I have so much empathy for people who are demonized/oppressed by demons because it was not that long ago that I was in horrific bondage myself.

I remember what it is like to:

Live in a false reality made up by the demons.

Be labeled as mentally ill and feeling like it was something I would struggle with for the rest of my life.

Hate myself and feel like everyone else hated me.

Fight to urge to die every single day.

Not understand why God was not healing me.

Feel like God didn’t love me, hear me, or see me.

Only see the pain and nothing else in life.

Feel like it was never going to get better.

Feel like there was no escape.

Want to stay in bed and avoid any and all responsibilities because I could not face life.

Have every relationship hinder and even some destroyed and yet feel helpless to stop the patterns.

Watch destructive patterns destroy my life but have zero clue how to stop it.

Feel like I was in a deep dark pit of despair.

Have depression so greatly that it was physically painful.

To not reach out for help because of shame and not even knowing what to ask for.

To feel like there was something inside me that only wanted to kill, steal, and destroy my life, but not knowing what I could do about it.

Feeling like I was disappointing everyone that was closest to me, but not having the ability to sustain needed change.

Wanting to break negative patterns but just not ever getting them broken.

Fight every single day to stay alive.

Having 100’s of triggers from trauma that would send me into panic, fear, and/or physical pain.

Feeling like the trauma from the past was with me every second of every day-there was no escape.

Living in a state of paranoia and never letting people get to close because it always felt like no one was safe.

Only letting people see a version of me that I wanted them to see.

Never letting anyone in to really see me.

Having walls so thick no one could reach me-including God.

Being angry and hurt at God because I felt like He let me down.

Being fully of shame and regret, but not feeling like I could really change.

Feeling broken past the point of repair.

The list goes on and on…..

This is why I have so much empathy for those who are demonized and oppressed. If you have never been to the deep dark places of mental torment, it is hard to explain, but if you have been there, you know what it is like. It doesn’t give anyone a free pass in life, but it certainly explains a lot. The old saying, hurt people, hurt people is very true.

Sometimes we need to do a better job at extending Godly love, compassion, empathy, and prayer. If you know someone who is suffering try looking at them through the eyes of God and not their behaviors. God wants them free, and at some level I am sure they want to be free as well. Let’s be a bride between them and God to help them get free.

This is the definition of Biblical Love

1 Corinthians 13 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing. 3 If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.

4 Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. 5 It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. 7 Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].

8 Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete]. 10 But when that which is complete and perfect comes, that which is incomplete and partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God]. 13 And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.

Blessings,

Nichole Henson

Fullness of Joy Ministry

fullnessofjoyministry@gmail.com