Two Truths & A False

Ten years ago I was having supper with my boss and her family. One of their traditions was to play the game “two truths and a false”. Over the past few years, I started to carry on the tradition of the game, along with “would you rather” with my kids. These games always reveal to me the creativity my children have as their statements and questions are considerably more ingenious and imaginative compared to mine. I also use this time to drown out all outside distractions, and as a mother, peer into their hearts. When playing two truths and a false, in order to stump everyone, we strategically create a false that is believable to everyone else. 

Even from this simple game, we can correlate it to how Satan will use lies to distract and disable us. He best accomplishes this by attacking us in our own specific vulnerabilities and making us believe the lies. But there is good news! We can reorient our thinking and bring it back to the foundation of God’s word, which is truth.

As a domestic violence survivor, I know one of the hardest battles is the protection of your mind and subsequently your heart. The only way to do this is to continually be aware of the truths and the lies in your life. Whether the origin of the lie stemmed from your abuser or one that you have allowed to proliferate in your life, that lie is still a lie and through God, those lies can be replaced with truth.

Even in secular counseling, we are taught Cognitive Behavior Therapy. It’s a technique used  to reorient your destructive thoughts into helpful thoughts. I learned this from my counselor on day one of counseling after my escape, and it is a technique I absolutely love! It does require work, intentionality, and time, but once I practiced it, I could see my entire perspective change over time. 

As a survivor of domestic violence, we have to address the major common lies that will hinder our healing: It was my fault, I am not worthy, I am unlovable, I am too broken, I will never fully heal, I will never make it on my own, I will never make it through court, No one will believe me, I will never truly be free from my abuser, God can’t redeem my life, My kids won’t recover from what they witnessed.

But these lies are simply that… lies… and it is time we replace them with the truth. Proclaim these truths out loud as you read this, and proclaim them daily! 

The abuse is not my fault
I am worthy
I am lovable
I am not too broken
I will heal
I will survive the court system
I will be believed, the truth will come out
I will be free
God will redeem my life
My kids will be okay

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-39