“Abuse” is a word that is used with many meanings and can be based on emotion. The bible defines the sin of abuse and we can trust Scripture to be absolute Truth and find help and hope for responding to the sinful heart, words, and actions of an abuser. We also learn how to respond to a sufferer by rightly defining abuse biblically.

The book of Psalms expresses the hurt and shame of suffering. A counselee who has suffered at the hand of others needs to see that the Bible addresses abuse.

Suffering impacts the way we think so learning to think rightly about God, self, and others is key to responding biblically to abuse.

Abuse does not define a person a worth or value. A believer’s identity is in Christ and what Christ has done through His life, death, and resurrection for us.

God uses suffering in His purpose to transform us into the image of His Son. We must develop a biblical view of suffering to respond to it well.

Shame is the feeling that you are exposed, vulnerable, and that something is wrong with you. Sufferers of abuse and oppression need to understand that Christ nailed shame to the cross and sets us free from it.