The Bible is full of stories where trauma and extreme hardship became the springboard for a life of new strength and power to move forward. The secularization of our society has led to these stories being moved to ancient myths rather than important examples of how God can use your weakness to develop new strengths.
We all have a sense of how strong we are and how much stress we can take. Even when we think we have a high tolerance for adversity, a severe trauma, especially when it comes seemingly out of nowhere, can leave us reeling and confused as to just who we are. After the initial shock of the trauma, there is a period of weeks to years where the person gets to realign their beliefs about who they are. They might assess they are less resilient than they thought, or they might find they were able to move into a life of new strength and grit. It is as if a giant within has been awakened and their life is never the same.
The very first realization of strength is sometimes found in simply surrendering to the truth of needing help. Too often we are told to display strength, so we hold back on our need to ask for help. “Suck it up, buttercup,” has become a way of shaming people from asking for help. Recognizing that asking for help doesn’t mean you are weak, but you are directing your strength in a manner that can lead to growth.
Developing emotional strength is key to finding strength after trauma. Growth demands that the person doesn’t just sweep difficult feelings under the carpet but examines them and has curiosity about how they can be reframed into a new perspective. For example, if you identify anxiety as a problem, you can get used to noticing when you are anxious and work to convert it into curiosity in searching for different possible outcomes. If anger flares up in you and interferes with relationships, you might wonder if you are actually feeling threatened or doubting your self-worth. In effect, you are developing emotional intelligence about your own feelings and needs.
In PTSD, a common symptom is a negative self-talk loop that draws the person into a spiral of darkness. If post-traumatic growth is the goal, choosing an optimistic self-narrative does the opposite. “I am a child of God, fully made in His image and lacking nothing I need,” will take you to a much higher level. In PTG, a sense of joy can be approached rather than the dark pessimism that can dominate in the PTSD life. This new perspective can be modeled by others in a recovery support group but sometimes needs the wisdom of a certified Christian counselor. There should be no problems recommending a counselor as a person seeks a better life away from trauma. Bonus points are always gained when the worldview of the therapist is biblical.
A final note on developing personal strength is to note that it is PERSONAL. The biggest drain on any of us is developing joy in comparison to others. The people God puts in our lives are important, but we cannot heal and grow if we spend all our time comparing our insides to their outsides. You never really know the pain and insecurities a person conceals from the world, so learn to be content in the knowledge that God will never place you in a situation that He won’t equip you to handle.
Our Father is great, and we all carry some of His divine DNA in us. Allow Him to strengthen you.
The Dunamis Effect is a Christian 12-step program designed to support those seeking new possibilities and freedom from any form of addiction. Contact us to learn how we can support the people you serve.
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