Author: Mindy

Healing Hurts, But It Doesn’t Harm: Why Pain Is Part of the Process in Abortion Recovery

Posted on by Mindy

Many women silently carry the emotional pain and shame of abortion for years, even decades. The thought of joining an abortion recovery Bible study can feel terrifying. After all, reopening wounds and revisiting memories you’ve buried deep might seem like more than you can bear.

You may wonder: What if I break down? What if I can’t handle it? What if it destroys me?

Let’s be clear it will hurt. But it won’t harm you.

There is a distinct difference between pain that is meant to destroy and pain that is meant to heal. Some pain is inflicted by cruelty it is sharp, devastating, and intended to break you. Many of us have experienced this kind of harm at the hands of others.

But then there is pain that comes with healing.

Think of a broken bone being set, a deep wound being cleaned, or an infection being treated. The process is painful sometimes excruciating but we endure it because we know the pain leads to restoration. We accept it because healing is worth it. We don’t look back on those moments of treatment as destruction, but as necessary steps to wholeness.

This is the kind of pain that abortion recovery Bible studies bring.

Yes, it is hard. Yes, it can be messy. But the Great Physician, Jehovah-Rapha, is in our midst. And His intention is always healing, never harm.

Zephaniah 3:15 reminds us:

“The Lord has taken away His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more.”

In these groups, you’ll find:

  • Leaders who have walked this very road and now walk in freedom and victory.
  • A small circle of women who, like you, are trembling but determined to heal.
  • A safe space where God’s presence meets you week after week.
  • Love, grace, and the covering of Jesus — not shame.
  • A journey that ends not in devastation, but in promise and purpose.

You don’t have to keep carrying your pain. You don’t have to let shame write the rest of your story.

Let this be the moment you choose freedom. Let God turn your pain into purpose.

Healing will hurt. But it will not harm. It will set you free.

Mindy Lefaucheur is the Executive Director of An Even Place, a virtual abortion recovery ministry providing biblical discipleship and healing support for men and women impacted by abortion. Learn more at An Even Place

Death by Paper Cut: How Do Small Wounds Become Deep Bitterness?

Posted on by Mindy

Can you imagine dying by thousands of papercuts? It is a horrible and gruesome picture. While I have not heard of anyone physically dying in such a way, I have seen relationships sour, countenances darken, and souls begin to rot under the weight of thousands of small offenses. These are not the large, obvious wounds. These are the repeated, seemingly insignificant moments that, over time, are nurtured by the poison of bitterness, expectations, and assumptions.

I recently discussed this with a friend. And if I am being honest, I may have been talking with her to help her work through the pain of repeated little offenses while recognizing that I have allowed the soil of my own heart to be overtaken by these same toxic thoughts.

Anger and bitterness can be comforting for a time. They can feel justified. They can even feel strong. But they do not remain contained. They produce fruit that harms everyone around us, including ourselves.

Hebrews 12:14 to 15 speaks clearly to this:
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord; looking carefully lest any root of bitterness spring up and cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”

Have you ever been in the presence of someone who is being pleasant on the surface, but you can tell something is not right? There is a disconnect. Peace and holiness are how people see God in us. Peace is the outward expression of Christ in how we relate to others. Holiness is the inward posture of the heart and mind resting in Him.

We can maintain external peace while quietly harboring resentment, unforgiveness, or even hatred. But when we do this, people do not see God in us. If our heart is not aligned in holiness, we need to examine the soil within. What root of bitterness is occupying space where the Lord is meant to dwell?

Much like weeds in a garden, these roots do not stay hidden. They spread. They choke out what is good. They require attention.

If you are anything like me, anger can become a default response. It feels good in the moment. It satisfies something in us. It can make us feel justified, strong, even righteous. But when anger and bitterness take root, the fruit they produce defiles many. That should give us pause, because the “many” often includes people who were never the object of our frustration. And it always includes us.

So what do we do? How do we deal with roots of bitterness lodged deep within the heart?

We forgive.

Jesus said, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Forgiveness is not a one time act when it comes to these small, repeated offenses. It is a continual choice.

Forgiveness is the tool that cuts down the visible growth of bitterness. Each time you choose to forgive, you are removing what has surfaced. Over time, when that root is no longer nurtured, it begins to weaken. Roots need care to survive. They need attention, agreement, and repeated thoughts to grow. When you choose forgiveness, you cut off that supply.

And something else happens. That same care and attention is redirected toward the good seed the Lord has already planted in your heart. As Mark 4:8 reminds us, that seed produces thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. But it cannot flourish where weeds are left unattended.

At An Even Place, this is part of the work we walk through with men and women every day. While many come to us carrying deep and significant wounds, we also help them identify the quieter patterns that take root over time. The small offenses. The repeated thoughts. The assumptions that were never addressed. These are often the noxious weeds that quietly overtake the soil of the heart if left unchecked.

This is not a message about the larger, more complex wounds that require time, wisdom, and careful care. This is about the daily tending of the heart. The small offenses that accumulate. The moments where we choose whether we will nurture bitterness or uproot it.

What is growing in your heart right now?
How long has it been there?
What thoughts have you been nurturing?

Take those thoughts captive. Bring them before the Lord. Choose to forgive, again and again if needed.

It is the only way to stop the slow bleeding.
It is the only way to protect the soil of your heart.
And it is the only way to walk in the peace that allows others to truly see Him in you.

Mindy Lefaucheur is the Executive Director of An Even Place, a virtual abortion recovery ministry providing biblical discipleship and healing support for men and women impacted by abortion. Learn more at An Even Place

Is Grief The Same As Repentance? Why It Matters

Posted on by Mindy

We talk a lot about God’s love, grace, and mercy—and rightly so. We want His forgiveness. Yet sometimes we struggle to actually receive it.

