There are two lists.
The first:
Because your Heavenly Father created your life with awe, and made you
valuable and precious. (Psalm 139)
Because Jesus has taken all your blame and shame upon Himself already.
(Isaiah 53)
Because there is hope because of His promises, even though it doesn't feel
like it right now. (Romans 5:5)
Because each time you confront despair and re-focus on Jesus Christ, you
get stronger through His strength, and you will know victory. (Hebrews
12:1-3)
Because if you die today you will not be able to experience the good
things which God is planning to work in your life (which He has promised
to do, even through this painful situation). (Romans 8:28)
Because Jesus says, "Give Me your unbearably heavy weight of this
circumstance and I will bear it for you; rest in My arms and let me carry
you through this time." (Matthew 11:28-30)
Because God has promised you have already won through the victory of Jesus
Christ. (1 John 5:4; 1 Corinthians 15:57)
Because the Lord's will is to work healing in your life, so let Him do
just that. (Exodus 15:26; Psalm 147:3)
Because if you give up, then the enemy has won and there is no more hope
for you. (1 Peter 4:12-13, 19)
Because you know this pain and suffering in ways that others can't know
it, and He will use you to give others hope and comfort when they are
enduring the same type of pain. (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)
Because Jesus has promised you His peace, not only for the future, but for
now. (John 16:33)
And the second one is:
REASONS NOT TO KILL YOURSELF
by Mari Collings ©
Because you deserve to live.
Because your life has value, whether or not you can see it,
Because it was not your fault,
Because you didn't choose to be battered and used,
Because life itself is precious, because they were and are wrong,
Because you are connected to each and every other ritual abuse survivor,
and so your daily battle automatically gives others hope and strength.
Because you will feel better, eventually,
Because each time you confront despair you get stronger .. you can't know
now what you will ultimately be able to do with this new morsel of
strength, what future battles you will be able to win,
Because if you die today you will never again feel love for another human
being, or trust, or gratitude; because you will never again see kindness
and compassion in another's eyes.
Because if you die today you will never again see sunlight pouring through
the leaves of a tree, or a bird take flight, or feel the quality of light
in winter,
Because the seconds do not cease their passing, because even if it feels
like time has become an unbearably heavy stone, it has not, and you only
have to endure,
Because you have already won .. you have known the cleverness and
resiliency and courage and stubborn will to make it this far, and no one
can take that away,
Because the will to live is not a cruel punishment, even if it feels like
that at times: it is a priceless gift.
Because your inner children need you, they have no one else and their need
is so great, and because they deserve more than anyone to be healed and
comforted; they are true heroes against impossible odds.
Because you owe your inner children, they are the reason you are here. If
you die today you will erase the meaning of their suffering and incredible
endurance, and that is too great a loss,
Because you already have the skills to find your healing path; you have
proven this over and over again,
Because we need more warriors against this evil,
Because we need survivors to offer testament against this horror and
despair,
Because no one knows better than you the meaning of suffering, and agony
deepens the heart,
Because you deserve the peace that will come after this battle is won, and
it will be won, but only minute by minute .. we must learn to let go of
the unconquerable,
Because we can all come together in later years to laugh in their faces;
because we will be able to show them that even though they had all the
power and strength and ruthless cunning, even though we were only
helpless, innocent, dependent children, we will have beaten them at the
game they so smugly thought they had mastered,
Because I am furious that we have to suffer the pain of another's evil and
filth,
Because you too will one day feel fury,
Because it is critical that you survive.
© Mari Collings
You may print out this poem for your own personal use.
Permission to publish is reserved by the author.
