Part 3: Moral Injury Through a Biblical Lens
Let us enter into the third part of the discussion regarding moral injury through the eyes of King David and the murder of Uriah the Hittite (read 2 Samuel chapter 11 verses 1-27). David had Uriah killed because Uriah was inconvenient to David's future with Bathsheba. Bathsheba was expecting David's child and as Uriah's wife this would have created a major scandal. The king knew that even he would not escape consequences from the adultery so, he needed Uriah eliminated. It took the prophet Nathan to bring the whole affair out into the open so that King David could experience and face his sin and his own self-inflicted moral injury (2 Sam. 12:1-14).
Similarly, to recognize her wrong, a post-abortive woman has to bump up against a prompt or a trigger -something incongruent with her current value system- to move her toward admittance and acceptance and ultimately towards healing from her moral injury. She has to experience her "Nathan" moment. Until then, many of us, with the help of our society, can excuse our "choice." But make no mistake; this grieves God. *please know that I understand that many women have been forced as children or by threat of death to an abortionist. I recognize your unique pain*
But, there is always hope for the repentant! Like David, we can look our sins in the eye and acknowledge our wrong. 2 Samuel 12:13 says: "Then David confessed to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." Nathan replied, "Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won't die for this sin." We learn from David that a truly repentant heart moves God to forgive. Romans 5: 12-21 beautifully describes how God's Grace now takes away our sin for those who accept Christ and His sacrifice. The moral wounds we carry from our abortion "choice" can be healed by the stripes He bore for us. The prophet Isaiah foretold of this miraculous exchange in Isaiah chapter 53:5 and Peter reaffirmed it in 1 Peter 2:24. Christ's sacrifice is His beautiful atonement gift to us, no matter our sin, if we are truly repentant.
The bible is filled with stories of people shedding innocent blood and yet deserving of God's Grace and a second chance. As my friend Jeannie reminded me recently, not only David but also Moses, and Paul all shed the blood of innocents and yet God still used them in extraordinary ways. They suffered the same moral injury we all have. Moses fled and hid for decades until God called him (sounds like me). That is when he learned to let God fight his moral battles. Paul was spoken to by none other than Jesus, blinded and then brought out fully zealous for the cause of Christ. That is when he defined for us what a repentant sinner can accomplish for the Kingdom of God. No one escapes moral injury nor, should we when we sin but, in God's merciful way He can still choose to redeem us and use us to help save His people from their own moral injuries. Our hands may not be clean enough to build the Holy temple or to live in the promised land. We may have to suffer for the cause of Christ but the favor we are given to still serve Him in whatever way He sees fit is a gift not easily rejected. Roman's 4:6-8 says: 6. David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: 7. “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. 8. Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin.”
I will end with this: Let's say you've been wearing the shabby clothes of guilt and shame and felt like a bum unworthy of even a look from God since your abortion. Imagine Christ coming to give you a beautiful wedding dress for your old clothes. You accept the dress, put it on and look in the mirror. You hardly recognize yourself! If only for a brief moment at first, you see your beauty and your potential. You know what you looked like before but that memory is fading fast as you gaze at the gorgeous woman staring back at you in the mirror. Your shoulders tilt backwards and your head snakes up a few inches higher. You walk differently and greet people differently. It's God's look on you! And if you're accepting of it you can wear it very successfully.
But God's transformation of you isn't superficial . When it begins to truly change you from the inside out, you will no longer see the bum you thought you were but the Bride that you truly are now. That transformation process may take time but it can be walked out when we rest fully in our forgiveness and allow ourselves to live free. The princess you are now simply has to love and accept the Prince and His Gift. The key is to allow the exchange of His love for your guilt. His forgiveness for your shame. Then and only then can you continue to comport yourself as the bride of Christ regardless of the situation or circumstance.
Make no mistake, aborting our children has changed us in profound ways. But by God's Grace and Mercy he can still create beauty from ashes. To Him be the praise the honor and the glory forever for the work that only HE can do!
If you are ready to take a healing journey, please leave me a note in the "chat box" on our main webpage, AriseDaughter.org. It would be my honor to walk with you.
Much love, Sylvia
*For further encouragement, read Psalm 66:16-20*
https://youtu.be/IQwVOED4m74 "Bride of Christ"
by Worship Mob and Nick Smith