Connection Magazine, The Premier Good News Publication www.connectionmagazine.org

God Feels Your Private Pain
by Danita Harris

This month's column is dedicated to all of my brothers and sisters who have suffered some type of abuse. Maybe you're currently in an abusive relationship. Webster's Dictionary uses these words to define abuse, a "corrupt practice", "coarse and insulting", "mistreatment". You can be abused physically, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. And even though abuse is a terrible thing for anyone to have to go through, I want you to know that there is hope, healing and newness through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

I know that a lot of you want to keep it a secret because you're afraid. But my sisters and brothers, you don't have to live in fear. God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Your heavenly father doesn't want you to feel like you have to hide "it" from Him.

Psalms139:7-10 "Where could I go to escape from you? Where could I get away

from your presence? If I went up to heaven, you would be there; if I lay down in the world of the dead, you would be there. If I flew away beyond the east or lived in the farthest place in the west, you would be there to lead me."

Let God lead you out of this wilderness. You don't have to figure it out all by yourself. You don't have to keep pretending. It's time for you to be set free.

I wrote this poem for all of you who feel trapped inside. For those of you who have been hiding and running for so long, that you're afraid to stand still and let God love you.

You've been walking around grinning and cheesing.
It's your routine, you have a personality that's pleasing,
But you've got a secret, a secret you're afraid to tell.
It's a secret that torments you, your own personal hell.

The enemy has your mind confused, you don't know what to do.
You're afraid to speak of such a thing, you think it is taboo.
So you live your life from day to day, thinking it will disappear,
But you know in your spirit, your spirit I say, that God is calling you near.

You don't heed the call, you're not ready to deal.
You continue your routine, Oh you're not keeping it real.
If Jesus is your Lord and you believe in God's word,
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, haven't you heard?

You see the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy.
By not talking to God about your secret, you've fallen for the enemy's ploy.

God sees through the forced grins and smiles.
He made you, He knows you
You are His child.

So stop holding it in and open up to the Lord and share.
He'll never leave you or abuse you
He's your Heavenly father and He cares.

No need to wonder and ask what should you do.
God's arms are open wide
His love is there
And He's waiting for you.

Danita Harris is an anchor at WEWS News Channel Five and can be seen daily on Good Morning Cleveland and News Channel Five at Noon. She loves to write poetry, sing, and volunteer with The Girls Club of Ohio. Danita loves to encourage people in the Lord, and prays everyday that people would see the light of the Lord in her life.

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