I Choose Today to share hope in trauma…

He makes ALL things new and fresh!

If you have been through something traumatic, then you have experienced trauma.

Trauma is not normal. Trauma is not to be minimized or marginalized. Trauma is not meant to be compared.

The other day, I was asked to lead a group of moms in our church’s MOPS ministry. The topic was anxiety and depression. One of the discussion questions asked, ‘Have you ever lost something you had been anxious about losing?’ and ‘Was it easier or harder than you had anticipated?’ My answer to these questions was ‘yes’ to both. Yes, I have lost something, and yes, it was harder than anticipated. These questions had me asking the Lord for wisdom on what to share with these young ladies. But I felt the Holy Spirit encouraging me to talk about my traumatic experience of losing my son to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS); a mother’s worst nightmare.

But when I talked about my worst anxiety coming true, I also talked about how God was (is) present to help in healing and walking me through the trauma. I talked about even when your anxiety is realized, God is there to:

– take your hand

– carry you when you cannot take another step

– cry with you

– lift your head when all you want to do is bury it

– teach you to trust that all things will work out for good like He promised

– give you strength and fortitude

– to give you purpose in the pain

– give you the promise of hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11)

Sometimes I hesitate to talk about my trauma because it is so heavy and a real-life example that worst-case scenarios do come to fruition. But my story doesn’t stop with the pain or trauma. My story comes with hope that even though the worst-case becomes reality, God brings us through. He brought me through and still is when there are things that come up that bring back grief. He is quick to remind me of who He is and what He has brought me through. He reminds me of His never-ending faithfulness. His unconditional love. He is making something new inside of me. He is trustworthy and true like it says in Rev 21:5, ‘Look, I am making everything new! Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.’

I choose to allow God to be my hope and helper within and through my trauma. He can do the same for you too.

‘Dear Lord, our comforter, thank You that You are always our hope, always our helper through the toughest trials and traumas of our lives. Thank You for seeing our struggle, our deepest hurt, our broken hearts, meeting us where we are, and bringing us through stronger, wiser. Thank You for always being trustworthy, faithful, and true. Help us use the struggles and trauma we had to comfort others. We want to use our trials to bring others closer to You, for good. We love You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.’