Day 3: What the princess didn't know….

Tamar.  A daughter of the king.  A princess.   Who lost all hope…..
The story of Tamar is found in chapter 13 of Samuel.  Do you know the last thing the Bible tells us about Tamar?
So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house. 2 Samuel 13:20
Do you know what desolate means?   Yes, you guessed it: without hope.    Let me tell you Tamar’s story…..
Tamar was very beautiful and her brother (likely a half brother) Amnon fell in love with her.  (or more likely lust…)  He was so obsessed with her that he made himself sick and upon advice of a “friend” he pretended to be very ill and requested that the king (both his father and Tamar’s) send Tamar to him and help care for him.   The king sent Tamar as requested and despite her pleas Amnon raped her.    The Bible then tells us that “the hate with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he loved her.”   Did you catch that?   In his heart Amnon knew he had done a horrible thing.   Tamar now represented his sin to him and he could no longer bear the sight of her.  To add insult to injury he called a servant to throw her out of his house.
In her shame and agony she tore her royal garments and put ashes upon her head and the last thing we know about her is that she went to her brother Absalom’s house, without hope.
There is so much to learn from this story but what I really want you to see is this:   There is only so much someone else can take from you.   What happened to this likely very young girl was horrendous but it did not change who she was… he could not take her identity, she was still a daughter of the king. 
And finally know this: no one can take your hope.     That is something you have to relinquish.   Hold onto it with your very life.  Whatever has happened, whatever hurtful words have been spoken do not let it define you and do not let have power over you.  Go to your Father’s house, let him heal you, let him defend you.  I know, I know, words are easily spoken, but I tell you from experience: you are never without hope and there is nothing God can’t redeem.