So many blessings in the face of evil.

[URA]

Long story short, a very good friend of mine was almost raped by a guy at a frat party recently. Even worse, this guy was in charge of the university's anti-domestic violence campaign. He currently has over 100 people on campus that want to kill him, including the entire men's hockey team, and he's since been brought into the detective's office for interviewing, where he's admitted to enough to probably push for criminal prosecution. If all goes as it looks like it will, he'll be sent to prison, and put on the sex offender registry--ending his junior year as an Education major.
Many people across campus, myself included, have been hit very hard by this--none more than my friend who was the direct victim, of course. However, she's handling this remarkably well (now), and is receiving a massive amount of support. Campus Security & the local police department are handling this very seriously, and hopefully his frat will, as well. All things considered, it's amazing how well all of this has been going; apparently, it's miraculous enough that this guy admitted to anything, but for him to admit to enough to be grounds for criminal procedures is nothing short of an act of God. Other girls have been coming out from everywhere to tell my friend about times when they were abused, but didn't report it, and how encouraging it is to see that this is being handled so seriously. She can't stop thanking her roommates for talking her into reporting it, because she originally wasn't going to.
She has been a very good friend to me all year, especially in the past week or so, and I've been asking for God to shower her with blessings because of it. When I heard about her being almost raped, I said some very bad things to God because of it--"I ask for blessings, and you do this?!?!?!" But the whole time, I didn't want to say anything like that, but it was almost as if Jesus was right behind me, encouraging me, saying, "Let it all out, it's okay, I understand, I know you don't mean this but just need to vent." After calming down enough, I could see how well everything was being handled, and how it's likely keeping a sexually abusive teacher from ever getting started.
I've been hit hard enough to not really be able to study for finals, or focus well when I can, but He's made the finals I've had be much easier than I expected, pulling through for me in such a weakened state.
Please pray to continue these blessings, but most of all, praise God for all the good that's come out of such an act of evil, and help us to always remember that even in the bleakest times, He's always there for us, and will never abandon His kids.

 

[URA]

I'd like to add that some things I learned from Fr. Michael Gaitley's "Consoling the Heart of Jesus" have proved to be extremely helpful. One of the main points of this course was offering up your sufferings to Jesus, and asking for his grace, for that's what consoles his heart. (The course itself goes into much better detail than I will, and I highly recommend it for any Catholic).
The premise of much of the course was simple: Jesus wants to heal us, take our sins, take us as we're broken & imperfect, and transform us. Offering up my suffering, and knowing that it consoles Him to take care of it, has been incredibly helpful, and if I hadn't seen any of these videos, I don't know how much more destroyed I'd be feeling right now.
Another great point: we always need to trust Jesus, to know that He's got a plan for everything. But what does it mean to trust? How do we trust Him? Thank Him & praise Him. As hard is it is to thank Him for this, and as long as I refused to thank Him for something this horrible, thanksgiving & praise brought an immense sense of peace.
Another point: Jesus is constantly offering His grace to everyone, but it's all too often turned down. That grace is turned back into His heart, and burns Him. It's great pleasure to Him to give this grace to those who ask with sincerity, that they may best turn to others & grant them Jesus' love & mercy. I've been asking for Jesus to send down that love & mercy upon my friend, and on all those around her, and (as hard as it was) on the guy that abused her.

So many graces.

 

[CassieShannon]

Long story short, a very good friend of mine was almost raped by a guy at a frat party recently. Even worse, this guy was in charge of the university's anti-domestic violence campaign. He currently has over 100 people on campus that want to kill him, including the entire men's hockey team, and he's since been brought into the detective's office for interviewing, where he's admitted to enough to probably push for criminal prosecution. If all goes as it looks like it will, he'll be sent to prison, and put on the sex offender registry--ending his junior year as an Education major.
Many people across campus, myself included, have been hit very hard by this--none more than my friend who was the direct victim, of course. However, she's handling this remarkably well (now), and is receiving a massive amount of support. Campus Security & the local police department are handling this very seriously, and hopefully his frat will, as well. All things considered, it's amazing how well all of this has been going; apparently, it's miraculous enough that this guy admitted to anything, but for him to admit to enough to be grounds for criminal procedures is nothing short of an act of God. Other girls have been coming out from everywhere to tell my friend about times when they were abused, but didn't report it, and how encouraging it is to see that this is being handled so seriously. She can't stop thanking her roommates for talking her into reporting it, because she originally wasn't going to.
She has been a very good friend to me all year, especially in the past week or so, and I've been asking for God to shower her with blessings because of it. When I heard about her being almost raped, I said some very bad things to God because of it--"I ask for blessings, and you do this?!?!?!" But the whole time, I didn't want to say anything like that, but it was almost as if Jesus was right behind me, encouraging me, saying, "Let it all out, it's okay, I understand, I know you don't mean this but just need to vent." After calming down enough, I could see how well everything was being handled, and how it's likely keeping a sexually abusive teacher from ever getting started.
I've been hit hard enough to not really be able to study for finals, or focus well when I can, but He's made the finals I've had be much easier than I expected, pulling through for me in such a weakened state.
Please pray to continue these blessings, but most of all, praise God for all the good that's come out of such an act of evil, and help us to always remember that even in the bleakest times, He's always there for us, and will never abandon His kids.

 

[CassieShannon]

Long story short, a very good friend of mine was almost raped by a guy at a frat party recently. Even worse, this guy was in charge of the university's anti-domestic violence campaign. He currently has over 100 people on campus that want to kill him, including the entire men's hockey team, and he's since been brought into the detective's office for interviewing, where he's admitted to enough to probably push for criminal prosecution. If all goes as it looks like it will, he'll be sent to prison, and put on the sex offender registry--ending his junior year as an Education major.
Many people across campus, myself included, have been hit very hard by this--none more than my friend who was the direct victim, of course. However, she's handling this remarkably well (now), and is receiving a massive amount of support. Campus Security & the local police department are handling this very seriously, and hopefully his frat will, as well. All things considered, it's amazing how well all of this has been going; apparently, it's miraculous enough that this guy admitted to anything, but for him to admit to enough to be grounds for criminal procedures is nothing short of an act of God. Other girls have been coming out from everywhere to tell my friend about times when they were abused, but didn't report it, and how encouraging it is to see that this is being handled so seriously. She can't stop thanking her roommates for talking her into reporting it, because she originally wasn't going to.
She has been a very good friend to me all year, especially in the past week or so, and I've been asking for God to shower her with blessings because of it. When I heard about her being almost raped, I said some very bad things to God because of it--"I ask for blessings, and you do this?!?!?!" But the whole time, I didn't want to say anything like that, but it was almost as if Jesus was right behind me, encouraging me, saying, "Let it all out, it's okay, I understand, I know you don't mean this but just need to vent." After calming down enough, I could see how well everything was being handled, and how it's likely keeping a sexually abusive teacher from ever getting started.
I've been hit hard enough to not really be able to study for finals, or focus well when I can, but He's made the finals I've had be much easier than I expected, pulling through for me in such a weakened state.
Please pray to continue these blessings, but most of all, praise God for all the good that's come out of such an act of evil, and help us to always remember that even in the bleakest times, He's always there for us, and will never abandon His kids.

 

[CassieShannon]

Unofficial Reverend Alex,
I had a friend who was manipulated by a similar guy in college. Watching it all unfold was devastating to me at the time. I remember being perplexed by the situation and asking God, "why". As you have already stated God never abandons His children, however in John 16:33 it says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Finding answers in The Word of God is so comforting. God bless you as you continue to serve Him.
Cassie