
You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Ps. 32:7
I treasured spending time with friends, whether one-on-one or in gatherings.
Over time, the woundings of narcissistic abuse down-sized my friendships and my social calendar. I felt emotionally vulnerable in gatherings. I never knew when comments or questions would prompt embarrassing tears.
Withdrawing into social isolation protected my heart. As I sought for answers, I learned this could either provide a temporary season of healing or an unhealthy pattern hindering my emotional recovery.
With time, I discovered what I needed to feel emotionally safe:
Time with empathetic friends
Knowledge of my wounds from narcissistic abuse
Boundaries for conversations with inquiring minds
Practice for entering God’s hiding place
A friend who survived a compelling crisis shared she envisioned herself rocked in the arms of Jesus. I remember during my darkest days, I often imagined myself curled at the feet of Jesus as I slept. I had entered that safe place of refuge with God. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge (Ps. 91:4).
The Lord has helped me find my way back to emotional safety within select social gatherings, where my joy blends in harmony with others’.
Father, thank You for providing a hiding place for my heart—a safe place to heal and grow. Thank You for Your gentle counsel for each step forward. I offer the psalmist’s benediction for all who need a safe place to rest and to launch.
“May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord,
even as we put our hope in You.”
Ps. 33:22
© Making Sense of My Life
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