Damaged but Protected

By Gary Roe 

When people find out I was sexually abused as a child, they are shocked. “I’m so sorry that happened to you. Children should be protected,” they often say.

“I was protected,” I respond.

Yes, I was severely abused by people close to me, but I also strongly believe that God protected me. The damage has been severe, but it could have been so much worse.

For example, my desire from childhood has been to make a difference by helping hurting people. I have always been in the helping profession. I believe that was God, turning evil around and into something positive.

My heart and soul were damaged, but not destroyed. In some sense, I was protected against the full onslaught of evil. And now God is working in me to bring more healing, not just to myself but to others as well.

It’s interesting that the more available I am to God to be used in the lives of others, the more healing seems to come my way. Over time, I am able to see even more of God’s protection in my life, and my heart begins to relax a little more.

We were damaged, but not destroyed. Now God wants to bring healing and let us experience his goodness. If I can open up and heal, you can to [too]. We’re in this together.

I was damaged, but not destroyed.

I can heal and experience God’s wonderful goodness.

Originally posted by Cecil Murphey on Shattering the Silence Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Gary Roe

Gary Roe is the award-winning author of multiple books, including Comfort for Grieving Hearts, Teen Grief, Shattered: Surviving the Loss of a Child, and Please Be Patient I’m Grieving. A trusted and compassionate voice in grief recovery, Gary currently serves as a hospice chaplain and grief counselor in central Texas. Known for his engaging style and sense of humor, he is also a popular speaker at a wide variety of venues. Visit him at www.garyroe.com.

This post was adapted from Not Quite Healed, written by Cecil Murphey and Gary Roe

Permission to use: Veteran author Cecil (Cec) Murphey hurt for a long time because of childhood sexual abuse. Now he helps others in pain through his candid interviews, seminars, blog for male survivors (www.menshatteringthesilence.blogspot.com) and his books When a Man You Love Was Abused: A Woman’s Guide to Helping Him Overcome Childhood Sexual Molestation and Not Quite Healed: 40 Truths for Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Another book, More than Surviving, will release in early 2017. (www.cecilmurphey.com)