80% of the women who struggle with overeating and overweight have been molested or raped at some point in their life.
That is my best guess.
The reason I guess that the statistic is that high is because so very many of the women I have come to know over the past 13 years have experienced this. I have asked others who teach Thin Within classes and it seems to be a consensus that 8 out of 10 of the participants may have been sexually abused in some way.
My own story is found here.
Mandisa shares in the video below. If you see yourself as one of the 8, I hope you can be encouraged by knowing that you aren’t alone. Mandisa shares what she has done about it, too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYNI8y33Yto&w=480&h=360Do you have challenges, trials, trauma in your past that God may be calling you to bring to the cross to invite his healing? Won’t you consider getting in touch with a godly Christian therapist to help you to do so? While this is one of the most difficult things to do, it is also worth what it costs.
Thank you for this post. Your life mirrors so much of mine Heidi – the diet shakes the abuse the weight problems…
Hi, Carin. I am so sorry to hear that. Let’s press on to victory! That is our birthright as children of God!
Thank you for this post, Heidi. I am one of the 8 and I read your story. I was 10, the abuser a trusted neighbour and friend; and, the abuse continued for close to two years. I did not turn to food until I was in my late 20’s. From age 12, I chose a different, but very destructive, path which did not fit with becoming a Christian just before my 28th birthday. My Christian walk was up and down, on and off, really messy, and food was something I could always turn to. No one chided me for enjoying too much food or for the weight gain, except my ex-husband, and he wasn’t exactly slim. Anyways, seven years ago, at 56 years of age, I picked up a little book at a book sale at my church. It was all about childhood sexual abuse and thus began a journey which led to me forgiving my abuser and beginning to pray for him to be saved. It wasn’t easy, but it was freeing. I went through a year of counselling and was surprised when my Christian counsellor invited me to join a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder group with other Christian women. Each participant had a story similar to mine, Mandisa’s and Heidi’s; so, yes I believe the 8 out of 10, even within the body of Christ. Obviously, my turning to food to fill needs and soothe hurts is still an issue, but God is working and He led me here to the Thin Within community.
Hi, Sheila. It is so sad how often it is a trusted neighbor, friend or relative. Isn’t it something how God surprises us in the way he reveals truth? Right when he determines we are ready and not a moment before, I guess. Thanks for having the courage to share, Sheila. You are a valued new addition to the community here!
Heidi thank you for the video. This was a beautiful testimony of God’s healing and grace in our lives. I can relate! God has been at work in my life for a long time healing me of these very issues. Rape and childhood sexual abuse! God has brought me a long way. Though outwardly I am perishing, inwardly I am being renewed day by day in the power of the Holy Spirit. He who began a good work in me will complete it unto the day of Jesus Christ. He is the LORD God who heals me from all my diseases and affliction….
ISAIAH 53
3 He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy].
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.
Galatians 6:14-16 ( AMP)
14 But far be it from me to glory [in anything or anyone] except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) through Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world!
15 For neither is circumcision [now] of any importance, nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [the result of a new birth and a new nature in Christ Jesus, the Messiah].
16 Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule [who discipline themselves and regulate their lives by this principle], even upon the [true] Israel of God!
Amplified Bible (AMP)
6:15 circumcision. See note 5:6.
a new creation. The Holy Spirit’s activity in the believers’ lives reverses the effects of the Fall and produces a renewed people (2 Cor. 5:17) who will eventually take their place in the new heavens and the new earth (Rev. 21:1).
I to am one of the 8. Mine was my brother who was 8 years older then me. He did it for a period of 4 years. He unfortunately died when i was 13 and he was 20. He died in a car accident. I did not let it it out until i was 19. I went on to work through it with a christian counselor and some inner healing prayer work through spiritual formation counseling. I have other losses to death. I then became called to christian counseling and bereavement. I guess kinda gave away what i do 😉 I totally agree with the 80 percent!
My heart goes out to you Heidi. My Granddaughter was sexually abused from the time she was 5 until she was 12 by a step father. She has a lot of problems was over weight So many issues with her and now she had a 2 year old she is t capable of taking care of. We thought a lot of him. That was a blow and he did barely two years in jail. I have had to really work on forgiveness in this and it is easy to try and feed my grief with food