December 2
Breaking
Free
"Defend the weak and the fatherless. Uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Save the weak and those in need. Save them from the power of sinful people."
Psalm 82:3-4 (NIrV)
Josephine stared at the bathroom mirror, her fingers gently tracing the bruise on her cheek. It was already fading, just like the others before it. She pulled her sleeves down over her wrists, covering the marks. No one needed to see. No one needed to know.
“Jo, don’t make me the bad guy here,” Phil had said after it happened. “You know how you push my buttons. If you just listened—if you just stopped making things difficult—this wouldn’t happen.”
She had nodded, swallowing her pain. Maybe he was right. Maybe it was her fault.
But deep down, another voice whispered: No. This isn’t love.
She had tried to leave before. Packed a bag, even made it to the door once. But then Phil cried, swore he would change, promised he’d never lay a hand on her again. He made her believe she was the only thing keeping him together. That without her, he’d fall apart.
But wasn’t she the one falling apart?
At work, her friend Leah had noticed something was off. “Jo, you don’t seem like yourself. If something’s wrong, you can tell me.”
Josephine had laughed it off. “No, it’s nothing. Phil and I... we’re just working through stuff.”
Leah’s eyes were gentle but serious. “That’s not love, Jo. Love doesn’t hurt like this.” She handed Josephine a small card. A hotline number. A way out.
Josephine clenched it in her fist now, standing in the quiet of her bathroom. Could she really do this? What if Phil found her? What if he got angry?
Her breath caught in her throat. She closed her eyes. God, if You’re there... if You care... show me what to do. Give me the strength to leave. Please.
A strange peace settled over her. Maybe it was time. Maybe she wasn’t as alone as she thought.
She grabbed her phone, dialed the number, and whispered, “I need help.”
It was just a call. Just a first step.
But it was the first step to freedom.
Prayer:
Dear God,
You see the pain that no one else sees.
You hear the cries that no one else hears. Please be near to those who feel trapped and afraid.
Give them strength, give them courage, and lead them to safety.
Remind them that they are loved and worthy of a life free from fear.
Thank You for always being a refuge in times of trouble.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
