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by Marsha Means, M.A.
While in the States recently for a family reunion, I spotted the following words on the cover of a Guideposts™ magazine: “Paul Young: ‘Why I wrote The Shack.’”
I eagerly picked up the magazine and quickly flipped to the story to discover for myself just what had inspired Paul Young to write this little bestseller that everyone is talking about. The story has really impacted my life, and it left me wondering where Paul found the inspiration and imagery that made Jesus seem so real and available in the 21st Century.
As I read, I found more than I bargained for. I also found the answer to this newsletter’s title question:”What do the Author of ‘The Shack’ & Your Husband Have in Common?” Please take time to read the article for yourself by clicking on the following link. I guarantee you that you won’t be sorry : http://www.guideposts.com/story/paul-young-shack-healing
Since reading the Guideposts™ article, Paul’s life story continues to circulate in my mind and heart because his experience so resonates with many things I’ve learned as I continue to minister to people wounded by sexual addiction. And I believe these things are pertinent to your husband’s story and healing, as well as to your own. Let me share some of them with you:
People who struggle with addiction—especially sexual addiction—were nearly always wounded as children and they’re simply treating pain…usually unhealed trauma pain
Their pain nearly always requires an inside-out approach to deep healing and cannot be permanently eliminated with only an outside-in 12 Step approach. And healing requires time and a process
Millions upon millions of wonderful Christian men and women are lost and alone, deep in the darkest recesses of this addiction and know of no safe place to turn for help
The millions of men and women who are married to sexual addicts feel equally lost and alone, and very few have any idea where to find safe help
Freedom begins with bringing the truth of the addiction out into the light with safe people equipped to help you heal
And just as He did in Paul Young’s life, when we drag the truth of the addiction out into the light with safe people who are equipped to help us heal, God can take the seeming garbage of our lives and use it to help not only us heal, but He can use it to help others heal as well.
Helping you and your partner find ways to heal the trauma in your lives continues to be our greatest passion, and we are delighted to announce that Marsha’s latest book, Your Sexually Addicted Spouse: How Partners Can Cope And Heal, is now available at online booksellers and will be in the major book stores early next week. We guarantee you this book has almost nothing to do with your spouse and everything to do with the trauma you’ve experienced because of the addiction..
The book is based on co-author Dr. Barb Steffen’s ground-breaking research study which revealed to the treatment community that nearly 70% of partners of sex addicts are not only traumatized by discovering sex addiction is present in their marriages, a huge percentage also experience ongoing post traumatic stress disorder that can have disastrous effects on their lives and their long-term physical health.
Don’t miss the important information this book contains. It is packed with new information researched and presented to help you heal, and to help you prevent trauma’s potential long-term negative effects in your life.
On a related note, Marsha will be presenting a workshop titled, The Trauma from the Drama, at a conference for partners of sex addicts in the San Francisco Bay Area on Saturday, September 12th. If you live within driving distance, consider taking in this day that has been planned and filled with wonderful presentations for your benefit and healing. More information is available at http://www.opccag.org/page.php?pageid=269d984aed60e82f9d07585c9489246a
Also, be watching your in-box for announcements of other new resources we’re busy putting together to help you heal and to help you connect with other partners of sexual addicts, no matter where you live. We’re excited about these new resources and can’t wait to share them with you!
And please remember to pray for us as we seek to help you find help, wholeness and healing.
Your sister on this journey,
Marsha
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