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- Receive and give life,
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– Recover from trauma,
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– Grow to be mature and
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– Learn to know our hearts.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
RETURN TO JOY
Joy is taken from us through pain, fear, loss of connection between our feeling side and thinking side, our immaturity and living from our own selfishness. The good news is that we do not have to remain here. In Christ we find the power of a new way of living. Because He is with us we are able to:
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- Find a place to belong,
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First I want to say that I am wondering if "recovering from trauma" should be before "giving life" but perhaps after "receiving life" because I feel that we need to receive healing before we can adequately give. Just a thought, and I welcome any feedback on that.
ReplyDeleteI also choose to post as "anonymous" because as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and subsequently suffering past domestic violence back in my early adulthood I have experienced what seemed to be debilitating trauma. I wish for those who may know me not to identify me by this post so I am commenting anonymous. I have often been told in the past that I was “too nice” by forgiving but then allowing the violence to continue. However, with each life disappointment and further hurt unfortunately a certain amount of “hardness” had set in over time, along with resentment, emptiness, loneliness, and feeling unfulfilled. I found myself sometimes feeling angry, or robbed of what I perceived was God's ultimate plan for my life.
It is also especially difficult for a young child to know how to put God first when experiencing trauma. It creates a contradiction and often an unhealthy co-dependency towards others that can continue into adulthood. I believe God does not want us to suffer from past trauma but wants to sustain us with spiritual food and nourishment to overcome, and to be healed by His grace. However, we need to ask for forgiveness from God as part of the healing process, and likewise to learn to give forgiveness to others. This does not mean to allow others to continue to abuse, hurt, or mistreat us, but to offer a healthy forgiveness according to God's will.
It is also important to know that trauma victims may feel damaged or unworthy long after the trauma is over when psychological scars remain. This leaves them especially vulnerable to further unhealthy traumatic relationships without first truly healing as God intends. So it is very important for a trauma sufferer to experience true healing,and to recognize what is healthy and what is not before committing to a close relationship such as marriage. Often those who have not healed seek out others who also need healing, so it is important to transform with God's healing for us by putting Him first as an individual first in order to relate in healthy ways to others. Although no earthly relationship is always perfect in every way it is essential to put Christ first and foremost in our lives as we draw closer to Him and His will for us. He first loved us so that we may love Him, and we can be in an intimate relationship with Him first, and foremost. The Lord has brought me a long way since then, but it is essential that we continue to grow in the Lord. I have grown and persevered tremendously through it all, and continue to grow and heal in Christ today, and to put Him first. Praise God for His enduring love and mercy! Amen!
I run across this article that is is very long but looks to be very good. It focuses on Biblical encouragement for those who are survivors of abuse. I am providing a link for anyone who may be interested:
http://blog.adnetonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Biblical_Encouragement_for_Abuse_Survivors.pdf
I am encouraged by the wisdom of your personal experience and your comment that we must put Christ first in our lives before we can relate to others in healthy ways. 12 step groups have a similar sequence in recovery. I appreciate your input.
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