Trauma

This seems to be a subject I can't leave, or don't want to leave for a while. For those who have read my last few posts, you will be pleased to know that the trauma from the hearing last November has subsided - I am sleeping well, and rarely think about the whole court thing. It was playing in my mind this morning but that was the first time in ages.

In 2017/18 I interned for a year with Bethel Global response - an arm of a large church in California that responds to natural disasters - such as bushfires (wildfires if you are American, cyclones (hurricanes in you are American) and similar such natural disasters. Bethel will send teams around the nation (mainly - but will also respond internationally in some cases) to partner with local churches - to help recover personal belongings from the ashes of homes, tarp roofs, clear debris, and be a present helping hand. In the US they don't seem to have the equivelent of our SES (State Emergency Service) here in Australia, and it got me thinking about where the local church is positioned to respond (alongside other local churches) and uniquely what we have to bring to people in response to their trauma.

Trauma is often present in people's lives for all sorts of other reasons too - childhood issues, loss, conflict and dare I say it, Covid lockdowns!! None of us are immune.

Recently I found a free online course about coaching people who are recovering from Trauma - and I guess dealing with subsequent emotional issues and behavioural issues. I wouldn't say I am any kind of expert but it did open my eyes to what conventional 'therapy' has to offer and general approaches / reassurances to make. Trauma and repetitive trauma can affect us in all sorts of ways - from ongoing grief, fear, anxiety, depression, PTSD - reliving the trauma, altered states of arousal / hypervigilience, anger, addictions, altered beleifs about the world we live in, and altered beliefs about our identity. At times the memories don't go away and the trauma lives on in people's lives, and even comes out through their bodies in pain type syndromes, gut issues, nervous issues and the like.

As Christians, what do we have to offer - in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster and also in the months and years to follow?? How do we respond differently to the SES??

My first thought in regards to this is that the local church is a safe place, a familiar place for many but can quickly become a safer space for all - a building to coordinate practical help, a smile and a warm meal, someone to listen and acknowledge what has happened and a place where the is no judgement, no moving people out, but a hug and a kind word. Somewhere where the fear and panic is lessened. So important in the early days. There aren't too many buildings with attached communities that are positioned to do this.

I know that around 6 weeks after I left Redding, California, wildfires came through in their summer and 1000 local homes were destroyed. The church did indeed open its doors and reach out to the local community. Funds came in from other churches around the nation, the church had a drop in centre so as people could access food, clothes and essential help, church goers helped with Ash- outs - 600 church volunteers were trained for this, and leaders in the church offered $1000 US for any family who lost their home. The whole community rallied to provide support.

John 13: 34-35

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

1 John 4:11-12

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

My second thought around this is that the people of God are the only place where atmospheres are changed, the peace of God can be present, and people can find rest.

Romans 14:17 NLT

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Lastly, the church is the only place I know of, where people can find personal prayer, receive forgiveness, be led to forgive others, let Jesus put their shattered selves together again, find their true identity, and come to realise there is nothing wrong wtih them - that what they are going through is a normal response to an abnormal situation. Only in Jesus - the work of the cross and the power of his resurrected life, can we find our own resurrected lives. We can all find what it truly means to be human, to be the beloved of God, to know we are the apple of His eye, to experience the saving grace of the Holy Spirit, and to see that Father God does indeed care for us.

For anyone more interested in this - and I truly believe it, - there is a book by Mike Hutchings called, 'Supernatural Freedom from the captivity of trauma'. I have heard testimonies from people with PTSD from this gentleman's ministry and it brings hope, like I haven't seen it before. Mike has been called by God to minister healing to people with trauma in their lives. There is no reason we can't all minister in similar ways.

Galations 5:1

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

My one prayer today is that we may find a way to be the hands and feet of Jesus for a hurting world. Lord, let it start with me.