Helen  wrote:

Dear Friend

In reading my emails and catching up on them I ran across this one.  I too was  raped  while very young, 8 years of age and I am now 55.

It did take a long time to overcome this because I had so much bitterness and hatred in my heart.

After I had been saved for almost a year the Lord gave me a dream.  In this dream I  could see the feet of  God sitting on His throne and with His hands reaching out to me, as if to pick me up.

The hym/song "Softly and Gently" was being sung. I recognized this as an "alter call for salvation" song.  So in the dream I told the Lord that I was already saved and why would He be calling me to come to Him now?  He answered that I had accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour but I had never accepted Him as my daddy and that He wanted me to sit in His lap like I was a hurt little girl that needed comforting and loving.

I guess I did, I don't remember that part of the dream.  All I know is that from  then on I have pro- gressed in my Christian growth.  The Bible says that to whom much is given, much is required. I was given an abundance of forgiveness for this man, and it was given to me because  all I ever felt for this man was hatred and hoped  he would rot in Hell.

After I was able to forgive with my mind the Lord brought me to where I could forgive him in my heart.  And this work is done in the spirit, not of yourself. I hope I can be of  help to you.

And where was God when this was happening to you?  The same place He was when His only be- gotton son was being scorned and tortured to death for me and you.  God understands and knows your pain.  He is touched with our infirmaties. Heb.4:13 - 16  Please read this  scripture while keeping in mind the things I just told you.

Sincerely,  Helen