Overcoming TraumaSample

Defining Trauma

Trauma is any lasting psychological and biological response to an emotionally distressing event. The word trauma finds its origin in the Greek word for wound. Trauma shapes our view of ourselves, the world around us, and how we learned to survive the chaos of this broken world in childhood. Further, trauma is often at the root of our relational challenges, lies we believe, habitual sin, and mental health struggles.

All of us experience trauma in our broken world. Things are not the way they were originally intended to be. We were created for Eden, a paradise without pain, suffering, struggles, or sin. A place where we could know God and others deeply, unafraid of rejection or ridicule. Of course, we don’t live in Eden anymore. We live in a fallen and broken world. We experience loss, grief, pain, and betrayal. People who are supposed to be there for us let us down. Those who are supposed to love us the most often hurt us the most. It’s in relationships that we experience some of the most consistent and significant traumas in life.

What has trauma looked like for you in your life? Was it tied to a relationship? You are not alone.

Imagine the trauma King David may have endured as a boy in his relationship with his father, Jesse. You see, God had sent the prophet Samuel to choose a king from among Jesse’s sons. When Samuel arrived, he looked over the sons Jesse presented, but none were who God had in mind to be the next king of Israel. Someone was missing. Samuel asked Jesse if he had any more sons. Jesse responded, “Well, yes, there’s the runt. But he’s out tending the sheep” (1 Samuel 16:11 MSG). The Hebrew word Jesse used to describe his son (“runt,” MSG) means young, small, insignificant, unimportant. Apparently, Jesse assumed that David wasn’t worth presenting to Samuel! Samuel told Jesse to fetch this son anyway, and when he arrived, the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one” (1 Samuel 16:12). David, the seemingly insignificant and unimportant son of Jesse, would be the next king of Israel.

This is only speculation, but it wouldn’t be surprising if David had some significant trauma stemming from his father’s attitude toward him. He seems to have been his father’s least favorite son. As the youngest, he may have been mistreated by his siblings if they followed their father’s lead in their treatment of David. Yet God saw David as the man He had created him to be. He guided Samuel to anoint him as king.

Have you felt rejected in this way, too? Has someone you loved or trusted betrayed or hurt you? Maybe you don’t have to pretend or imagine what it must have felt like to be overlooked. Experiences like this can cause serious trauma, and at the same time, there is One who never rejects, overlooks, or forsakes us. His love has the power to heal and redeem the pain and trauma of our hurts. Bring the wounds of past relationships to Him today. He cares for you.

Thought of the Day: The pain of living in a broken world is real, and the wounds caused by trauma really hurt. And the hope we have is that there is a way to heal and move forward, through God’s love, presence, and grace.