“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all” (Psalm 34:17-19).
70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Trauma victims are the walking wounded in this world, as an effect of experiencing a life-changing event beyond their control.
When a little child is wounded, what’s the first thing they do? “Cry out.” Why? They’ll come running to mom or dad with tears and screams and what do they want more than anything? To be heard and to be held close.
The bleeding wound may need immediate medical attention but, first, the child cries for mental attention.
Your Lord knows this about your wound, and just because it still hurts and he hasn’t put a Band-Aid on it doesn’t mean he’s unaware, uncaring or unable to help. Just because kids fall off their bikes, fall out of trees or fall in love then experience a breakup doesn’t mean that their parents are unaware, uncaring or unable to help.
First, when you are wounded, your Lord “hears” and he holds you “close.” He doesn’t lecture you about how it’s your fault, doesn’t scold you for being weak, doesn’t tell you to stop whining, even if you’re partly to blame.
He lovingly listens. Then, when it’s his turn to respond, he doesn’t demand that you get better first and then come and see him. “He delivers … and saves.”
That’s salvation, the deliverance from sin, the forgiveness of sin, God’s mercy on those who don’t deserve it, and it’s all him. The Lord delivers you, and he delights in doing it.
Then the Lord makes you safe. From what? From who? Safe from depression and hopelessness? Safe from fear and anxiety? Yes. Safe from the guilt and shame? Yes. Safe from the haunting memories and triggers? Yes. Safe from PTSD? Yes. Safe from your sins and mistakes? Yes. Safe from the uncertainties and lack of control? Yes. “From them all.”
PRAYER: Dear God, the after effects of trauma in my life are hard, and I’m looking for healing. Forgive me for trying to control everything. Hold me close as your child, hear my cries, and keep me spiritually safe even during troubles. I love and trust you. Amen.
EXTRA: WHY HASN’T GOD HEALED MY TRAUMA? Now, listen carefully if you are struggling with trauma and not recovering. Your healing can be prevented more by your experience of an event than by the event itself.
So when you experience post trauma triggers, your interpretation—how you mentally and emotionally frame those triggers—can get in the way of your healing. These thoughts and feelings can be your faulty attempt to control the event, its negative impact, the people around you, and even God.
Stop trying to control what you cannot and should not. You are limited, but God is unlimited. So reframe your thoughts and feelings spiritually.
Like a good parent, God doesn’t give his attention just to the event or the wound, but to you. You are special to him. You are (see it says it twice) “righteous.” Right with God.
But how can things between you and God be right if you’ve done wrong, if you can’t get it right? Oh, child, God knows all you’ve done wrong, and he doesn’t need you to get it right in order to love you.
God sent his Son Jesus to experience the ultimate trauma for all you’ve done wrong. Jesus loves you enough that he came to this world to save you, even if it hurt. Jesus’ heart was broken by the sins of the world, including yours and mine. Jesus was crushed by crucifixion as the ultimate trauma, suffering the guilt and shame, taking the blame, for us all.
But God the Father delivered him from the ultimate trauma to the ultimate triumph when he rose from the dead, in victory that he won for you. “The punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
TAKE THE NEXT STEP: See our CrossLife series on mental health with message videos here https://crosslifepf.org/teachings/
