Naomi Ramon Krzyzaniak
Hi! Naomi, here (second from right). Thanks for navigating through our website. So you've reached our "survivors" page. First of all let me assure you, this is not a finger pointing, name calling, casting stones-type place. Part of healing (and maturity) is being able to move past and let go of resentment and anger. Part of my survival story begins with abuse as a child. Promiscuous teen years resulted in an abortion at 18 years of age. (The guilt of which, followed me for a great many years following). Throughout my early to late twenties, I repeatedly became involved in inappropriate relationships. Eventually marrying, I was determined to succeed in life. However, without an inward change, I suffered a miscarriage, struggled with depression, restlessness and a myriad of maladies.
Eventually, I hit bottom, my marriage ended and I became a statistic of failed marriages, infidelilty and single parent households. Well, that's who I was. Gladly, I chose not to remain stuck there! Once I forgave those who hurt me or took advantage of me as a child and took responsibility for the events that were a result of my own rebellion and selfish desires, God was able to step in and begin healing and "cleaning" house.
The results were not immediate. The apostle Paul writes often of the war that wages within us. A spiritual war that pits our earthly desires against God's heavenly spirit within us. It is a daily and often times moment by moment decision of proper choices. Laying down instant gratification for discipline and a desire for holiness.
There was no sudden deliverance. For me, it has been a walk of steady disciplines. As you can see, I am no saint, no Mother Thereasa. I admire women who've gotten it right the first time. Me? I'm a stubborn, stiff-necked, rebellious, "learned-life-the-hard-way" type person. Heavy sigh. Okay, shake it off. Back to joy. We'll talk more later...
YOUR "VOICE" GOES HERE! (You do not have to disclose your real name or home town.)
Share with us YOUR story of survival. How has God enabled you to overcome wounds, fears and/or abuses? What have you learned about your strength and God's power as a result?
A BIBLICAL SURVIVOR
Hagar (See: Bible, Genesis--First Book in the Old Testament--Chapter 16)
When designing this website, I wanted to be sure to include some examples of strong women from the Bible. Rahab, Deborah, Priscilla all came to mind. However, the story of Hagar (okay, let's just get past the ugly, outdated "old hag" name) is a story of a young women whose life was pretty much shaped by other people. She was taken into slavery, forced to have sex with another woman's husband and bore a child with the intent of having it raised as someone else's son. Too make matters worse, the wife abused and mistreated her. When Hagar could take no more, she ran away. (I would''ve too!)
This is where the story becomes truly interesting. God appears on the scene in verse 8 and asks her a most interesting question. "Where have you come from and where are you going?"
Don't miss this.
"Where have you come from and where are you going?"
You can be sure that the Lord knew the answer to the literal question. He knew that she had
1)come from an abusive situation and 2) was running away. So why ask? Perhaps Hagar just needed to stop and think about her answer. You'll notice she answers the "where have you come from" but not the "where are you going." She had know I idea where she was going, hadn't thought it through, she just wanted immediate relief from her situation. What was God's response to Hagar? Go back and submit. WHAT??!! Why? How could she be expected to go back and submit to this abuse?
I won't pretend to understand all the finite details of this incredible story and I'll admit I have some unanswered questions myself; but there is one thing I want to point out. As you read and study Hagar on your own notice that her circumstance did not change. The jealousy was still there, tensions remained. What changed was that Hagar now had hope. She went from despair to hope, from helplessness to hopefulness. So Hagar and her child return for a couple years until the wife eventually bares a child of her own and tensions grow. Continue reading Genesis 21:9-21 and see how God continues to move on behalf of Hagar and her son, Ishmael. Then, ask yourself the same question, "where have you come from and where are you going?" Send me your feedback after you've studied the rest of the story, let me know what stands out to you as you read.