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For the past few years, God has placed a burden on my heart for teens who are hurting. But it wasn’t until now that I’ve really wanted to do something about it and reach out to others. Through social media and online research, I’ve learned that there are more teens struggling with terrible life situations than I knew. And it wasn’t until recently that I’ve noticed girls around me, including youth group and dance class, struggling with pain. To Raise Godly Girls means we need to understand the Basic Truth For Battling Self-Harm.
She sat alone, a girl my age. I remember the first time I saw her. I noticed her right away, and not because she wore the newest fashion, or because she had perfectly winged eyeliner. I spotted her because of the scars and cuts she had on her arms. Not just a few scars, either – they went all the way up her arms. My heart broke for her instantly. I knew that she was in emotional pain, and every time I saw her arms, I would be reminded of the hurt she must be going through.
It hurts my heart whenever I see someone who has self-harm scars on their body. I knew I needed to understand more about cutting and self-harm. If I understood better, then I would know some ways to help. And not just help this girl, but any teen who is struggling with emotional pain.
Just the Facts
Every year, about 1 in 5 females and 1 in 7 males take part in self-harm. Most people who take part in self-harm start in their teen or pre-teen years. Normally, someone would take part in self-harming behavior for one of three reasons, or a combination of these three reasons.
- One of the reasons is to distract from emotional pain with physical pain. Sadly, when teens do this, it is effective at the moment, but unhealthy and dangerous.
- Another reason is for the ability to “feel something” if they are emotionally numb.
- The third main reason is a way to punish themselves because of shame and feeling like they need to suffer physical pain.
When a teen starts self-harming, it may become addicting. The body can build up a tolerance for the pain. So, to experience the same amount of “relief”, they would have to self-harm on a larger scale. This can then lead to accidental death if a cut is too deep in a vein and help doesn’t come in time.
Encouraging Truth
Some encouraging Bible verses that have helped me in my life are Philippians 4:13, 1 Peter 5:7, and Deuteronomy 31:6.
Philippians 4:13 says,
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength”. This means that through His strength that He gives to you, you can keep holding on. Just take one more breath, live one more minute, one more hour, one more day. Hold fast to Him.
In 1 Peter 5:7, it says,
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”. To me, this means that you can give anything over to Him, big or small because He cares and loves you. Nothing is too big or too small for Him to take care of.
Deuteronomy 31:6 says,
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you”. This means that you don’t have to live in fear because He is always with you and there by your side. He is there for you to help and fight for you, right beside you.
Finding verses that can bring healing to your heart will help you get through those difficult times.
He Understands
Our Saviour went through spiritual, emotional, and physical pain when He died on the cross for us. He has scars, and He went through what He did so that we don’t have to. He understands our pain, and every rough patch we go through in our lives.
For those of you who are struggling with depression, self-harm, suicidal thoughts; if you are going through a hard time in your life, I want you to know that you are not alone. You are loved by the One who created you, and He will help you get through your pain if you allow Him to. His arms are open for you, He wants to care for you. There is hope and light in the dark, never give up the fight. Because He is fighting for you, too.
To help you grow closer to the Lord, Sarah is offering a seat in the course she created with her mom, Cultivating the Heart of a Daughter.
ARE YOU A BOY MOM?
The picture of us raising our children to shoot them out into the world, as straight as arrows, ready for battle, will always stick close to my heart, and I pray that it will continue to mold and shape my heart as I help them make good decisions for themselves and to be SHOT OUT into the world and impact the world for HIS GLORY.
Join Christi Galy of Dwelling Well Mom as she shares her heart on Helping Our Sons Overcome The Battle In Their Hearts!
∞ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ∞
Sarah is a Jesus girl who longs to see girls live for Jesus and fulfill His calling on their lives. She hopes to help teens to realize their true worth and that they are loved beyond comprehension. She lives with her parents and younger brother and younger sister in British Columbia, Canada. You can find her on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter.
