When You Are Raped, It Is Not Your Fault.
- You did not deserve to be raped.
- It is not your fault. You are not responsible for what happened to you.
- You have the right to be angry, sad, or hurt about what happened to you.
- You have the right to grieve for what happened and for your loss of innocence and safety in your own home or anywhere else you wanted/needed to feel safe in this world (e.g., church). The pain can be overwhelming at times, but it is normal after experiencing something so traumatic. Let those around you know how they can help support you during this difficult time; if they don’t know how they can help then gently tell them that they need learn how best supports others when supporting rape victims because everyone needs someone at some point who cares enough about them that they want better lives without fear of being harmed again by another person(s).
You Are Not Damaged Goods.
The Bible makes clear that you are not damaged goods, ruined, or any less valuable. You have not lost your value by being raped. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and no one has the right to violate it or treat it as something to be used for their pleasure.
You have not damaged the goods because God created you in His image (Genesis 1:27). He loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross so that your sins could be forgiven (Romans 5:8). The Bible also says that God’s love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). This means even if we have been sexually assaulted, we can still trust Him because He will always love us unconditionally—even when we fail or make mistakes in life!
Rape Does Not Happen Because You Were Promiscuous or A “sinner.”
Rape is not a punishment for sin.
Rape is a crime, not an act of passion. Rape is an act of power and control.
The Bible does not say that rape only happens if you are promiscuous or a sinner. This idea comes from man’s interpretation, not God’s word.
You Have the Right to Have Justice Done by The Legal System.
- You have the right to have justice done by the legal system.
The Bible clearly supports your right to this, and nowhere does it suggest that you should keep quiet about your experience. In fact, it makes the opposite point—that you should speak up and tell someone what has happened to you so that there can be justice done in accordance with God’s laws (see Genesis 34).
- The legal system is there to help victims of crime get their lives back on track after experiencing such a traumatic experience. When someone rapes or sexually assaults another person, it causes physical pain as well as emotional trauma. The victim may feel ashamed or guilty for losing control over his or her body during an attack, which can make coping even more difficult without proper support from friends and family members during those first few days after being raped/sexually assaulted; but with help from counselors working for law enforcement agencies throughout America today these days, these feelings don’t have much chance at getting out of hand either because they’re too busy helping rape survivors cope with everything else before things really got bad again!
A Rape Victim Should Be Encouraged to Get Help, in Whatever Way She Feels Comfortable and Safe to Do So.
A rape victim should be encouraged to get help, in whatever way she feels comfortable and safe to do so. Therapy is one option that has proven helpful in the healing process. Friends and family can also be a great source of encouragement during this time. There are support groups for victims of sexual assault, whether you want to talk about it or not. If you are looking for help finding a therapist or support group, here are some resources:
- The Rape Response Team at Providence Hospital offers counseling services around the clock as well as information on community resources available in the area; they also offer referrals if needed.
- The Rape Crisis Center of Maryland provides 24-hour crisis hotlines as well as therapy sessions; they have several locations throughout the state.
A Rape Victim Is Not Alone and Has Access to 24/7 Support Through Various Organizations and Ministries.
The Bible says that when someone is raped, they are not alone and can find support. Many organizations offer 24/7 support for victims of sexual assault through counseling and therapy. Some of these include RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), Focus on the Family, or your local church. You can also talk to a therapist or friend who will be able to help you process what happened to you.
God Cares About Your Pain, but He Also Cares About the Rapist’s Soul.
While we might not want to think about it, the Bible has a lot to say about rape. God cares deeply about what happened to you, but He also cares about how your rapist is living his life and what he will do in the future.
God is not angry at you, nor does He hate the man who raped you. In fact, God loves both of you and wants both of your lives to matter. God wants you to stop blaming yourself for something that was not your fault and begin healing from this trauma. He also wants your rapist to be saved from his sin so he can live in peace with Him through Christ Jesus (Romans 5:1-2). You have no reason to feel guilty or condemned for what happened!
If someone has sexually assaulted or abused another person—even if it wasn’t one of their loved ones—they are still responsible before God because they know better than anyone else how devastating their actions were on another human being (John 3:19).
The Bible tells us many times that our God is one of justice.
God is a God of justice. The Bible tells us many times that our God is one of justice (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 9; 33; Revelation 15), so we can trust Him to judge the sin of rape justly and give us peace and comfort in the meantime.
God has told us how He will deal with sin, including rape. He has given us His Word with which we can comfort ourselves during difficult times (Psalm 119:50). God promises to forgive those who repent (1 John 1:9) and restore them if they have been sexually abused by telling them “I will make all things new” (Revelation 21:5).
If you need help remembering these verses or learning more about what they mean for your life right now, please contact me!