HOW DOES ONE RECOVER FROM SPIRITUAL ABUSE? This is emotional and abuse of power and spiritual knowl

I know that pain! It has happened to me on more than one occasion in my ministry and walk with Christ. It takes time, prayer, forgiveness, and more forgiveness.

I think the hardest part is the feeling that you lose trust for people. I am assuming the person you are talking about was in some kind of leadership position. When our leaders abuse us its like having a parent beating you. You don't know who to turn to because they ARE the ones you are supposed to be able to turn to!

I think the stronger you become in your own identity in Christ, the quicker you can recover because you know it is their problem, not yours. Remove yourself from their presence and allow God to heal your heart!

I've had several clients who are ex Evangelical Christians who are emotionally scared from their experiences. Any abuse experienced at the hand of a spiritualist, be they a priest or preacher is extremely damaging. Usually a person in spiritual authority is very magnetic and engenders a persona of trust. When the trust element is used as a tool to destroy the spirit of a person, this is extremely difficult to undo. There is the element of feeling deeply loved by that church authority. When you open yourself to trusting a spiritual elder, and this trust is then abused in a gross manner, a person can go into very deep levels of abandonment and betrayal.

Undoing the damage is not a quick process. The abused person needs to be able to reclaim some sense of self respect and in many cases a sense of reality. The client can be confused by what is seen as right and wrong, deep senses of guilt and worthlessness are common.

Trust becomes a major issue for clients and the ability to open to another person is difficult.

First you need to get that person out of your system - everytime you think of this person say - I am grateful for my healing. This changes the focus and sooner than you think you are able to forgive and move on. Do not dwell on the past. Learn from it and be thankful you are not there anymore, you are here!

Get yourself away from 'churches' as fast as you can, for you will never heal whilst you attend.

Then give yourself time and then more time and then more time after that.

Wait on The Lord and then wait on The Lord and wait some more until you are very sure that He is guiding you.

You need the peace that passeth all understanding to fully return to you and then you will heal, but time is the key.

I know, I have been there, worn all the lousy religious t shirts and some.

You are in my prayers.

Trust in others is, effectively, a reflection of trust in self. If you permit someone "passing over you" to be perceived as a "rejection", it will be that. Try simply saying "we simply didn't connect, through no fault of anyone"; and tie that in with a daily count of blessings (affirmations). It is a practice that all have to work at daily, but it's rewards can be boundless-- and you may find yourself feeling better about yourself, projecting that and attracting like minds/spirits to you. It's a basic law of attraction.

We were all born with a beautiful light-- practice letting yours shine, whether it connects with others immediately or not. It will! Stay open to the light of others. It'll help guide you.

Best wishes!

Thank you for your answers. There have been several persons that I have encountered who have experienced this. The hurt is so deep and yes some people remove themselves from organized Churches.

I say that removal from the individual (s) who were the source of the pain, rather than the entire orgaization or Body of Christ as I have seen. I believe that this behaviour is a strategy of the enemy who seeks whom he may devour through isolation from the fold.

Healing the soul wound is a lengthy process for most. The rejection, isolation, shame of being used and abandoned and the feeling that one was not "mature " enough to be more descerning of this kind of Jezebel spirit.

This experience could also be a test of one's trust in Christ as saviour, shepherd etc. It also tests the true position of the heart, how we can move from a posture of love to one of hate.

Constant prayer for ones recovery as well as the recovery of the perpitrators of spiritual abuse is also a healing remedy.There is indeed much to be learned by both parties and much growth and progress in the Christian walk.

God's grace is extended to overcome in this area as well.