Female Military and Sexual Abuse – Find Healing & Hope

United States Aircraft Carrier

There are few things in life as discouraging, depressing and altogether disgusting as sexual abuse of any person in any circumstance but abusing another person in the military under the guise of “protecting freedom” has a certain nuanced evil to it.

It’s one thing to see evil at the hands of untrained, unprincipled, undisciplined folk; it’s another thing to see evil done by the hands of soldiers who swore to protect, defend and fight for the safety of the most vulnerable.

Abuse is always bad, but when done by those in power positions we must stop and ponder the atrocity that is happening in our military every single day. The numbers are in, and they aren’t pretty.

So, what do you do if you’ve been a victim of sexual abuse while serving in the military? Where can you go for help and healing? Let me suggest three important steps:

1. Don’t Blame God, Instead Run to God

Far too many people say; “How could God allow (fill in the blank)” as if the Lord is up in heaven deploying men to assault women. That’s not how God is described in the Bible at all.

Exodus 34:6 describes God as compassionate, gracious, and slow to anger, abounding in loving-kindness. It’s a fatal flaw to blame God for what Satan and evil people do.

2. Talk it Out

When we experience trauma the temptation is to suppress it, pretend it never happened and never speak of it again. That’s not the way to healing and health.

Bottling up the anger, pressure, and emotions is destroying you, and you slowly rot away from the inside out. Find a trusted friend, counselor, pastor or superior and bring to light what has happened in the dark.

3. Forgive the Wrongs

Woman in the military

Hurt has a way of moving from sadness to bitterness if left unchecked for long seasons of time. Eventually, the hurt that happened to you becomes the defining reality and identity of your life.

Suddenly you’ve changed from a strong, driven, and dynamic person, and morphed into someone who is angry, bitter and sees all of life through a victim lens. Offering grace to those who don’t deserve it is actually the definition of grace.

If they deserved it, it would be earned which no longer can be defined as grace. When you forgive you not only extend them love, but you also extend yourself hope and healing.


Pastor Ryan Moffet family photoAbout the Author:

Ryan Moffat is the teaching pastor at Vast Church in Sisters, OR and is currently working on his Masters in Theology at Western Seminary in Portland, OR

Ryan received his BS in Bible and Theology and a minor in counseling from Multnomah University. He has pastored students, families and is passionate about Christ-centered recovery and healing. He’s been married to his beautiful wife Michelle for 13 years and they enjoy raising four crazy, unique and special kids together.


The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of addictions. These are not necessarily the views of Addiction Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Addiction Hope understand that addictions result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an addiction, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Published on September 12, 2017
Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on September 12, 2017.
Published on AddictionHope.com

About Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC

Jacquelyn Ekern founded Addiction Hope in January, 2013, after experiencing years of inquiries for addiction help by visitors to our well regarded sister site, Eating Disorder Hope. Many of the eating disorder sufferers that contact Eating Disorder Hope also had a co-occurring issue of addiction to alcohol, drugs, and process addictions.