Dear sister,
I have thought about you for weeks.
I wanted to write this letter a while ago, but I was afraid. I am certain that since millions of babies have been aborted, that means millions of women are walking around hurting. I knew this letter had to be written with tenderness and concern. I couldn’t write it flippantly, as if I had some idea of what you have gone through, or what you have felt, since having an abortion.
I don’t know what brought you to that place, and I don’t know the steps you have walked since that day, but I know you are a precious person, made in the image of God. I don’t even know if you regret your decision to have an abortion, but that is beside the point. One day, it might come at you and level you.
You may be one of many who [feels] like a piece of themselves is lost forever. I want to acknowledge the seriousness of that, and offer compassion to you. You might someday find yourself guilt-ridden, so I want you to remember this letter just in case. Because there is hope. And there is a place to bring your broken heart. There is a way to find freedom from the weight you feel, or might one day feel from that abortion.
I want to set aside the arguments for now.
I want to look beyond the obvious, and tell you that you matter greatly. I am sorry if you have felt hurt by recent articles, and news stories. I am sorry if it has given you anxiety or painful moments.
I have talked with dozens of women who have been through your circumstance, and if you are anything like they are, you are carrying around a lot of grief. Their wounds have not gone away, and sometimes their quiet moments taunt them and condemn them, and it’s almost more than they can stand. Like them, you might be trying to make up for your mistake. You might be spinning your wheels as you prove to God you are worthy of his love.
You can stop all that.
Jesus paid your way.
There is an escape from the anguish.
Lift your head, sister.
Certain choices hurt more than others.
I have been told that babies aren’t the only victims of abortion, and I believe that. Countless women look back and wonder why they did it. Fear, confusion, pressure . . . maybe it seemed like the only answer. On that day, in that moment, it felt like the best choice. Maybe you went in there ignorant or full of unbelief that you even carried a real baby. Maybe you marched in and demanded you be given the right to not have that child. Either way, you are in danger of experiencing tremendous pain from that decision.
None of us are clean.
With recent developments, you might be cringing every time you have to see another post about abortion. It’s like salt in the wound, and you just want to forget it. But let’s take a step back, and let’s accept the fact, that all of our hands are dirty. We have nothing to offer up to God, in light of all of our failures.
You see, my failures and shame scream just as loudly. I am not pointing at you, I am pointing us both to Jesus, the only One who can rescue us and take away the pain that comes after we fail so badly. And in His eyes, we see grace. The grace he lavishes on us. He has freed us from the unrelenting, unforgiving voice that condemns us of our wrongdoings. Where else can we go, with our broken hearts, but to Jesus? Who can promise freedom like that? Who else in heaven do we have?
When you made that decision, He knew you would need Him. He is there, and if you are a Christian, you are covered by the blood that was shed for you by Jesus. One day, God will put all things right, but you don’t have to wait until that day to feel peace and freedom. I pray you experience it now.
He overcame for you.
He loves you. Even so.