Are you willing to talk about the abuse? How old were you when it occurred? How long did the abuse continue?
If you were a child when the abuse occurred, were there any adults in your life who knew what was going on, and helped you out of the bad situation? Or did they leave you in the situation of abuse? How did that make you feel?
How close was your abuser to you relationally? Was it a friend or family member?
Are you prepared for recovery to be a long journey and that there is no “quick fix?”
Did you know that Jesus died for your sorrows, in addition to dying for your sins? (Isaiah 53:4)
Did you know that Jesus knows all of the sorrows you have lived through? He is your great Comforter.
What is your current relationship with the perpetrator?
What was the severity of the abuse? For how long did the abuse persist?
Are you currently getting help from a wise pastor or counselor?
How can I encourage you and be in prayer for you right now?
Have you been able to tell the story of your abuse to anyone face-to-face yet? It’s important to tell someone about what has happened to you. When you share your story out loud, it doesn’t feel so heavy.
What symptoms are present now? Depression? Sexual dysfunction or addiction? Anorexia or eating disorders?
Have you become cold or numb to the emotional pain?
Do you sometimes feel “dead” inside?
If the abuse was by a parent, have you processed the role of the “non-offending” parent who betrayed you by not intervening?
How has the past abuse affected your current relationships: marriage, parenting, etc.?
