I started coming to Selah last year. I had been in a very destructive relationship for over 18 years. It was so bad that twice I needed to leave my home for safety reasons. After seeking help from both a domestic violence shelter and a counselor, I ended up being referred to Selah. Selah educated me and empowered me with knowledge, and I finally realized I was in an abusive relationship with no end in sight. It didn’t matter what I did, I would continue this unhealthy destructive cycle.
Through the classes, I learned that there was a lot of manipulation, isolation, and power and control that I never saw before. I learned that no one deserves to be mistreated or to feel less than. I learned that God didn’t want me to endure the devaluing behavior that broke my spirit and that the destructive behavior was also deeply hurting my children.
The support I found through the other women made a world of difference to me. I can’t express enough the positive impact they’ve made in my life for me to see my worth and value. I started living in TRUTH and felt HOPE I never felt before. I realized that I was loved and that God didn’t want me to feel broken or live that way any longer. Selah truly opened my eyes to what was really happening and that I wasn’t alone.
If you or anyone you know is in this type of relationship, please help them get the support they need.
It’s important to realize that abuse is not a marriage problem. It is a behavior problem within the abuser, and you cannot fix that. The only person that can fix it is Jesus. It took a lot in me to come to that conclusion and Selah really helped me with that. I believe God wants us to know our worth in Him and to listen and trust His voice and not others that are putting you down.
If you are in this kind of relationship, I want you to know that there is hope. No one deserves to be treated this way. You are a child of God, and He does not condone abuse in any form. If you or anyone you know is in this type of relationship, please help them get the support they need.
—Selah Participant