Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.
We’ve all heard this phrase before. I grew up repeating it over and over again like a badge of honor, however, nothing could be further from the truth. So often, physical pain heals much faster than emotional pain; words take much longer to fade from our memories.
When I think back at how my self-esteem and spirit crumbled throughout the abuse, I would say it happened slowly. Small incidents that were repeated over and over again. Words that cut through my soul. A look of disgust or disapproval. Criticism and blame became the cycle that I believed to be true. It weighed on my confidence; my strength.
During my healing, I focused on Isaiah 61 to remind me of my true value. If you’ve never read it before, then I would encourage you to take a few minutes to read through it below. Note: I’ve been told that as you read verses pertaining to Israel or Zion that you should replace yourself as the recipient.
Throughout this chapter, there is great hope in the fact that God is a God of justice. It hurts Him to see the pain that has been inflicted upon you. He wants to heal your broken heart and set you free from abuse. While abusers break you down into a lowly place, He will lift you up to a place of honor, clothe you with a robe of righteousness, and adorn you with jewels of salvation.
He will give you beauty from your ashes.
The Year of the Lord’s Favor
61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.
7 Instead of your shame
you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.
8 “For I, the Lord, love justice;
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”
10 I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations.
Out of the Grave 
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