https://www.bible.com/events/49612830
Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus
Never Alone Part 5
Trauma
Today we conclude our teaching series called “Never Alone”.
Throughout this series we have talked about common struggles that many of us experience but don’t always feel comfortable talking about in church.
Part of our goal has been that we might disrupt one of the devil’s primary tactics of getting us to believe that we are alone in our struggle. Or that nobody else is dealing with it and therefore there must be something wrong with us and we should keep quiet about it. When we give into that temptation, we risk missing the healing that is available in Christ and in community with other believers.
The truth for us today is that we are never truly alone.
Today we are going to talk about trauma.
The World Health organization estimates that 70% of people will experience a traumatic event in their lifetime.
It’s important to note that when we say trauma, we are not necessarily referring to the event itself.
Trauma is the lasting effects, both physical and psychological that it has on our body.
Essentially, it is the long term response our brains and bodies have to a traumatic event.
It is very important for us to realize that trauma, a person’s response to a particular event, is very subjective. It’s personal.
What is traumatic for me, and changes me, might not have the same effect on you, and vica-versa.
2 Corinthians 11:24-27
Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
While the effects of trauma are lasting, they aren’t greater than the grace of God in your life to bring healing and hope. It doesn’t have to define your future.
Paul processed his pain with the Lord, he was honest about his emotions both with the Lord and with fellow believers. And he lived a life for the Lord, that we still marvel at today despite everything he had been through.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Paul found hope and healing through trauma. He experienced the comfort of our heavenly Father and he was able to help others by what he experienced. And friends, I believe that you can experience that too.
“We often forget that Jesus experienced the most traumatic thing in the history of mankind. Not just that he physically suffered all sorts of horrible things, but that he became sin of the whole world on the cross.”
– Pastor Billy Logan
Hebrews 4:14-16
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Jesus knows and understands trauma, he has been there, and now he is here. To help every single person who calls out to him.
We can’t let shame, or fear, or the thought that because something worse has happened to someone else, we shouldn’t let any of those things keep us from seeking help and healing in the Lord.