Just a Small Pain?
Mom was preparing me for bed when a knock came at the door. She put me on a chair, handed me my bottle, and went to answer the door. Curious, like most toddlers, I tried to peak around the corner. The chair overbalanced and I tumbled headfirst to the ground.
The bottle in my mouth partially knocked out my first tooth. The shock of falling became coupled with intense pain, plus a visit to a dentist to finish removing the tooth. All quite catastrophic for a tiny child who couldn’t understand what was happening.
Though it seems insignificant, that little fall was traumatic. I experienced shock and pain, unable to do anything to protect myself. My distress was amplified when I couldn’t suck from my bottle – which was my source of comfort.
Think how confusing and dysregulating that would be for a child unable to process what happened and whose parents worried about spoiling her with cuddles.
That’s Not Trauma!
Something I often hear is, “I never experienced trauma.”
I want to gently disagree with you. Humor me.
What if a hidden area of trauma holds you back from stepping into your destiny and causes you both physical pain and mental anguish?
What if you invited the Lord Jesus to be your Guide through the darkness and unmapped territory and then relinquished control to Him?
What if you actively look to Jesus as your Protector from anything that might suddenly appear and try to hurt you?
What if you allow Jesus to recalibrate the lens you look through to define trauma?
Jesus is the Healer who draws close to tenderly bind your wounds. But He cannot bandage any hidden injury.
Jesus is the Repairer of the breach – the area where walls are torn down during trauma. He is the Restorer of paths, bringing safety so you may lie down in green pastures.
If you experienced unresolved pain that made you feel helpless, unsafe, isolated, and out of control, then its size doesn’t matter.
If that event was ongoing – like being put to bed in darkness when you were afraid of the dark – that was a form of trauma that currently impacts your ability to cope with things – like hearing a strange noise when you are alone in the dark.
Despite having experienced trauma over which you had no control, I have good news for you. Today, in Jesus, you can find safety and a quiet harbor to rest in peace – even though the storm is raging around you.
My heart’s desire is for you to take courage and open your heart to our Beloved Saviour. He knows your secret wounds and traumas. He waits for you to give Him permission to heal them. He understands your grief and longs to comfort your broken heart. But He is a Gentleman. He waits for you to open the door and invite Him into that hidden chamber of your heart.
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV
