The two most important parts are the beginning and the end. The beginning of the story describes what has already happened. It is sometimes the hardest part to write because it forces women (in a good way) to come to terms with the trauma itself, their rawest emotions and greatest fears and to organize them into a concrete, defined experience. This may take them a while, and that’s OK.
The end, on the other hand, looks to the future. I tell women to describe what true and full freedom in Christ would look like based on what we have read together in Scripture. I want them to embrace the promises God has made to them—of their worth, of their value, of His love, care and healing power for them—and to paint a picture in words of that reality. I truly believe that imagining that beautiful, divine reality is the next step for women to begin living freely.
Finally, when a woman has written her story, I encourage her to read it aloud either to me or to a group of friends. What a glorious time that is! The life-giving power of storytelling is incredible. From the confident way they hold their bodies to the smile on their faces, I can see that their spiritual journey of healing with God has begun.
This article originally appeared here.
