From YA Weekly
Healed by Christ after Assault
The author lives in South Africa.
I found healing and peace through Jesus Christ in the wake of sexual assault.
Consider the Lilies, by Eva Koleva Timothy
From the moment the inspiration to serve a full-time mission ignited within me, I felt a deep sense of urgency to begin preparing. I trusted that God had a precise and purposeful plan for me. I started my mission papers and completed all the necessary paperwork within just one month.
As I waited to complete the final preparations, I faced challenges that tested my faith. But those challenges were nothing compared to what I was about to face.
Seeking Solace in Christ
During this time, I experienced sexual assault. In the wake of the assault, I struggled to determine what my future would look like.
I had a new question: Why did I have to endure such a traumatic event, especially while I was trying to do the Lord’s work?
My life was engulfed in uncertainty, fear, and doubt. I believed that I was beyond repair. I couldn’t see how I would ever recover from such a devastating experience. I felt deeply isolated and filled with despair.
I worried that the experience had made me unworthy, so I reached out to my stake president for guidance. He suggested that I seek solace in Jesus Christ’s healing Atonement. He emphasized that Christ was the ultimate source of healing and peace and encouraged me to read the Book of Mormon.
I continued to grapple with confusion and doubt. My mind was clouded, and I didn’t know what to do. My stake president counseled me to put my mission papers on hold while I sought professional help from a psychologist. The coping mechanisms they taught me, along with support from friends, helped me in my healing process. But I especially found solace in the temple.
Healing the Unhealable
During this period of intense pain, I also turned to God in prayer for healing, strength, and peace. As I immersed myself in the Book of Mormon, I started to experience a profound sense of calm. The healing power of Jesus Christ became especially meaningful to me. I came to the realization that what I had gone through was not my fault, and I felt comforted knowing that God was aware of my struggles and “will fight [my] battles” (Doctrine and Covenants 105:14). This understanding brought me the reassurance and clarity I sought.
Jesus Christ took upon Himself “the pains and the sicknesses of his people … that his bowels may be filled with mercy” (Alma 7:11–12). Christ possesses an intimate understanding of the past traumas we have endured and offers us solace and tranquility. He also enables us to forgive, even if it takes a very long time to do so.
As I’ve worked through my pain with both professional and spiritual help, I’ve gained peace. I recently received my temple endowment and my mission call, all thanks to the power of Jesus Christ.
Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “Jesus specializes in the seemingly impossible. He came here to make the impossible possible, the irredeemable redeemable, to heal the unhealable, to right the unrightable, to promise the unpromisable. And He’s really good at it. In fact, He’s perfect at it.”
The truths of the Atonement of Jesus Christ became a reality to me as He made what I thought was impossible in my life possible. He healed my fears, doubts, and confusion, and miraculously, He healed me.
If you have experienced trauma or abuse, remember that you are loved! You are worthy of love and healing. Please be patient with yourself; healing doesn’t adhere to a strict timeline. And do not suffer alone! It’s crucial to find supportive individuals whom you can confide in—it truly makes a difference.
And most importantly, turn to Christ. He will rescue you.