’s reputation or harming God’s work. Speak out anyway. Stopping the abuse today may save countless additional people from being abused.

If you have been abused, seek counseling and, if necessary, medical help. Such assistance will help you put the pieces of your life back together. Keep in mind that if you have been abused by an authority figure, you may have difficulty relating to other people in a similar role, such as physicians or pastors. Recovery will not be an easy journey, but it is an essential one to help free you from what you’ve experienced.

For a deeper understanding of the issue involved, we suggest people go to the following link: https://www.adventist.org/en/information/official-statements/statements/article/go/-/statement-on-abuse-and-family-violence/