Jennifer Rankins Unlimited
Category:
Romance
Publisher: Author House
ISBN-10: 1414043740
Type: Fiction
Pages: 480
"Love does not hurt"
There is psychological abuse, where the batterer threatens and harasses the victim, and when the abuser undermines the victim’s self-worth through constant criticism or embarrassment. Emotional/Mental/Verbal abuse is running someone or self, put downs, manipulating, no trust or honesty, blaming the abused victim for causing a problem, isolation from friends and family, questioning the victim about their whereabouts. Physical abuse is grabbing, hitting, pushing, blocking doors, hitting tings or throwing things, and threatening with a weapon – or even a fist. Sexual abuse is rape, statutory rape, and rape by intoxication, where unwanted sexual contact is forced on the victim, intimidating someone into having sex when they really don’t want to, and pressure to have sex is also sexual abuse. Financial and Economic abuse is controlling all the money, all the possessions, then buying lots of gifts to make up for the abuse, where the perpetrator has control over the finances and uses that control to harass their victim.
Of course, out of all abused victims, child abuse or adult physical abuse, whether sexually or physically, has the most obvious symptoms and receives the most media attention. Studies have proven that the three emotions usually quick to arise when a woman lives in a constant violent relationship are: fear, loneliness, and despair. In many ways, a broken and shattered heart is like a broken spirit, in which she may lose her will to live, to love, or to ever trust again in any type of relationship, but especially one that involves intimacy.
Because sexuality is an integral part of our lives, for many it forms the basis for self-identification and our self-worth, and for others it is still a mystery as to why in Genesis 3:16 God said unto the woman, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; and in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Sex is advertised all across television networks and the entertainment world. It is as popular as selling a car, yet to discuss sexuality in any intimate detail still remains taboo. But we cannot afford to ignore it. To do so would be lethal.
This book was necessary to write because of the need to talk about how the cycle of violence can trap the victim like a spider web and hold them hostage to more types of abuse. Jesus specifically addressed the underlying nature of the broken and shattered heart of a woman on several occasions. He dealt with fear, rejection, feelings of isolation, and despair. In John 4: 16 Jesus addressed the Samaritan woman at the well. During their conversation, Jesus shared His knowledge of her past history (five husbands and a live in boyfriend) and offers her the water of everlasting life instead. Amazed yet hesitant, the Samaritan woman speaks of her own carnal beliefs, yet she spoke of her knowledge of the coming of the Messiah. She obviously had done her homework. She was not ashamed as she stood before Jesus. Let us be mindful that Jesus never condemned or accused her, as the enemy would; but rather, He merely stated facts that confirmed His deity towards her. He met her where she was and spoke in a way that only she could comprehend. She would have been no value to Him had she straddled the fence. However, her challenges towards Him reflected a woman who was not easily swayed and who stood firmly upon a foundation that she believed in – right or wrong. In short, she was a committed woman, loyal, and dedicated about what she believed in – a woman married five times and living with man number six obviously has great persuasive power. Jesus knew exactly whom to entrust with His true word.
Excerpt
Leslie Peyton had survived her childhood. But as an adult, she struggled to survive the incest and abuse that ruled her youth. She prayed hard, but God, evidently, did not hear her because the abuse just kept happening. Where was God anyway? As she became an adult woman, friends gave her a stack of books that proclaimed that God was in control of all things, as one who answers all prayers, as one who leads all faithful people. She sorted through those phrases, such as, God is the Creator of all things, a planner, and a controller, who dispenses help to prayer-earned people who serve him.
Now, in addition to the memories of childhood incest, Leslie must face the cruel implication that, perhaps, God was in control of those nighttime visits. That God did choose to ignore her cries, because she didn’t earn his help. That she must have been insufficiently faithful for God to have allowed these things to happen to her.
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