When considering a topic for a blog post we can draw on so many sources to find inspiration. During the recent localized flooding and disasters in my province in April and May, I was kept from experiencing any substantial personal loss by the Lords grace. Sometimes inspiration comes from a deep emotional challenge that we face. That is where I found myself this week. Searching for Godly peace in personal trauma.
Naturally, a believer should have some knowledge of how to face the challenges that come our way because we should all be committed students of Gods word. For millennia the Bible has been the source of wisdom and inspiration for believers. This is true for guidance to deal with grief as well. So I turned my eyes to my Fathers heart to find solace in my personal tragedy.
The trauma or grief of experiencing a personal loss always hits close to home. If it was not close to home it would not be personal. In the circles of trauma or grief management I have come to learn about the five stages we go through when we deal with personal grief. So much has already been written about these five stages that I was able to find dozens of articles on the process online. For the sake of completeness I have decided to briefly list them here.
The Five stages of grief or trauma
DENIAL where we challenge the reality of the loss. Sometimes we withdraw into isolation. The next stage is ANGER where we want to fight back to reinforce our denial. Following anger our hear strives to BARGAIN. Its where we have realised that fighting the loss can not work and we reach out to a higher power in an effort to negotiate a different outcome than the one we are facing. In my mind its only when we reach DEPRESSION where we start the healing process. Depression is where some people get stuck for some time. ACCEPTANCE is where final closure start for us.
But we do not want you to be ignorant, Brothers, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve like other people who have no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4v13 ISV
There are a few scriptures that come to mind to help me work through the healing process that I am facing.
“Also the righteous are perishing, but no one takes it so heart: devout people are taken away, while no one understands that the righteous person is taken away from calamity.
Isaiah 57v1 ISV
These two references have one thing in common and illustrate the value of being a child of God. It shows us how to think about the loss of a loved one. For anyone the loss of a close relative is considered the ultimate trauma. Sadly they deal specifically with the loss of a person. There are so many other traumatic experiences that we can experience that one would need to look a bit deeper into Gods work to find guidance with substance.
How Jesus processed His grief
Matthew 14 recounts the events around the death of John the baptist. More importantly it shows us how Jesus reacted to it Remember that they we also reasonably close related to one another.
When Jesus heard this, he left that place and went by boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of it and followed him on foot from the neighbouring towns.
Matt 14v13 ISV
We see Jesus withdraw into isolation in an effort to work through the trauma that was so close to his heart. Jesus is essentially trapped by his compassion for the people that followed him and he cares for their basic food needs. Once they were fed Jesus sent his disciples away so he to take a time out( Matt 14v23) That’s where I believe the massive secret lies.
and this is eternal life: to know you , the only true God, and the one whom you sent – Jesus the Messiah.
John 17v3 ISV
Jesus walks as He talks
Jesus’ entire ministry and life teaches an incredibly deep and intimate relationship with His Father, our Father. Its in that really private space where you connect to our Father where we will find our true strength. Its in this place where the Holy Spirit will remind us of the words of Paul in Romans.
who will separate us from the Messiah’s love? Can trouble, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or a violent death do this?
Rom 8v35 ISV
Reassurance that it is safe to follow in His footstetps
Knowing that our reassurance is best found in His presence is a key step. Being reminded of His promise for us is the next. The rest is pretty much up to spending time in fellowship with our source of life. I do not believe that the Lord will remove us from the process of our natural healing. Throughout scripture we see many occasions where God steps in to a situation to change its outcome. Its very seldom that we see God remove people from the situation.
His promise is that He will make all things work our for the benefit or good of those who love him (Rom8v28)
Personal grief as part of life should not overcome Gods children
The life of a child of God is just as real as that of any other person on earth. The need for us to work through the huts and pains we get from life will ultimately serve a purpose in His greater purpose over our lives. Finding our peace in that situation has a lot to do with how closely we relate to our Father. God loves everyone of His creations but he favours those who draw close to Him.
come close to God, and he will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Jas 4v8 ISV
If you want a leg-up in turbulent times, its found in our Fathers house.
