Content warning: This devotion briefly mentions sexual assault.
“I believe you. It’s not your fault. You are not alone.”
Those simple statements of assurance and compassion and truth have such power. I can almost hear Jesus whisper those words to that unnamed woman, surrounded by the men who were ready to stone her for her supposed adultery. “I believe you. It’s not your fault. You are not alone.” Maybe we can imagine the Good Samaritan kneeling next to that person beaten, robbed and left on the side of the road, saying: “I believe you. It’s not your fault. You are not alone.”
As followers of Jesus, this ought to be our script when we are confronted with stories not just of sexual assault, but every kind of injustice, violence, and oppression that seeks to dehumanize, denigrate and destroy God’s precious people. As we listen, we can say “I believe you” and, in doing so, move from silence and doubt toward truth and trust. We can say, “It’s not your fault” and help to replace shame with worthiness. We can live the promise “You are not alone” and step forward together from isolation toward belonging.
This message is excerpted from “The truths we tell” by Sara Olson-Smith in the July 2020 Café online magazine.
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