Pressing on After an Encounter with a Sociopath
By Tena DeGraaf

If you have been aggrieved by someone who possesses some of these sociopathic characteristics mentioned in part one, here are some helpful suggestions to move on:
• acknowledge that anyone except God can be deceived (Genesis 27:35)
• be wise as serpents and read credible books on the subject

Fervently Pray for:
• wisdom and guidance for each step (Proverbs 3:21-23; Proverbs 3:6)
• protection for your family and church from any harm or evil (Psalm 64:2-3)
• clarity of thought (Isaiah 5:20)
• strength during and after the persecution (1 Peter 4:12-13; 1 Peter 1:6-7)
• endurance/hope (Romans 5:1-5)
• justice (Psalm 146:7, 9)
• your enemy (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:28)
• discernment for your Christian organization’s leaders (1 Timothy 2:2)
• other victims (Colossians 1:11-14)

Other words of wisdom are:
• Be aware your views will not be understood by many or most people.
• Understand that this disconnect can lead to feelings of isolation.
• Ask God for guidance on whom to trust as you may need to unload on someone.
• Pray for a prayer partner or support group to help you move on.
• Immerse yourself in Scripture during and after an encounter to remind you of His omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence (Romans 8:31, Isaiah 42:13, Hebrews 13:5, John 16:33).
• Listen to praise music and hymns to remind you God is bigger that your persecutor.
• Give yourself time to heal. The deeper the wounds; the longer the healing process takes.
• Forgive your enemy so you don’t allow the sociopath to have control over your thought life (Ephesians 4:32; Mark 11:25; 1 John 2:10-11).
• Realize forgiveness is an ongoing process in which you may have to continue to forgive as different hurts, reminders, or thoughts wound you again and again.
• Take time to reprogram your thinking so as not to be gullible when the sociopath tries to convince you that his/her tall tale, exaggeration, embellishment, or lie is true.
• Remind yourself that many sociopaths are fluent liars.
• Realize God may have you offer hope, encouragement, and clarity for another victim (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
• Press on with the full life God has intended for you (Psalm 18:17, Psalm 118:24, Philippians 3:12, Proverbs 10:25).

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
Psalm 27:1