How we can overcome past and present trauma? Todd Mulliken says the key is trusting God even when life is difficult.
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:3-8
In times following trauma it can be hard to accept or comprehend that God is great and has a purpose for us.
“The truth is that in the moment when our body is on fire, we are not going to feel that at all. You’re not going to feel that love, that place of acceptance. Right now you are feeling the pain again. You’re feeling the trauma again. You’re being re-exposed, so in that moment these truths feel far away.”
When the effects of trauma start to hit the first step is acknowledging the cause and our powerlessness over it.
“What we want to do in that moment is recognize that here’s what I’m going through. I acknowledge step one and right now I’m powerless over this because of the trauma I went through and I’m scared. Just that acknowledgement… slows the game down.”
It’s acting out of restlessness and fear that propels people into abusing substances.
But when you slow down and recognize that the situation you’re in is a trigger, then you can learn to speak truth instead of acting out of fear.
“When you start breathing out truths, then the lies get a little quieter.”
“But when we make our decision when we’re hurt and we feel all the trauma that’s when we are the most vulnerable to keep the pattern going.”
None of us have to be defined by the traumas we have experienced.
“If there’s only one thing I could leave with people today, it’s that when you get triggered by something that reminds you of a earlier trauma, that’s not a step back. It isn’t. It’s just a part of what’s normal when you’re re-exposed to something. It reminds you of something scary that happened to you. We have to rid ourselves of ‘I’m not a strong Christian if I feel those things.’ No, you are a wonderful beloved of God and it’s OK, but now you can slow things down enough to say, ‘Okay, I’m feeling scared again, what are some steps for me to make me feel less scared now.”
