Are you ready?

Maybe one reason so many of us don’t take God seriously is because we don’t want to look where God is looking. God’s going to head for what makes us hurt, what puts us on edge, what keeps us from being strong, joyful, wise, and at peace. Sure, we want strength, joy, wisdom, and peace, but if those gifts require revisiting painful events, sorrows we don’t want to reconsider, well, maybe it’s better to just keep busy and keep God at arms’ length.

Besides, we’re a people well trained to “forgive and forget,” even though we’re not capable of doing anything of the kind. Trauma is hard to forgive and virtually impossible to forget. Trauma bites at us. It resurfaces in myriad ways. It makes us doubtful, suspicious, cynical, sad, angry. And we try to keep busy and keep this at arms’ length, too.

Time to give it up, and here’s why. God has the victory already in hand. God has already saved you. God has you, complete with strength, joy, wisdom, and peace, in His mind. It is yours to come and offer yourself to Him, participate with Him, to bring what God has already arranged into the reality of your present life. And don’t think those gifts wait until the end to come fill you. No. As soon as you consent, as soon as you offer God your willingness, the flow begins.

Reflection

How are the effects of trauma weighing on you and those around you?

Are you ready to face those effects, knowing God is working with you?

Prayer

Dear God, help me to say yes. I’m tired of being mean, small-minded, afraid, angry. I’m tired of hiding who I really want to be. I want to believe You will guide me to rise above the effects of my suffering. Show me how, Lord. I’m willing. Amen.

Join me for “Suffering is sacred ground” at Juniper Pact on YouTube.