After Abortion... The Journey of Self-Confidence

by Debra Elliott
(Birmingham, AL, USA)

In my prior column I talked about self-respect and the commonality of each journey that we have taken together. The reason I chose the order of our journeys was to bring you on one of the most hard-fought journey's you'll ever experience after an abortion.

This month we are going to take the journey of self-confidence.

Self-confidence is a struggle for me daily and possibly always will be. I am learning that self-confidence is one of my longest journey's and the most treacherous journey I will take.

Finding self-confidence is not easy. You can get bogged down by many different emotions on this journey.

One of those emotions is detachment and not looking at your inner beauty. After an abortion you tend to look at your outward self. All you can see is ugliness. I did for many years and sometimes still do. I have to constantly remind myself there is “beauty from ashes.”

Women who have had an abortion feel charred, but don't realize in God's sight they are beautiful.

A good example of “beauty from ashes” comes from I Peter 3:4: (Rather, beauty is something internal that can't be destroyed. Beauty expresses itself in a gentle and quiet attitude which God considers precious.)GOD'S WORD® Translation

Believe in your inner beauty! A verse that will help you gain your inner beauty self-confidence is Hebrews 10:35.

This verse tells us not to throw away our confidence.(So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.)

Do not throw away your inner beauty. Have confidence in the beauty within yourself. The Lord has already richly rewarded your inner beauty by taking your "ashes" and turning them into beauty.

Another self-confidence blocker is oppression. Having a sense of being weighed down in body and mind can take a heavy toll on your self-confidence.

In Job 11:18 God directs to us feel confident because there is hope.(And you shall be secure and feel confident because there is hope; yes, you shall search about you, and you shall take your rest in safety.)

You will face hopeless situations and yes, you will have to search deep within yourself to find your self-confidence, but you can rest securely and safely in God's refuge and feel confident about yourself.

There are many challenges ahead of you on the journey of self-confidence, but when you turn to the Lord you can accomplish your final result.

Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident. Psalm 27:3

Over the past few months our journeys have taken us down many paths and self-contentment will take us to the end of our journey. Finding self-contentment after an abortion can be achieved using our previous journeys as road maps. I will show you all the steps needed to attain your self-contentment.

But even though self-contentment will be our last “journey” together, I am not leaving you alone. Our journeys will never truly be over. I have been thoroughly blessed by your thoughts, your heart-felt words, and your favorite bible verses.

I have always looked forward to sharing my words with you. God chose to take me down a rocky path to help others that have been in my shoes. I will always feel grateful that I am blessed with that honor.

Until next time and the journeys to come...

Be blessed,
Debra