Page 122 - Biblical Counseling II-Textbook

Facing trauma requires trusting God with the future
As we grieve our stories, God begins to reveal why we are afraid, and what it is we’re really afraid
of. We can forgive abusers and receive God’s forgiveness for ways that we responded sinfully to our
traumas. We can renew our minds, and according to Philippians 4:4-10, think on what is true and good,
even good that may have come from our trauma as we reflect on God’s faithfulness.

We can make choices to walk by faith into the things we fear. Psychology calls this exposure therapy. A
common anxiety treatment, it involves essentially facing your fear, talking yourself through it, and
seeing that you came out okay on the other side. As children of God, we don’t have to go into our fears
alone. Remember what Isaiah said,

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through
the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk
through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Is. 43:1-3)

Trauma and Anxiety are complicated. It is true that no one knows the pain you have been
through. However, with God’s help, [those who have experienced it] can make progress if willing to
face pain, grieve the loss, and trust God with the future. It takes time, and a patient counselor can help
you make progress” (Lambert, 2019).

Extra Resources: Since this is not an entire course on trauma, here are some resources you can read
that will help educate you more on children and trauma. This first link is to an article about how parents
can help a child after they’ve experienced a trauma. It provides helpful knowledge for you as you train
to become pastors and helpers of those in your community:

https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/child-trauma.pdf

This is a link to a video talk about children and trauma. The speaker is Nadine Burke Harris, a doctor who
has worked with many children who have experienced trauma. Her presentation is titled, “How
Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ovIJ3dsNk

This is a link to an article explaining what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is:
www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder

16.4 Let’s Practice
1. Define trauma

2-6. Name the five systems impacted by trauma.

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