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

Hearing from God

In my attempts to walk in the Spirit, God is using some unusual object lessons to teach me some valuable lessons. For instance, during a shopping trip, God impressed upon my spirit to check out the sales in the shoe department for pool shoes.

I already possessed a wondrous pair of Speedo pool shoes, so I spent the rest of my time in the store praising God for His abundant provision for me.

The next day, the very next day, my shoes were stolen at the pool. My Father God attempted to provide for me before I even realized my need. However, I chose to praise instead of to obey (1 Samuel 15:22).

The fine tuning of my spiritual ears made a giant leap that day (Matthew 11:15). I ended up ordering a cheap pair of pool shoes online; however, for the following week, I had to wear my shower shoes to the pool.

The flip flop construction of the shower shoes rubbed a bruise on the bones between the toes of both of my feet. Even after the new pool shoes came in the mail, those bruises were a painful reminder to not only listen, but also to obey the leading of God’s Spirit.

Another morning I woke up and the Spirit told me to go out and fertilize my garden plants. I anticipated doing this the next time it rained, but I did not want to go outside before I was even fully awake.

I listened to Mother Nature murmurings outside as I rolled out from under my covers, and realized that it was already pouring rain outside. I wanted to snuggle back under my covers and snooze a while longer.

Remembering my bruised toes, I immediately slipped on my house dress and pool shoes, grabbed the bag of flower fertilizer and went outside.

The rain instantly gentled to a slow drizzle while I spread the nutrients around my three flower gardens. As I washed my hands in the kitchen sink after the chore, I enjoyed the beauty of one of the gardens outside of my window.

I also noticed that the drizzle changed back to a pouring rain - God’s perfect timing. I am so glad that this time I obeyed His Spirit immediately, or I would have resembled a drowned rat if I waited until I fully woke up to obey.

God graciously gave me that perfect window of time to nurture my plants. I see a pattern developing. God rewards all of my efforts to obey, as I learn to walk in His Spirit each moment of my day.

Prayer:

Father God, You are not really interested in pool shoes and flower gardens, but You certainly do care about my obedience to Your Spirit. You have a perfect work for me to do with my life (Ephesians 2:10). As I walk in Your Spirit, I will see the fruit of Your labors through my body, soul and spirit (Galatians 2:20, 5:15-25).

Thank You for caring so much for each individual part of Your Body (1 Corinthians 12:12). We would never have enough time to give You the praise You deserve, if it was not for the fact that we will live for eternity and worship with the angels around Your throne.

Thought for the Day:

To obey the Lord is much more important than making sacrifices for His glory. - 1 Samuel 15:22