Sexual trauma, the trauma of war or disasters
Grief and Trauma affect our capacity and ability
to Obey the First Commandment
to Love God
to love our neighbour as ourselves.
Our hearts
sexual abuse in particular
wounded our hearts
Grief and trauma can
break our hearts
we can even harden our hearts
Our minds
traumatised memories
some have researched the neurological
impact of trauma.
eg Peter Levine
survivors of sexual trauma in particular
lock away traumatised memories.
survivors of trauma often experience
intrusive memories
survivors may find traumatic memories
are triggered
the right brain may re experience the traumatic event.
Our soul
my soul's walls were breached
a traumatised soul may be depressed
a feeling of being robed of hope
our soul is impacted by trauma
particularly sexual trauma
in many ways.
there is hope ...
our strength
It is not uncommon for survivors
to feel drained of our strength.
I felt weakness
an inadequacy
I was left overpowered
- to proclaim good news to the poor ( dignity value )
- to heal the broken hearted
- to set the captives free.
Our hearts
"A new heart I will give you"
the lord tells us to be wholehearteed
"unite my heart to fear your name"
"Let the peace of Christ rule our hearts"
Colossians 3 v 15
how one longs for a steadfast heart
Psalm 108 v 1
James 5 v 8
"Strengthen your hearts"
Our minds
Romans 12 v 2 "The renewing of your mind"
We are exhorted to not be double minded.
I found during sexual trauma and as a result of
being sexually traumatised to survive
I split off the traumatic memories
then struggled to find a place in my memory
to hold them
after the trauma was released from my memories.
the neurology is complex
but
"All things are possable with Jesus"
much more to come
our soul
"He restores my soul"
Psalm 23
Many , many times the Lord led me to
Psalm 42
where the Psalmist tells his soul
to trust in God.
many psalms describe depression
then that the Lord lifts the psalmist
out of depression.
our capacity to guard our soul is restored
or being restored
or there is hope god will help us
to once again guard our soul.
our strength
He renews our strength
His strength is made perfect
in my weakness
Our hope of what is possable, of what is to come and our expectation
As Christians our journey of recovery is one of faith and trust in the Lord.
He is our saviour, our redeemer our deliverer and our friend.
Some experience miricles.
Most of us see God work in our lives one fulfillment at a time.
for some, like Paul, we have "a thorn in our side"
As survivors we carry many burdens.
hopes, dreams and disapointments and frustrations.
I know how vulnerable i have been.
Yet He lights up our path.
Jesus is our saviour.
"All hings work together for good
for those who love God and are called according to His purpose"
Romans 8 v 28
and "There is therefore no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus"
Romans 8 v 1
suffering is hard suffering is mostly painfull
but suffering has purpose
"suffering produces character" and endurance
our hope in Christ as believers
"Therefore, since we are justified by faith
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ"
Romans 5 v 1
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