Reframing Past Trauma

Trauma is part of living in a sin-filled world. Trauma can take the form of events seemingly small or catastrophic. For children, small experiences never discussed could leave fearful questions in their minds that follow them into adulthood.  Trauma lingers when it remains unresolved and unhealed. Symptoms of lingering trauma might take the form of panic attacks, high levels of stress from reminders of the incident, or depression, among other things.

A deer on the side of the road reminds me often of a late-night accident in my childhood. I remember the blood smeared across the windshield. The moment of impact replayed in my dreams for months. Smells, sounds, and the color red would bring instant recall because my brain was still trying to make sense of the frightening accident. Thankfully, everyone but the deer survived without any lasting injuries, though the car had to be towed. We thanked God for His presence, protection, and provision during that difficult time.

Other, more frightening, and difficult moments have occurred since that time, and more are likely to happen in the future. Whether someone can be blamed, or they are unexpectedly accidental, traumatic moments are an unfortunate reality of life. How we view them, however, can aid in our emotional healing.

David lived through many traumatic moments in his lifetime. The king he loved and served threw a javelin at him several times trying to kill him, and then chased David all over the country. David pretended to be crazy to get out of another dangerous situation, and once his men nearly stoned him because their families were kidnapped by an enemy’s army.

After God delivered David out of Saul’s murderous plan, David wrote a song recalling the horrendous ordeal, but with a vivid picture of God fighting for David in the middle of his distress. In Psalm 18:4-5, David writes down his helpless feelings of distress.

The sorrows of death compassed me,
and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
The sorrows of hell compassed me about:
the snares of death prevented me.

Then he writes of his immediate cry to God for help.

In my distress I called upon the Lord,
and cried unto my God:
he heard my voice out of his temple,
and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

The verses that follow place God into those moments of David’s helplessness and lack of control. David saw God in the middle of his situation, moving and working on his behalf.

In verses 16-19, David declares God’s victory over his desperate situation.

He sent from above, he took me,
he drew me out of many waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy,
and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
They prevented me in the day of my calamity:
but the Lord was my stay.
He brought me forth also into a large place;
he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

He spends the rest of the chapter praising God for the strength and wisdom given that helped David through that situation. Note how David changes his perspective of the situation from the beginning of the Psalm to the end. No longer does he view his experience from an outlook of distress, but with an overcoming view of God’s help and presence.

A dear friend helped me turn a corner as I viewed past events that were causing panic attacks and depression in my life. She reminded me that when the children of Israel walked through the Red Sea, they could have had varying ways of recounting it to their children. Some could have focused on the fear of being trapped by the enemy with nowhere to go. They could have focused on the panicked walk through the Red Sea all night long, not knowing when the enemy might pursue them. And once the Egyptians were drowned and lying along the seashore, they could have continued to focus on the trauma of that frightening night.

However, from God’s perspective, His presence led them to that place. His power parted the waters and dried the path through the Red Sea. His provision cared for them every step of the way throughout their journey in the wilderness. His promises never failed, even when they did not yet trust Him. By viewing these events through God’s eyes, the children of Israel could easily see how God fought for them and brought them to the other side in victory.

How I viewed my family’s difficult events could be from a place of victimhood or a place of victory. God had brought us through. He had provided for us. He had walked with us through it all. By His power, He had overcome obstacles that we did not even fully realize. His promises were faithful in ways we had never known before our stressful moments. Seeing God at work in those unexplainable and painful moments changed my perspective and caused my panic attacks to stop.

 If you are still in need of healing from past traumas, there is good news. God is the Great Physician. He can help with every need we bring to Him. Please note that there can be physical causes for panic attacks too, so it is always best to see your doctor to discuss the best care. A trusted counselor can also be a great help in talking through painful memories. This is in no way is meant to discount any past events that have caused you pain. It is only meant to be an encouragement to help you look to the Lord for healing and help.

Praying that this will be a help to someone today! As always, I welcome your thoughts, comments, and questions. Have a blessed weekend, my friends!

Erica B.