Ever since I saw the disastrous effects of Hurricane Ian (and other traumatizing events in the world), I have been writing about trauma. I've written a little bit about what trauma is, how to begin to acknowledge it and start the healing process. The topic of trauma is a deep and complex topic which means I could probably continue to write about it for many newsletters to come. But, I will be moving on after this write-up about the Ultimate Answer for trauma.
There are many helpful exercises and actions one can do to help minimize the effects of trauma on your body, mind, and soul. Acknowlegding that you have experienced trauma, asking for help to get to an emotional and physical safe place, getting into the practice of staying in the present moment and reminding yourself that Jesus is with you in that moment . . . these are all some of the ways to start to tame the trauma in our lives.
Sadly, there are times when we will not have access to emotionally intelligent people who can listen to us and support us through our healing. There are times when we cannot access trauma-informed pastors or counselors who can help us. What are we to do when we lack human resources to help us with our trauma? Keep reading.
First, let's go back to the basics of what God has revealed to us through His Word, His supernatural Book which He inspired writers to write in order to give us the Ultimate Key to life. If I can sum up the Word of God into one word, it would be "Jesus".
God knew that we (humans) would cave in to the temptation of Lucifer and so He had planned from the beginning to send Jesus, His Only Begotten Son, to take the penalty of sin upon Himself and to die as the Perfect God-Man (100 Percent God, 100 Percent man) in order to make it possible for all of us to be reconciled into a right relationship with our Heavenly Father.
The fact that we live in a world that is currently under the power of Lucifer, that fallen angel that rebelled against God who created him, means that we will have trouble and trauma. Evil begets trauma and we suffer from its effects every day. In John 16 Jesus was talking to His disciples before He went to die on the cross (to be resurrected on the third day). Jesus was warning them and giving them some last minute instruction.
John 16:33 - "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
If we put our faith in Jesus, we will always have the One who can help us, with us. When no human is around to help us overcome the troubles and traumas of this earthly life, we can count on Jesus and His promises. Jesus can walk with us and work through us despite the effects of trauma and of a sinful world. We are promised to have eternal life with Jesus where we will no longer experience the effects of sin and of trauma.
Revelation 21:4 says, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
When we find ourselves struggling with the hardships of traumatic events, unimaginable losses, and wounds from people we thought were our friends, we can always count on the promises of Jesus and on Jesus Himself to be right there WITH us. Call upon Him and ask Him to bear your burden of trauma. Ask Him to heal your soul and give your mind a healed and renewed focus on your true mission here on earth.
According to God's Word, our true mission here on earth is to first and foremost believe upon Jesus and nurture our relationship with Him through the reading of His Word and prayer. Our secondary mission is to tell others about the Good News so they too can experience the sweetness of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and count on the blessed hope of spending a glorious eternity with Him.
Romans 10:14 says, "for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"
Understanding our two missions (to love the Lord Jesus with all our heart and to tell others about Jesus' love) will give us the true purpose and meaning that will help us conquer the effects of trouble and trauma. As we put our focus on God's calling on our lives, we will have supernatural help with our trauma. When our strength is diminished, we can count on Jesus to shoulder the burden for us and to do the things through us that He wants to do. Isn't it awesome that we do not have to strive and work hard to overcome life's difficulties on our own strength?! Thank you Jesus for doing that for us.
Matthew 11:28-30 says this, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”