Though we are wounded we can let hope rise
We all love a good story with a happy ending, but is that just in fairy tales?
God uses our past, no matter how difficult, to equip us to serve. Sometimes, we may struggle to see this part of His plan. But there is always hope.
Finding Hope in the Wilderness
Psalm 63 captures David’s longing for hope, peace, security, and God’s presence while he was in the wilderness.
If we are in the wilderness, how are we supposed to turn off the noise of past trauma, broken relationships, and the darkness leaving us thirsty in a dry and weary land as David described?
Jenna Lynne has a 32-year healing journey from an abortion.
“Once I chose to accept His forgiveness, grace, and mercy—to fully love Him, He started to direct my path in ways He could use my bad choices to help others see Him,” she told Pregnancy Help New.
“Only stories with God at the center have happy endings. I’m so grateful for the story He is writing in my life and on my journey.”
It is tempting to be complacent and assume the role of victim, but we have a God-given choice. We get to choose our attitude and focus every day.
By being complacent, we can turn pain into an idol without knowing it, and allowing pain to be our master will keep hope, joy, peace, and the knowledge of God’s presence out of reach.
The Wilderness Takes Many Forms
The wilderness apart from God can take different forms: the loss of a loved one, betrayal, addiction, illness, or any disappointment or challenge in life.
Abortion can certainly thrust one into this wilderness. Regret and shame are often ugly companions as one navigates through.
Pain is a common facet of post-abortion regret.
As Cindy has testified about her past abortions, abortion can bring grief, shame, regret, and isolation. Many women go years, even decades, without seeking help or finding relief, struggling in the wilderness. But Cindy has gone on to healing and testifying about her experience to help others.
Choosing to Let Hope Rise
Author and abortion healing advocate Jane Abbate points out that numbness is a common response to trauma. We can choose to stay with this response or reject pain as our master and cry out to God as David did in Psalm 6.
Choosing to believe that God can redeem our past is the first step on the path toward turning what the enemy intended for harm into what will strengthen and benefit us.
There is a saying: “God wastes nothing.” God can use our deepest hurt to build into us and eventually others whom we will encourage through our testimony, bringing generational healing and transformation.
Stories of Redemption
“I had my abortion when I was 19 years old and thought the world was about to open up for me and nothing bad would ever happen,” April (a pseudonym) told Pregnancy Help News
April looks back now 30 years later and regards her younger self as unwise, realizing she tended to be her own ‘god’, and a terrible one at that.
“I am ready for God to use me and my story in whatever way He sees fit,” April said. “I’m finally beginning to see that we can trust Him.”
Pro-life advocate Toni McFadden testifies how God redeemed the hurt and pain of abortion into a beautiful family, a ministry, and a life built on faith and love. God has wasted nothing of her past as she surrendered it all to Him.
“Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:)
Walking in Healing and Restoration
Christ Jesus did this for us. We can remain the servant of brokenness and pain or receive God’s offer of salvation.
Once we receive Christ and follow Him, the process of renewing our mind—which Paul writes about in Romans 12, is a daily choice. We are not promised an easy life but instead healing and restoration as we walk with Jesus.
As John the Baptist stated of Jesus:
“He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:3)
Hope Rises From Surrender
If life feels like a wilderness right now, don’t lose heart. God knows your name, He is at work in your life—just turn to Him and let Him heal your wounds.
This is the ground from which hope rises!
This article was originally written by Kim Hayes and first published on Pregnancy Help News.
Kim Hayes is a writer for Pregnancy Help News. She has been a teacher, author, speaker and facilitator for
marriage and family issues and married for over 40 years to Jeff, with four grown children. Kim’s counseling
experience included 21 years as a volunteer consultant and trainer at Pregnancy Decision Health Centers.