Healing from Trauma - Part 1

 

Trauma in our life, starting with the birthing process, takes a toll on our soul. There is nothing we can do to stop suffering from happening, except not to take unnecessary chances.

Yet, life still manages to knock us down time and again. Over the years, I experienced my fair share of distress. I learned to pull myself up by my bootstraps and carry on in spite of them.

I fancied myself as an invincible Molly Brown, who is one of the famous survivors of the Titanic catastrophe. I fiercely fought any foreseeable force, which tried to upset my equilibrium.

No matter how high the tide rose around me, I never let my head sink below the surface of the water. A time or two, the thought occurred to me that I should just let go and float with the current.

My soul was not prepared to do that, however; because I still had enough emotional and physical strength left to protect myself. Then, the love of my life decided, after 22 years of marriage, that there was no option for us, but divorce.

I had no education, few job skills and no alimony. The straps on my boots were totally worn off. I was too tired from the waves of life to tread water any longer. I finally reached the point in my life where my only recourse was to let go and let God.

I laid back and floated with the current, watching as God moved mountains for me. He provided a place to live, several jobs to pay my bills, a new church family with recovery classes, and physical and emotional support from my children, parents, brothers and their families.

God taught me that there is never any need for anxiety and stress, because He is just a prayer away. We can let our needs be known with a thankful heart for all God already did in our life, and then look for the seed for a miracle within every trial (Philippians 4:4-7).

Prayer:

Father God, I am so sorrowful that I did not surrender to Your love and faithfulness when I was much younger. I would have spared myself so much anxiety and suffering from negative experiences and emotions. I am grateful that You never gave up on me, but continued to allow trials to come my way, so that I would eventually learn to let go and trust You.

Teach me to obey, so I will experience fewer trials as a result of my reliance on Your strength, rather than on my own. Remind me to walk in Your Spirit and make me effective for work in Your Kingdom.

Thought for the Day:

Surrender every area of life to the Creator of life and to the Author and Finisher of our faith. 

- Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 12:2

Words Matter - Part 2

Education and breeding allow us to learn self-discipline and to measure our words carefully, regardless of how we think and feel. We speak cultured words, which do not offend, unless we lose our temper.

However, the Spirit of God is our continual restraint in our thoughts, feelings and actions. He helps us not to blurt out whatever comes to our mind, which is usually crafted by Satan to cause trouble (Proverbs 17:27).

Yet, no human is always able to restrain our tongue, because it is intolerant, immoral and full of lethal venom (James 3:8). Only the work of Jesus, living within the Believer, gives us the power over our tongue.

Once we accept Christ as our Savior, the negative aspects of life control us only if we allow them to do so. When we belong to Jesus, His life-giving Spirit frees us from the power of sin, which leads to death (Romans 8:2).

Salvation also frees us from living in conformity to this world, because we are transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2). Jesus actually renews the spirit of our mind (Ephesians 4:23).

He always gives us a choice, along with wise counsel about which choice to make. If we guard our words and keep our tongue, we avoid calamity (Proverbs 21:23).

The Bible encourages us to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19). Wise words win good things for us; and if we guard our lips, we guard our life (Proverbs 13:2).

When our thoughts are excellent and worthy of praise then this affects what we say and do, as well as how we feel emotionally and physically (Philippians 4:8).

Prayer:

Father God, remind us that it is better not to be quick to speak or hasty in our heart to think anything negative. When we walk in the Spirit, the fruit of our lips fill us with good things, as surely as the good work of our hands rewards us (Proverbs 12:13-14).

We give You the praise and glory for the transforming power of Your Spirit within us. We can never thank You enough for drawing us to Your heart and including us in Your family for eternity (John 6:44; Ephesians 2:19).

Thought for the Day:

God watches us from heaven as we are on earth, so let us be wise and let our words be few. - Ecclesiastes 5:2