PTSD

The letters were very clear as I snapped out of my deep sleep early this morning. I slid open my cell phone resting on top of the table, with the alarm set to rouse me at a specific time. The light illuminated the little window of time: “2:38” in the morning. Still early. But the letters were so vivid.

P…T…S…D…

We all know this. It means “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder”. It is an anxiety disorder usually associated with serious traumatic events that produce symptoms like: guilt, reliving the trauma, numbness, sometimes lacking involvement with reality, even worse, the recurring awful thoughts or images.

I sensed something deep in my spirit. PTSD…It was not about those who sacrificed themselves in the military and were traumatized by the effects of being shot at, losing limbs when bombs detonated, and seeing comrades fell on the ground.

It was not about those inmates who were traumatized by rape, witnessing a murder, or abused by either family members or others.

The Social Worker who came to our annual mandatory meeting had also talked about those officers who dealt with this disorder after responding to traumatic or very stressful situations. It paralyzed them. PTSD…But my spirit was not thinking about that…

I closed my eyes hoping to catch more sleep. It was difficult. PTSD was just dancing in my mind, trying to get all of my attention…

It brought me back to this spiritual battle I was in. Those letters revealed I was a victim, too, no different than those who physically and emotionally battle it. The letters brought a new meaning in my half-awake state.

P…..ast

T….rials

S….piritual

D…iscernment

Lifting the pages of my life’s story, I knew I had gone through so many trials from the past. So, this new battle was not something that surprised me. But what stood out was the ways and means that came to help me overcome those trials, no matter how big. It was because I was truly never alone. Someone kept His promise of not leaving me alone and instead, would be there as I go through all those trials. It’s true, even to this day. His Name is Jesus.

Though painful and traumatic some of those events were in our past or even at the current time, we can use these trying times to point those who don’t know Jesus to Him. We can let them know about the One Who has already conquered the world and Who truly gives peace in this tumultuous times.

Jesus prayed to the Father, “I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.” (John 17:15-NLT). We don’t need to escape from the world because Jesus desires for us to witness amongst those who are still lost and are spiritually dead. That is…if our hearts are willing to obey Him. Even through trials, God is using those events to make others know Him through our victories. Through our triumphs. Through our freedom. Through our being conquerors! Because of Jesus. (Amen!)

“18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. 25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.”
~ Romans 8:18-25 (NLT)

So, are you ready to “PTSD?” (Point Them away from Spiritual Death)… Are our lives reflecting His light and salty enough to affect those around us? I am a big work in progress but that is my desire...I don't want to blend in in this place. May God continue to work in each of our hearts.