Originally published Sunday, 24 October 2021.
One day Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, went to visit some of the young women who lived in the area. But when the local prince, Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, saw Dinah, he seized her and raped her.
Genesis 34:1-2 NLT.
She said I couldn’t write about the trauma I went through
In the Christian book market this subject was taboo
No matter that my true story portrayed God’s amazing grace
Showing other lost rape victims that forgiveness has its place
Her motive may have been to protect another book she repped
Or perhaps it was the torment of a secret that she kept
No matter her true reason, the powerless child in me
Believed her horrid lie, forgot the truth will set us free
Then encouragement from others who suffered a similar fate
Reminded me from truth great healing would emanate
So taboo or not, I must tell my tale of bitterness and woe
And how a dream of forgiveness brought peace I now know
I’ve learned that even Dinah had her story in His Word
To claim such truth is taboo is really quite absurd
The whole of our experience matters to our great God
Sharing our pain that others may heal He surely does applaud
Linda L. Kruschke is the author of My Name Is Beloved, winner of the Unpublished Memoir category of the Oregon Christian Writers Cascade Writing Contest, as well as a self-published author of two poetry books. She is a wife, mother, active member of her church, former Bible Study Fellowship leader, and recovering lawyer. She works as the Director of Legal Publications for the Oregon State Bar. But her real passion is sharing God’s healing grace with others, especially those haunted by sexual trauma and abortion. She struggled with major clinical depression for many years, but through the power of forgiveness has become a fearless follower of Christ, living in the assurance of her salvation and God’s love. She blogs at Another Fearless Year and Broken Believers.
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