Dear Conrad - How does one who had to deal with sexual (or any kind of) abuse in past relationships deal with the lifelong effects of it from a Biblical/Christian standpoint? - Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

Any type of trial that God allows in our life is met with the same verse...

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, [3] because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. [4] Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

God allows certain things in our lives for a reason.

The first reason is to bring us closer to him. Like the verse says, "so we can be complete," to grow our faith.

Another reason - and this often happens with sexual abuse, rape, pregnancy, abortion, etc., is that later on in life you'll be able to help someone else in that same predicament.

Like some girl who is 17 and pregnant might not think I know what I'm talking about since I'm a guy. But even though I know more about the Bible and stuff, they might turn to a girl who's gone through it.

Sometimes people need someone to identify with and not a bunch of verses (no matter how applicable those verses might be).

You just have to trust God that there is a reason for it. Have faith that even though you might not have a purpose for going through that stuff now, that there eventually will be a purpose for it.

And it should have had a personal purpose already, just by bringing you closer to God but having to trust and put your faith in him.