A Counterfeit Veil: Moving Beyond the Spiritual Wounds of Sexual Abuse

By Terresa Tasabia

Where was God when I was sexually abused? This is the great unspoken question of women silently suffering in our churches today, followed closely by a second. How can God claim to care about me when I was forced to endure such unspeakable acts?

The Bible openly covers a lot of territory on sexual abuse. It holds the keys to unlock deep-seated shame, guilt and bitterness that fuse to the soul as a result of sexual violation. A Counterfeit Veil is an invitation to trade those unrelenting feelings of worthlessness and brokenness for a pure hope.

A Counterfeit Veil is a guided tour that uncovers truth about the extreme harm sexual abuse inflicts throughout a woman’s life, affecting her mind, spirit, and relationships. You will encounter and interact with scripture, perhaps in a way you never have before, as you recover your authentic spiritual identity.

You are not alone. Scripture does not shy away from the reality of your pain. You will find honest answers where there is freedom to ask the unspoken questions and take off shame like an old garment. As you journey through this study, you will find grace and acceptance that unfold both the promise and power of Christ to restore the beauty hidden beneath your unhealed scars.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664223349

Terresa Tasabia

Terresa Tasabia has worked in healing ministries for 35 years, from treating the wounds of trauma and injury to managing the challenges of chronic illness and hospice care. She has coordinated church and women’s fellowship events, worshipping at her current home church for over 20 years. Terresa and her husband live in the beautiful agricultural heartland of California’s Central Valley. They have three grown children serving in education and law enforcement, and are the very proud grandparents of three adopted grandkids.

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Copyright © 2021 Terresa Tasabia.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

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except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher

make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book

and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

The information, ideas, and suggestions in this book are not intended as a substitute for

professional medical advice, nor to diagnose or treat any medical or mental health symptom

or condition. Before following any suggestions contained in this book, you should consult

your personal physician or licensed mental health professional. Neither the author nor

the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising as a

consequence of your use or application of any information or suggestions in this book.

WestBow Press

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and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Interior Image Credit: Crystal Shreeve Photography, Instagram: @shreeve

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International

Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc.

TM. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2335-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2336-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2334-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021902709

WestBow Press rev. date: 02/09/2021

For you: a brave

woman defying the odds

and daring to embrace grace.

CONTENTS

Author’s Note

Introduction

PART 1

Lesson 1: Healing Community: Safety and Trust

• The Impact of Sexual Abuse and the Nature of God’s Healing

• Prayer and Meditation Focus

Lesson 2: An Honest Appraisal

• Sexual Abuse Defined and a New Way of Relating

• Truth and Lies

• Sharing Our Stories

• Guidelines for Sharing Our Stories in Our Healing Community

• Prayer and Meditation Focus

Lesson 3: Where was God?

• The Presence of God: Joseph’s Story

• Story Time Line

• Prayer and Meditation Focus

PART 2

Lesson 4: Set Up for Sin

• Betrayal and Shame: The Story of Tamar

• Prayer and Meditation Focus

Lesson 5: A God of Justice

• Resolving Anger and Releasing Vengeance

• Prayer and Meditation Focus

Lesson 6: A Counterfeit Veil

• The Spiritual Manifestation of Sexual Abuse

• Prayer and Meditation Focus

PART 3

Lesson 7: Our Identity in Christ

• The Present Power of the Holy Spirit

• Prayer and Meditation Focus

Lesson 8: The Key to Spiritual Freedom

• Forgiveness: The Unthinkable Solution

• Prayer and Meditation Focus

Lesson 9 Trusting the Wounded Healer

• Redeeming the Pain of Our Past

• Prayer and Meditation Focus

Appendices

About the Author

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

—2 Corinthians 3:2–3 (NIV)

A friend loves at all times.

—Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)

AUTHOR’S NOTE

A Counterfeit Veil is a restorative Bible study inspired by four women determined to overcome the spiritual burden of the sexual abuses we experienced as children. We banded together in prayer as friends to discuss, design, and test-drive this study. It is intended to help women push through the barriers of shame to