Domestic Violence & Abuse

"Getting Out and Moving On" By Lisa Drew

My life consisted of looking for love in all the wrong places. One relationship I had was full of addiction and violence. I was beaten and treated like a dog and I thought I was in love and was also scared at the same time. Finally I got the nerve to leave him and what got me is that I still went back to help him and take him in, just to be treated the same way again. He had cut me, stabbed me, locked me in the house, tried to sell me as a prostitute – black, blue and naked.

Finally I had enough and left him permanently. I got myself an apartment. I kept giving him chances and expecting different results, but guess what… you know it did not happen! So I had to leave him and realized that I also had to forgive him, which took a long time, and I did… but not until after a few more marriages! I have been married three times and divorced twice. One marriage there was no domestic violence, but adultery instead.

The next one, domestic violence and drugs. All still looking to be loved and accepted by someone while never realizing I needed to learn to love myself and see myself how God sees me, fearfully and wonderfully made. I am not going to go into any more detail about the abuse because it was above XXX-rated graphic, but all I kept asking myself was, “What did I do to deserve to be treated like this?” Then I found Impact Ministries and that is where I found Jesus and started a relationship with Him. He started healing all my past pains and hurts and He took it all. Now I am married to a man that started off the same way, but God transformed him and now he is going to church, developing his own relationship with the Father, is clean and loves me for me.

It has been a long road and I would not wish anyone to go through what I did. All I can say is before you start a relationship ask God if that is the one He chose for you, and if you are in an abusive relationship get out and go on with your life. Develop yourself, forgive yourself because it is not your fault and don’t allow your abuser to make you think it is. Allow God to make you whole again. Seek out people that will help you start over, and if you are married please get some counseling.

If it is a marriage that can be worked out, abuse aside, pray together – God can work it out. I found out for myself. What I was looking for was God and He wanted me to have an eternal and abundant life, free from abuse and pain. I also had to realized that He was molding me. Now with all that I have been through in my life and in the areas God has brought me out of, I can now turn and help someone from going through this painful process.

Remember that YOU ARE SOMEBODY, and never forget that… you only fail when you quit trying!

©2013 Lisa Drew – All Rights Reserved.

E-Mail Lisa at Llisadrew@yahoo.com