Interacting with an abuser by its very definition suggests abuse is being entered into and the abused is being victimized.
Prayer is communion with God. There are four types of prayer that are recorded in the Bible: supplication, intercession, prayer (i.e. communion) and thanksgiving.
- Supplication is making a personal request
- Intercession is making a request on behalf of another person
- Prayer is communion with God, which means experiencing His presence
- Thanksgiving is the gratitude a worshiper expresses after having had a request meet or from experience the uplifting presence of the Holy One.
The word “feel” is critical in understanding what you are saying. For to feel something does not mean one has to feel the physical pain of being struck by a blow or an object. A person could feel unwanted or unloved or disappointed or grieved without any physical evidence of having been struck by anyone, or anything.
Verbal and emotional abuse are often perpetrated by cruel individuals who, if not adults, are older (siblings, relatives, acquaintances) and capable of intimidating younger and weaker children. Evidence of this is found in the vindictive and hateful language used to belittle smaller children that is common among preschool (kindergarten) attendees. When at home or at some property, where a younger child, if not the youngest, is locked in a room alone, this amounts to abuse; so is the silent treatment; not to mention running away and leaving a fragile youngster in foreign surroundings, afraid and crying—like in the forest, wilderness, desert or a scary neighborhood just on dark.
In such circumstances, any child who cries out to God, I am sure will be heard. Many times in my own life, as a youngster, I have called upon the Lord God to help me, even though I did not know Him.
When circumstances are such that the only hope a person has of not being beaten up is divine intervention, then those who really expect help, receive the help they need.
In the book of Acts, we are informed that we need to “feel” after God in the hope that we might find Him. Some translations use the word “grope” instead of feel.
- that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us,(Acts 17:27 - Revised Standard Version)
- that they should seek God— if perhaps indeed they might grope-for Him and find Him, though indeed He being not far from each one of us. (Acts 17:27 - Disciples’ Literal New Testament)
Any child, who does not sense that God is protecting him or her in any situation, is not going to be feeling anything other than internalized pain of fear and having been bruised, if beaten, bashed or slammed into hard objects. Although, much depends on the age and how cognitively perceptive the child is at the time.
- Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Luke 18:15-17 )
As for myself, I had two uncles who abused me verbally and physically (not sexually) whom I hated, literally. When I was older, I was going to avenge myself. Surprisingly, when the time came for me to settle scores, the feeling of hatred left, along with the desire to harm either of them. What was more astonishing at the time: I had not yet become a Christian.
However, when you are talking about yourself, then only you can answer the question of whether you felt you could interact with your abuser and still feel like God was protecting you. The situation is one of personal testimony only, I believe.
Experience is our teacher. Whether we learn from experience is another matter.
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