Overcoming A Victim Mentality (2)

A person with a victim mentality has learned to focus on suffering and avoiding more suffering at all cost.  Instead of embracing the solutions God is offering, victims remain obsessed with the pain and injustice of the past.  Some isolate and live behind high walls.  They complain and blame.  Others live with frustration and are prone to get angry.  Some bury their feelings, opinions and desires and just do what they are told, believing they are powerless. They expect others to rescue them and be responsible for their life today.  They believe that others “make them” live as powerless victims in their current circumstances and life can only improve if someone else fixes what is wrong.

God says, I have swept away your sins like a cloud.   I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist.  Oh, return to me,  for I have paid the price to set you free.  (Isaiah 44:22 NLT)

How does a person with a victim mentality break free?  We have to ask God to help us let go of the insanity that comes from our past and fill our hearts and minds with truth.  God promises that regardless of what has happened to us we can have victory over the occurrence as we live in loving relationship with Him.  Nothing that has happened in our past, may happen in our present or our future, will be able to separate us from God’s unfailing love for us.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?  As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”  No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.  (Romans 8:35-37 NLT)

These verses name a number of difficult, challenging, and very painful situations.  While our experience of pain might not be specifically mentioned here, the intent of the writer is to tell us that whatever injustice and trouble we have suffered, God’s word is true in our situation.  As amazing as it sounds, God promises us that we will not just survive and cope with what life has handed us but we will live with overwhelming victory.  We CAN have this full and satisfying life he planned for us.  Our future success has not been stolen by the abusive person in our past.  God offers you and me abundant life today and Jesus has made a way for us to have that life.  No one and no circumstance can rob us of that life.  Our lives and well-being come from God, not another person. 

Let’s embrace this truth today and welcome God’s love and healing into our hearts.  As we grow in His grace He will show us how to live in healthy relationships with others.

©2015 Partners in Hope