LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP!
The Impact of Sexual Abuse-Both Past and Present
Summary: The amount of sexual abuse in our society has exploded over the last 50 years. The number of cases will never be known, but some think that sexual abuse has happened in some form to as many as 1 out of every 2 individuals. Some even believe it is as much as 2 in 3. Many of these go unreported, but the damage often has a lifelong impact.
Sexual abuse leaves a trail of destruction in the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual lives of those who have suffered it. One fine Christian lady admitted that her father’s obsession with pornography. His constant comparison of her to these other woman created a general feeling of mistrust of all men. It has severely impacted her marriage and even her children—most of whom are boys.
Most sexual predators admit to having been sexually molested themselves while children. Their emotional and spiritual damage allowed unholy desires and thoughts to dominate their lives. Eventually those thoughts led to unscrupulous actions in their adult life perpetuated upon other children—even their own. This becomes a vicious cycle as these victimized children grow up with the same emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental damages.
The Scriptures warn about the unnatural sexual urges and fears that often accompany spiritually and emotionally damaged individuals. Reading Romans 1:21-32 gives us vivid examples of this. Sexual abuse is traumatizing. Trauma will change behavioral patterns even to the point of adopting perverse behavior in an effort to cope.
Here are some common signs to look for in the sexually abused—even adults:
1. Relationship dysfunction and fears. Sexual abuse has severe impacts on relationships. Many pastors and counselors find that adult marriage problems have their roots in childhood abuse—often sexual abuse.
2. Unhealed emotional wounds. An unhealed emotional wound is like a cut or abrasion that has gotten infected. As long as the infection remains, there will be no healing. Many adults suffer from this as a result of sexual abuse during their childhood. It has never healed because it has never been properly dealt with.
3. Stunted emotional growth. When a child is traumatized in anyway—and abuse is easily categorized as such—they stop maturing emotionally. Trauma also produces fears. When one of these fears is touched upon, the adult will revert to the same emotional maturity that he or she once possessed when originally traumatized. Their reactions, actions, and words all resemble that of a child.
4. Extremism. When a person suffers trauma, sexually, physically, verbally, or emotionally, they have an almost instinctual reaction to flee to its polar opposite. For example, a parent who was physically abused by his or her parents often refuses to even discipline his or her own children—and ends up spoiling them. Some women victims of sexual abuse have turned to lesbianism since it was men who traumatized them sexually.
5. General mistrust and fear. When a person’s trust is shattered, it takes a long time to repair it. When a person’s trust in an entire gender group is shattered, it can take a lifetime to repair. Comments like, “All men are…” or “Women always…” are signs of general mistrust and fear—possibly a result of sexual abuse.
6. Sexual perversions. Many sexual perversions are a direct result of childhood sexual abuse.
No one must live under the curse of sexual abuse. There is healing in Christ. James 5:16 tells us to confess our faults one to another and then to pray for each other to facilitate healing. One of the keys to healing from sexual abuse is talking about it with someone who can help you heal. No one has to live in fear.
2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
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