::My Secret::

A young teenage girl named Sidney sat across from me, her eyes full of emotion. Her voice choked out a whispered, "Thank you," as she kissed her chubby-checked little boy sitting in the baby carrier.
Just one year earlier, I had listened to this precious girl as she talked about her plan to have an abortion. As soon as she said "Thank you," we both shed tears. Hers were tears of relief. Mine were tears of redemption.

You see, I had kept my appointment at the abortion clinic. For years I kept this secret buried deep within my heart. I was so ashamed, so horrified, so convinced that if anyone ever found out, I'd be rejected by all my church friends and deemed a woman unfit to serve God.
So I suffered in silence, wrapped in a cloak of shame.

The issue of abortion is serious, and we should take a strong stand against it. But for countless women within the church, it is a painful part of their story. They want to find forgiveness and healing but are too afraid to share their secret. So they suffer in silence, wrapped in a cloak of shame.

Is this you or someone you know? Three things really helped in my healing. First, I found support from my local crisis pregnancy center through a post-abortion Bible study.
Next, I named my baby and wrote a letter promising to make his life count by sharing our story.
Finally, I asked God to give me the courage to do it.

Oh, and Sidney? She was one of the first people I told. Seeing God bring good out of what Satan meant for evil healed my heart.
By sharing my story, God turned my former shame into another baby's radiant face.
-Lysa Terkeurst

{Genesis 50:20}
You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

{Psalm 34:4-5}
4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

{Romans 10:11}
As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

{2 Corinthians 1:3-4}
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.
4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.