We Must Give Account To God, Not Man

Many times people, especially Christians, will, out of fear, allow themselves over many years to be emotionally and/or physically abused by their mate or family members. The fear is this: the person is afraid that if he/she stands up against the abuse and says "no more — unless you seek help and change," or if he/she sets up boundaries to prevent further abuse and his/her own self-destruction, then he/she will be looked upon with disfavour by God, the church, and other Christians, and will be considered selfish and dishonouring. This leads the person to reason that it is God's will for him/her to continue in his/her emotional suffering under the words and hands of his/her abuser. But this is a deceptive lie of the devil! Not dealing with the abuse prevents both parties from going forward in their spiritual growth and journey, and causes them to be trapped in evilness.

Unfortunately, when a person does take action to protect themselves from further abuse, it is often the case that the abusive person will take revenge by spreading manipulative lies about the person he/she is abusing to make him/herself look the victim and the victim the victimizer. This is very sad because it shows that the abuser will most likely never change, and that, if he/she ever confessed to being a Christian, then his/her Christian faith was never genuine or deep-rooted.

When a situation like this occurs, we must saturate ourselves in the truths of God's Word. God knows the truth, and nothing is hidden from Him. It is God to whom we must give account, not man.

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.

 Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him

 to whom we must give account."

Hebrew 4:13 (NIV)

Don't allow an abuser to continue to abuse you. Ignore the negative remarks of others who have been poisoned by the abuser's manipulative lies. Go forward, knowing that God stands protectively beside you. God is pleased when we allow Him complete control over our lives, thus stopping the control that the abusive person once had over our lives.

If an abusive person will not change his/her ways and repent, give him/her over to God in prayer, and don't allow Satan to riddle you with guilt or unforgiveness, or you will fall into another of Satan's traps.

"Be strong in the Lord

and in His mighty power.

Put on all of God's armour

so that you will be able to stand firm

against all strategies of the devil."

Ephesians 6:10-11 (NLT)