“Power is inherent in being human. Even the most vulnerable among us have power. How we use it or withhold it determines our impact on others.” This is the first of many quotes I have highlighted in Chapter One, in a book by Author and Counselor Diane Langberg, “Redeeming Power, Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church”. Diane has worked 40 years with Pastor’s and abuse victims. She has heard the worst of the worst. Her work began in the 70’s working with trauma and Veterans and grew into abuses that involved the church, sad to say.

In summing up her years of this type of work, you would think you would hear cynicism, hopelessness and some discouragement and she does honestly share her times that she wanted to quit, but what struck me was her continual pointing to the Cross in leaning into the suffering and abuses of others. She says God was teaching her about desperate humans, suffering and humanity. As a Victim’s Advocate-in-training, I am realistic in knowing it is not an easy road, to lean in to be present in someone’s story of abuse. Yet it is people Like Diane, that make me want to persevere and serve.

Diane defines the English word power as: “having the capacity to do something, to act or produce an effect, to influence people or events, or to have authority.” She goes on to say that God invested humans with power. In Genesis 1:26-27 we are told that God made humans who bear his likeness and told them to rule. He did not tell them to rule over each other, but to rule and subdue the earth. “Power was given to humans, who reflected the God who made them. And what do we know about this God? He is good; he is faithful; he is a refuge; he is truth; he is love.”

To grasp the concept of power, we also have to have a sense of what it means to be human. To be human is to have a voice and creative expression. “Abuse of power silences that self and the words, feelings, thoughts and choices of the victim. ..Abuse of any kind is always damaging to the image of God in humans.” To be an Advocate, caregiver, or Pastor is an invitation into darkness, but Diane says it is in the darkness that we will find Jesus crucified. Resurrection in death. Isaiah 45 states that God will give us the treasures of darkness so that we will know it is the LORD that calls our name.

We are given power to glorify God and to bless and serve others. This is the main message I hear when I read Diane’s work. “God gives power to us as his creatures to be held in trust. It’s purpose is to bless. If we understand the nature of power, both its source and its dangers, we will walk humbly before others, for our Master has said that if we would be chief, if we would lead and impact others, then we must serve. Before telling his disciples that he was sending them, Jesus said, “Look at my hands. Look at my feet” (Luke 24:39 NLT). These are the marks of his humility, the insignia of his authority, the visible evidence that he came to serve, not to be served. Those who follow him, endowed with his power, are called to go the way of the cross.”

One final story that I heard her share was in a time where she did get discouraged and was ready to quit her work. She made a list of all the negatives in her work and it was not a short list, she held it up to God to tell Him this was the reasons she wanted to quit. She heard God speak to her quietly to make another list, a list of opposites to what she had written down. All the qualities on that list described God. Her work brings about more of the qualities on THAT list and that is why she did not quit. The name of her book says it all: “Redeeming Power”.