Domestic Abuse: A Spirit of Violence Replaced with Love

Have you or someone that you know been a victim of domestic violence? Unfortunately, the answer to this question for many people is yes.  How can we put an end to this?

Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior in a relationship that is used to gain control or power over an intimate partner. It can be physical, sexual, economical, emotional etc. used to frighten, intimidate, injure, terrorize, humiliate, the person. Usually it escalates in frequency or severity. It can happen in the form of name calling, slapping, pinching, pulling hair, kicking, damaging property, driving recklessly, threatening with weapons, preventing you from calling the police or others for help, forcing sexual favors, biting, withholding finances, stalking, and the list goes on. No one deserves such treatment. You don’t have to tolerate such behavior – love does not behave in that manner.

If you have been abused,  you may feel fearful or ashamed.  I encourage you to communicate with a trusted individual and inform her/him of the situation especially if the abuser tries to separate you from family and friends.. Also there are many, many programs available that provide services and safety to victims. Some of them offer services such as counseling, financial aid, shelter, and transportation..

If you don’t see or have a way to leave your situation, seek assistance in finding ways to protect yourself from the abuse.  Keep in mind, abusers tend to escalate the controlling actions if they know you have decided to leave.Consider having a plan for the following:

• What emergency steps will you take when an offense occurs? 
• Will you continue to live or deal with the abuser? 
• How will you protect yourself if you leave? 

If you have the opportunity to help a victim of abuse, please listen without judgment, let them know that they are not alone.   Provide them with resource information to get help.  Remember, you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), loved by God (John 3:16), and should not be abused.  

If you realize that you are the abuser, please seek help through counseling, a hotline service for domestic violence, or other resources. You can also ask your creator, God, to replace your abusive spirit with love.  Ezekiel 36:26-32 states that God can give you a new heart and place a new spirit in you. If those verses are applied, domestic violence would become a thing of the past. It is not acceptable.