A trigger is something that, when activated, a reaction happens. A button on your phone screen, when pushed, triggers a reaction. Circumstances in your daily life also serve as triggers.
The dog won’t stop barking and it triggers your anger. Your Instagram post isn’t liked as much as you want, and it triggers feelings of low self worth. Hurricanes and wildfires trigger fear.
Have you ever pushed a button on your screen and nothing happens? What next? Push it again! And if nothing happens? Push it harder, again and again, keep pushing it and pushing it, and maybe throw down your phone in frustration.
Triggers aren’t meant to be held down for a long time, but are one time shots to get our attention. Your initial burst of anger at your dog barking shouldn’t be fueled into a fire of rage, but should spark the feeling that says,“Something is wrong with this and I need to do something about it.”
Listen in these Bible verses for three key actions when it comes to a course of responsive events.: Reaction. Reassurance. Response.
“Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name” (Psalm 61:1-5).
It’s okay to grow faint and to cry. But don’t continually keep crying all your days. Let go of the trigger and hold onto the reassurances of God like he’s the “rock that is higher than I”and“my refuge, a strong tower.”
The rocky hill of Mount Calvary is higher than our guilt, shame, and regrets. The stone tomb of Jesus’ resurrection is higher than death or hopelessness can reach.
Finally, because of these reassurances, instead of always reacting to life’s triggers with our feelings, we respond to life’s triggers with God’s truth. We respond and don’t just react. We move from trigger to truth. God is good all the time.
Instead of letting your triggers continue to make choices for you that burn you out, by faith make choices about your response based on God’s truth.
PRAYER: Dear God, my Rock and Refuge, give me courage this week with your reassurance of truth, higher than everything in my world, stronger than my weakness. I want to rely more on you. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: Meditate on the words of Psalm 61:1-5, and how they shape your reaction, reassurance and response this week.
