Providing Comfort for Victims of Abuse - WHY IS COMFORT NEEDED?

 For some adults who suffered childhood abuse, comfort may still be needed even thought many years have passed. Why? In order to understand, we must first realize that children are very different from adults.  A child is often affected in ways that are quite different from the ways that an adult might be affected by mistreatment. Consider some examples.

Children need to form close, trusting bonds with those who raised them and care for them.  Such bonds make children feel secure and teach them to trust others who love them. (Psalms 22:9)  Sadly, abuse most often occurs in the home, and close family members and family friends are common perpetrators.  Breaking  child's trust in this way can make it hard for that child to trust others, even year later. 

Children are vulnerable, and sexual abuse is cruel and harmful. Subjecting children to sexual acts many years before are physically, emotionally, or mentally ready for sex within marriage can do great harm. Abuse can badly distort their view of sex, of themselves, or of anyone who sees to be close to them. 

Children are not fully developed in their ability to think, to reason, or to recognize and avoid danger. (1 Corinthians 13:11) So it is all too  easy for devious abusers to deceive children. Abusers teach children dangerous lies, such as the idea that the child is to blame, the the abuse must be kept secret, that no one will listen or care  if the child reports the abuse, or that sexual acts between an adult and a  child are actually normal expression of sincere love. Such lies can distort a child's thinking ability and perception of truth for many years. Such a child may grow up thinking of herself or himself damaged, defiled, and unworthy of love or comfort.

It is not surprising, then, that sexual abuse can cause lasting harm. How evil this crime is!  Such widespread abuse is clear evidence that we are living in the last days, a time when many have "no natural affection" and when "wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse." (2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13) Satan's designs are truly evil, and it is sad when humans act in a way that pleases the Devil. However, Jehovah is far stronger  than Satan or his servants.  He is never blind to Satan's tactics.  We can be sure that Jehovah  is fully aware of the pain we experience, and he can provide the comfort we need. We are blessed to serve "the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our trials so that we may be able to comfort others  in sort of trial with the comfort that we receive from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3. 4)  Whom, though, does Jehovah use to offer comfort?

Next time: Providing Comfort for Victims of Abuse - WHO CAN PROVIDE COMFORT?

From the jw.org publications