Embrace Your Trauma

It’s nothing new, it should not surprise us when it happens, yet it seems to do just that. Why because we are not always prepared for it. Just look at these examples of people that are in the Bible who experienced Trauma.

Job: Endured catastrophic grief, the sudden loss of all his children and possessions, and debilitating illness, all while being judged by his closest friends.

 David: Navigated a lifetime of trauma, including years fleeing for his life from King Saul, surviving relentless warfare, and enduring deep family betrayals. His psalms are widely studied for their raw expressions of distress and PTSD.

 Joseph: Was betrayed and thrown into a pit by his own brothers, sold into slavery, and falsely imprisoned in a foreign land.

 Hagar: Faced severe marginalization, displacement, abuse, and the threat of her child dying in the wilderness.

 Paul: Endured brutal violence and persecution, surviving shipwrecks, stoning’s, physical beatings, and frequent imprisonments. Not only that but in his early days before he became a Christian he dished out some trauma on Christians.

 Jesus: Experienced deep betrayal by his closest friends, was unjustly condemned, publicly mocked, physically tortured, and executed in one of the most agonizing manners possible.

Now I know you are asking, why on earth would I EMBRACE trauma? Are you nuts lady? Well, no not really. Let me tell you why. If you were in a gym and trying to get fit what would you do? You would use the machines or tools provided to exercise and gain strength. Time and repetition gets you stronger. When I was doing water aerobics we did a ton of core moves, boy could I tell the difference. I had better balance and I felt grounded and not “wobbly” as much as before. Let’s face it we all loose some strength in our bodies as we age. I know I have for sure.

The point is, that repetition and :working it” is what creates that solid core, strength. Well, navigating trauma and making it to the other side of it does the same thing. It gives you experience, it gives you a “coping tool” and teaches us that sometimes life will hand us some lemons – its up to us if we make lemonade or not.

Ahh – the perfect time it insert my very favorite scripture. It’s so universal!! James 1:2-4  Testing of Your Faith ² Count it all joy, my brothers,^[a] when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

How about a few more… ok

Romans 5:3-4   ³ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope

1 Peter 1:6-7: "In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith… may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed" reminds believers that trials test and strengthen faith

James 1:12: "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him" assures reward for steadfastness

Spiritual Insights

• Trials are not meaningless; they refine faith, develop character, and cultivate hope.

• God’s faithfulness and guidance are constant, providing strength, wisdom, and a way to endure hardships.

• Believers are encouraged to rejoice, remain steadfast, and trust in God’s plan, knowing that present difficulties are temporary and serve a greater purpose 

Encouragement for Daily Life

• Approach trials with faith and patience, using prayer and reliance on God’s promises.

• Recognize that suffering can produce spiritual maturity and deepen your relationship with God.

• Maintain hope and perspective, remembering that eternal glory outweighs present struggles and that perseverance leads to reward 

  
  

  These scriptures collectively offer guidance, comfort, and motivation for anyone facing trials, emphasizing that challenges are part of the Christian journey and opportunities for spiritual growth.

Reward and Restoration: Many stories conclude with restoration or elevation after enduring hardship, emphasizing hope and purpose in trials

I know in my lifetime, I have experienced trials and trauma. Some harder than others, some I had to go through, deal with and then deal with again because I didn’t get through them too good the first time. That’s a hard lesson right there. I mean you think – ok done – I’m past the hard part then boom – it comes back up and dang – you have to go deal with it again. Lesson learned though. Deal with it the right way the first time. How do you know how? Experience. By embracing your trauma, you don’t have to love it or even like it. You can totally hate it but you need to understand it and deal with it.

Its like death, when someone you love dies I can’t think of many things that are harder. You must grieve, you must process it all out and deal with it. If you brush it under the rug I guarantee you it will come back up later. You will find out that you didn’t grieve enough or the right way. Lets face it nobody likes death but we have to understand that its part of the “living” process too. None of us will get out of this alive. The question is… at the end of your life can you clearly say – you know where you are going?  Heavy question huh.

My sister has said to me many times, we just don’t get to slide through life on the “easy” side, we have to get battered and bruised, it has to cost us much and be hard to boot. We just can’t get it uncomplicated. No piece of cake here. UGH but after really digging in to the whys and what-for’s I find that the scripture is right. when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. WHY?? 

let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing

perfect and complete – lacking in nothing. Now that is worth the struggle. Worth the trauma. Worth embracing. Worth your time.

Lord, I thank You for the trials in my life and in the lives of others. I thank You for the lessons and the best part on the other side of these times. Thank You for the complete person I (We) will become after by the testing of our faith. I am grateful for Your guidance and love. Forever grateful. In Jesus Name - AMEN