There’s a quiet assumption that if someone is grieving, repentance has already taken place. But grief and repentance are not the same thing. Scripture consistently connects confession, repentance, and forgiveness. Without truth, there can be no repentance. Without repentance, there is no forgiveness. And without forgiveness, there is no freedom or restored purpose.

In our effort to avoid making someone feel uncomfortable, we can become hesitant to call sin what God calls sin. But Scripture is clear. The New Testament lists murder among sins (see 1 Corinthians 6:9–10, Galatians 5:19–21). Jesus goes even further, teaching that hatred in the heart is murder (see Matthew 5:21–22).

The Bible also shows us that even those who committed grave sins were not beyond God’s reach. King David arranged the death of Uriah (2 Samuel 11), and the consequences were severe. Yet David did not hide from the truth—he confessed it. In Psalm 51, he cries out, “Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight.”

If you have had an abortion, Scripture tells us this truth plainly: a life was ended. In God’s eyes, that is sin. That is hard news—but it is not the end of the story.

Here is the good news: God is ready to forgive.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us” (1 John 1:9).
God does not merely offer mercy—He delights in it (Micah 7:18).
True confession with godly sorrow leads to repentance that brings life (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Jesus came because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). He gave His life so you would not bear the penalty of your sin. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

Truth may wound at first—but it is the doorway to forgiveness, freedom, and restoration. And in Christ, no sin has the final word.

God Deserves More than Your Devotional

Posted on by Mindy

“Praise the Lord! I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them.”
Psalm 111:1–2

There are two things in these verses that every believer must take to heart:

1. We Are Called to Praise God in the Congregation

The psalmist makes no secret of his intent he is praising God not in private solitude, but “in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.” In other words, with the people of God.

This is where our praise belongs. Not just alone in our prayer closets (though that’s good too), but together, in unity and shared devotion. Something powerful happens when we gather and lift our voices in unison to worship the Lord. Have you ever been to a concert where the band stops singing, and the entire crowd takes over the song? It’s moving. Multiply that by heaven. When God’s people gather and lift their voices in one accord, we rock the heavens. God hears it and is pleased.

Yet I hear too often:
“I don’t go to church anymore.”
“I love God, but I can’t deal with Christians.”
“I just stream a sermon at home.”

Let’s be honest this isn’t okay. God has commanded us to assemble, to praise Him together with our whole hearts. If you’re a believer, your place is in the Body, not watching from the sidelines. Don’t forsake the gift and power of the gathered Church. We need each other. God designed it this way.

2. The Works of the Lord Are to Be Studied, Not Sampled

Psalm 111:2 makes it plain:
“The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them.”

Too many believers settle for second-rate spiritual meals. We snack on devotionals and Christian quotes while our Bibles collect dust. There’s nothing inherently wrong with a devotional but let’s be honest about what it is.

A typical devotional:

  • One Bible verse (maybe two)
  • A paragraph or two of someone else’s commentary
  • A short prayer

That means, percentagewise, we’re giving about 5% of our attention to God’s actual Word, and the remaining 95% to another person’s thoughts. That’s not devotion. That’s outsourcing your relationship with God.

Would you tell a wife to stop speaking directly to her husband and only hear about him through his best friend? No! That marriage wouldn’t last.

So why do we approach God that way?

We must go straight to His Word. If we want to know what He thinks, what He feels, who He is we study the Bible. We dig into it, delight in it, meditate on it. The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them.

And here’s the good news: When you begin to study His works, you will take pleasure in them. It is the natural outcome of a heart set on His Word. You will be transformed. You will be renewed. Psalm 119:9 reminds us:
“How can a man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.”

So, What Now?

If you’ve drifted from the gathering of the saints…come back.
If you’ve replaced your Bible with bite-sized devos…open the Word.
If you’ve grown lukewarm in praise…lift your voice again.

Your life depends on it.

Let’s be a people who praise with our whole hearts together and who treasure the Word above all else.

Because He is worthy.

The Blessing In The Struggle

Posted on by Mindy

If you’re in the middle of a struggle right now and you’re seeking God, clinging to His truth, leaning on His Word but still can’t seem to see your way forward, do not despair. If God is with you, then you are in the best and safest place you can be.

Struggles come from many places. Sometimes they’re the result of our own sin and poor choices. Other times they stem from circumstances beyond our control. But whatever the cause, don’t abandon the struggle in search of an easier way. Reject the cheap comforts, the numbing habits, and the false security of coping mechanisms. Be in the struggle. Because if God has led you here, He has something for you in it.

Genesis 32:22–32 tells the story of Jacob, returning to the land promised to his father and grandfather. He was afraid. His brother Esau, whom he had deceived long ago, was coming to meet him. That night, Jacob found himself wrestling with a Man, who we now understand to be the Lord Himself. They wrestled all night. God could have stopped the match, spoken a word of truth, and left it at that. But He didn’t. He let Jacob wrestle.

And in the end, Jacob cried out for a blessing. We don’t know exactly what was in his heart in that moment, but if you’ve ever wrestled with God’s truth, desperate for transformation, you understand. “Lord, make me different.” Jacob, the deceiver, the manipulator, was changed that night. His name, his direction, his heart. He walked away wounded, yes, but also blessed, transformed, and made new.

Whether your struggle is of your own making or the result of life’s cruelty, know this: God desires to bless you with new life. That’s why Jesus came. He died on your behalf because He knows you can’t make yourself right. Only His blood can cover your shame. Only His grace can set you free.

Call out to Him. Acknowledge your sin. Invite Him to rule your life.

“The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy.” – Psalm 145:8

Don’t run from the wrestle. Embrace the struggle. God meets us there.