For sexual assault survivors: Some tough questions answered (1)
By: Pastor Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi
On Saturday morning, Bode sent a message to Fuoma that Pastor Martins would see her on Sunday after service.
On Sunday morning, Bode was around to take her to church.
She returned the books to him and he gave her a mini book titled ‘Rape & how to handle it.’
“I bought it for you.” He said.
Rape! How she hated to hear that word! But to him she said, “Thank you.”
When she saw the name of the author, she exclaimed. “This is the book that this guy talked about!”
“Which guy?”
She smiled. “My roommates and I signed up for a self-defense class and the instructor mentioned this book while he was talking about keeping oneself safe. He said everyone would get a copy of the book at the end of the six week class.”
“So you have it already?”
“No. I went only once and have not gone back.” She said and smiled. “So no book for me.”
There was silence for about a minute and then she spoke again. “I have my tithe. How do I pay it?”
“When you get to church, collect the tithe envelope from an usher and when tithers are called to come forward for prayer, you will go forward.”
While waiting for him after the service, she took the book on rape and began to leaf through it to know what it was about. She turned to the content page to see the chapter titles. Chapter nineteen was Should I tell my intended partner about it? She decided to read it.
Fuoma was still reading the book when Bode came. She put it in her handbag, stood, and followed him to the pastor’s office.
Pastor Martins wanted to know how she had fared.
“I’m okay Sir.” She said.
“She’s been coming … and she paid her tithe today.” Bode added.
“I’m happy to hear that.” The pastor said. “I want you to get involved in the things of God. In spite of all that had happened, God can still use you and He wants to use you. He wants you to live a normal life, get married, have children, and continue to serve Him. Alright?”
“Yes Sir.” She said, even though she had a question she would like to ask him.
The pastor spoke again, “Before this challenge happened, when did you give your life to Christ and where were you worshipping?”
“Well, I grew up in the church but I’d say that I gave my life to Christ at the age of seventeen at my mom’s church.” She mentioned the name of the church.
“Good. Were you in any department?”
“Yes. On campus, I was in Evangelism, and at home, I was in the Teens Department.”
“Okay. However, because of all the things that happened to you, and the fact that you have just rededicated your life to Jesus, you will need to go through the New Believer’s Class and build a fresh and strong foundation for yourself.”
“We discussed it Sir and she started last Sunday.” Bode said.
“Good … good.” The pastor said and nodded. “The truth is that satan is always trying to attack Christians. The Bible reveals that he goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour. What does the Bible ask us to do?”
“To resist him.” She answered.
“Yes, to resist him.” He confirmed. “That’s what we must do. Satan may keep trying to cause troubles but he will keep failing, and he has failed concerning you, glory to God!”
He continued counselling her and when he stopped, she indicated that she had a question.
“Two questions, actually.” She said and smiled. “The first one is this, what do I do about this anger I still feel when I remember those things?”
He sat forward and began to counsel her. When he was through, he asked, “What’s the second question?”
She knew the answer to the second question but she needed to hear it from the pastor, an assurance, and so she said, “Well, I know that with God all things are possible but … this question keeps coming to my mind … will I be able to have children if I get married?”
“Don’t say ‘if’ but ‘when’.” He corrected her gently. “You should say when you get married because you should desire to get married and by God’s grace you will get married.”
She nodded and said, “Amen.”
“And concerning your question, of course you will have children when you get married. Why not? Satan has done his worst but God will do the best. You already know the answer – with God all things are possible, He is the Most High. He’s the One Who opens and no one can shut and when He shuts, no one can open. Don’t worry about it, you’ll be fine.”
To be continued.
This story is from the novel THEN CAME YOU by Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi
Available in bookshops and online on Okadabooks and Amazon Kindle
#ChristianRomanceNovels #RelationshipAndMarriage #IStandForJesus #ItsAllAboutYou #ItsAllAboutJesus #Pastor #PastorTaiwoIredeleOdubiyi
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