Dependence, Not Desolation

I think one of the saddest stories in the Bible is found in II Samuel 13. It's about the rape of Tamar. Tamar was King David's daughter and Absalom's sister, and Amnon's half sister. She was very beautiful and she wore a long beautiful robe to signify that she was the virgin daughter of the king. Amnon lusted after her and thought he loved her. He tricked her into coming to his bedroom on the pretense of feeding him because he was ill. When she refused to go to bed with him, he raped her.

Nothing in this was Tamar's fault. She was totally innocent, but it changed her life dramatically. There are some lessons we can learn from Tamar's story:

*Talk honestly with God-and safe people-about what happened. Absalom didn't want Tamar to talk about what happened to her. "Her brother Absalom saw her and asked "Is it true that Amnon has been with you? Well, my sister, keep quiet for now, since he's your brother. Don't you worry about it". So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in her brother Absalom's house", II Samuel 13:20. NLT. Buried feelings will become poisonous. Extract them and let God shine His light on them because His light is healing.

Refuse to listen to Satan's lies. II Samuel 13:19 says "But now Tamar tore her robe and put ashes on her head. And then, with her face in her hands, she went away crying". Tamar was still a princess, a daughter of the king. But Tamar believed she could never be restored. Don't believe it! You are not damaged, desolate, or disgraced. Believe what God's Word says, that "You are a new creation if you are in Christ", II Corinthians 5:17, and "a child of God", John 1:12. NIV.

Depend on Jesus to change your life. "To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair", Isaiah 61:3. NLT. Jesus wants to tenderly brush those ashes off your head and set on you a crown of beauty. Let Him do it by surrendering your life to Him. Live surrounded by His blessing and joy, not desolation.