Ever feel like you’re sinking?
Like the more you think about what’s been done to you, the deeper you get stuck in the mud of self-pity?
It could be the Victim Swamp.
It’s that heavy place where our hearts rehearse injustice, betrayal, or disappointment. It feels validating in the moment, but before long, it steals our strength and blinds us from seeing God’s hope.
Other junk in the Victim Swamp is:
Bitterness, Self Pity, Entitlement, and Embellishment
We use “victim” to refer to victims of intentionally hurtful perpetrators and/or to victims of non-perpetrator traumatic events (accidents, natural disasters, etc). Despite the feelings commonly associated with it, there is nothing inherently shameful about being a victim . It is not a character flaw to have been victimized – it is something we all experience at one time or another as a part of living in this fallen world. The problem begins when we get stuck in “victimhood.” We slide into the victim swamp when we begin to take on “victimhood” as an identity, when we do things (like bitterness, self pity, entitlement, and embellishment) that prevent us from healing and moving on, that keep us stuck in the place of being a wounded victim. – Dr Karl Lehman MD, Immanuel Approach
The truth?
Living in the Victim Swamp doesn’t heal us—it only keeps us bound. Jesus invites us to something better: to bring our pain to Him so that He can exchange it for His healing presence.
How Jesus Meets Us in the Victim Swamp
- He acknowledges our grief and sorrow (John 11:35).
- He rescues us from the pit (Psalm 40:2).
- He restores dignity, identity, and hope (Isaiah 61:1-3).
Instead of letting bitterness, self-pity, or entitlement dictate our story, we can let Jesus’ voice reshape how we see ourselves, others, and our future.
Listening Prayer: Questions to Ask Jesus
When you sense yourself stuck in the Victim Swamp, pause. Invite the Lord into your inner dialogue. Then, listen.
Here are some gentle questions to ask Him:
- Jesus, where do You see me feeling like a victim right now?
- What wound or lie am I holding onto that keeps me stuck here?
- What do You want me to know about this pain?
- Jesus, what truth or promise do You want to exchange for my self-pity?
- What does it look like to walk out of this swamp with You today?
- Who do You say I am, beyond this hurt?
Take time to wait in silence. Notice the impressions, Scriptures, or pictures He brings. Journal them. His voice will always align with His Word and His character—gentle, truthful, and full of hope.
Walking Forward in Freedom
Self-pity may feel like a safe place for a moment, but it is quicksand. Jesus doesn’t minimize your pain—He redeems it. He’s not afraid of your tears or your honesty. In fact, that’s often where healing begins.
Today, if you feel yourself slipping into the Victim Swamp, remember: you don’t have to stay there. Reach out for His hand. Let Him lift you up and set your feet on solid ground again.
“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”
—Psalm 40:2 NIV
Merri Ellen 🙂
Following and Trusting : Encountering God Out of the Box 
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