“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?… But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” ~ Romans 8:35, 37-39
“Then one day towards the end of April Zellandine was sitting alone at her window, feeling well again in body and spirit and enjoying the clear sky and abundant green. And she looked at her face in a mirror, and was pleased to see that no one would have guessed she’d borne a child. Youth and health were stirring her, and in her growing excitement she remembered Troylus and longed for him. But when she considered her lost maidenhood, she thought has favour would be lost as well: he would be sure to shun her. Then a different thought struck her: what had happened was a complete secret; Troylus would surely never hear of it!”[1]
I am still amazed at the tenderness with which the author depicts the emotions of a survivor of violence. He captures the moment when the choice to be a survivor is made, and yet shows how that choice is a constant struggle. For as any survivor will tell you, shame and fear and secrecy are hallmarks of the continuous battle.
The Enemy strives to have us define our identities by our circumstances. Like Zellandine, our identities are assaulted in many ways. The harsh words of a loved one, the disdain of peers, the emptiness of being alone…or perhaps you, like Zellandine, are a survivor of violence.
We cannot control our circumstances, but we can control our reactions. We have a choice: to become hard or to become strong. You must not confuse the two.
To be hard is to constantly live in the shadow of your circumstances. No one and nothing can harm you – because no one and nothing can get close. This way seems appealing at first, but you become trapped in a prison of your own making. You are controlled by your Fear and your Terror of being harmed once more.
On the other hand, to be strong is to live in freedom. It’s admitting the pain and suffering, but choosing to stand in Hope. It’s choosing to heed the call of Christ’s Redeeming Love.
I’m not saying it’s easy, but I am saying it’s necessary.
The Enemy wants us to live like victims. He wants us to forget we are conquerors through Christ. He wants us to feel as if we’re separated from the Love of God. Feelings are powerful…but they are not truth.
The truth is nothing can separate us from the love of God. Nothing. There is no addiction, abuse, sin, or terror that is more powerful than the Redeeming Love of Christ Jesus.
In these things, we overwhelmingly conqueror.
Admit the pain. Admit that you were wronged. Then heed the call of Love, dear one. Open your heart once more to Christ. He will not fail you.
Sources
[1] Bryant, Perceforest, p. 409
