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b'Editor\\u2019s Note: Today\\u2019s devotional reading discusses abuse.\\nIn this sinful, fallen world, abuse happens everywhere; we see it on the news, at our schools, and even in our churches. When we hear about it or experience it, it leaves us reeling, grasping for answers. \\nAbuse whispers in its victims\\u2019 ears, saying, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153You\\u2019re worthless. You\\u2019re broken. Nobody could ever love you. You are never safe.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Dear friends, these are lies.\\nAbuse is never your fault. It is the result of sin\\u2014which affects us all\\u2014taking hold in someone\\u2019s heart and making them forget that both they and their victim are made in God\\u2019s image and are therefore worthy of love and full of inherent dignity.\\nAbuse isolates people and tries to convince them that Jesus is not with them. But that is a lie straight from the pit of hell.\\nJesus is with you in the midst of your pain. His heart breaks for you. He cries with you. He is holding your hand, walking with you through the muck and bringing you safely to the other side.\\nIf you or someone you know is being abused, report it immediately tosomebody you can trust. One way Jesus reaches into the worst of situations is by putting people around you who can help\\u2014whether they are friends, police officers, counselors, social workers, teachers, or other trustworthy people (Romans 13:3-4). Pray for God\\u2019s guidance and His restoration.\\nBy the power of Jesus\\u2019 death and resurrection, we can have secure hope that, someday, Jesus will come back to fully defeat all evil, sin, and death and restore all of creation to Himself. Until that day, if we know Him, He lives inside us through His Holy Spirit, experiencing our hurts with us and encouraging us. \\nBring your pain to Him and rest in His secure love and in the promise of His justice. \\u2022 Taylor Eising\\n\\u2022 God is just, so no wrongdoing will go unpunished (Psalm 103:6; Revelation 20:11-15 and 21:1-8). Why is this so important? \\n\\u2022 How is abuse a violation of the fact that we are made in God\\u2019s image? \\n\\u2022 Who is a trusted person in your life you can talk to about abuse\\u2014whether the abuse is happening to you or you suspect it is happening to someone else? \\n\\u2022 What are some ways you can pray for abusers and the abused? \\n\\u2022 If you are in danger, call 911 (or the emergency number for your area).\\n\\u2022 If you need someone to talk to about your current situation or past abuse, you can set up an appointment for a one time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service:\\nIn the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment.\\nIn Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time)and ask to speak with the care associate.\\nThe Lord executes acts of righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. Psalm 103:6 (CSB)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nPsalm 9:7-10; Jeremiah 17:14; Romans 8:37-39'