Trauma

Traumatic happenings occur in everyone’s life.

What is traumatic for one person may not be traumatic to the next person. Nevertheless, at some point, we all experience trauma. How we react and overcome the trauma is what matters. Well, sometimes our initial reaction is shock or bewilderment or numbness or retreating. Then, there are some who seem to never miss a beat. They deal with their trauma in private not knowing if it will ever reveal itself again. Some people may choose to milk it or wallow in the trauma, meaning that the shock has subsided but they choose to take advantage of the aftermath. No one can judge for sure what is actually happening in another person. But I have found that the answer to trauma, no matter what form it comes in, is prayer and the Word of God.

God knew that we would face many traumas in life. So, it is in trauma where we can draw closer to Him (James 4:7-8) and depend on Him like we never have before; and thus, come to know and understand the scope of His love and compassion that He has for each of us (Ephesians 3:16-21). There are many verses and passages and books of the Bible that God has used to help me deal with the wide range of traumas in my life. I can’t say that each one yielded an instant healing, but I can say that each one has worked. Sometimes the period was extremely brief, and other times the period was extremely long.

No matter the recovery time, I have found that God’s Word works - it is fruitful. It’s actually just miraculous! It heals from the inside out making one’s faith and resolve stronger and more fortified because of God being God both in us and all around us. And you know what? I love Him for that and for each and every traumatic experience that enables me/us or forces me/us to know Him even better. And not just to know Him better, but to become better or to be transformed more into who He wants us to be. So, I am thankful for every tear, for every fear, for every heartache and heartbreak, for every disappointment, for every loss, for every need, for every confrontation, ...! Yes, I am absolutely thankful because I realize that God was with me and is still with me. I realize that God loves me/us more than we can comprehend. He fills in every limitation we have willingly. I am ashamed that I fall short of His amazing glory.

Lord,

Please forgive my every thought and my every deed that is against you or anyone

else.

In Jesus’ Name! Amen.

Trauma does not win in the believer. It cannot win. It will not win. For this, I am thankful. He has given Himself to overcome whatever we may encounter in this world (1 John 5:4). Because He has equipped us so, I choose to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Him (Luke 9:23). I choose to accept that He has not given us the spirit of fear but rather the

Spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). I am grateful that He lives in us/me (John 14:16-17).

Lord,

My prayer today is for everyone who is experiencing some form of trauma. Heal

them, Lord, and set them free from what binds them.

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through

his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through

faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have

power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and

high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses

knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,

according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church

and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:16-21 (NIV)

In Jesus Name, Amen!