Post-traumatic Growth

This blog is designed to give people an inner look at a devotional life. Taking time each day to spend time with the Lord. The hope is if you travel on this journey with Rev. Jacob Shaw, you may be more inclined to spend time with the Lord as well. I encourage the use of a devotional, a scripture reading and prayer, then finally a song, hymn or selection of poetry to tie it all together. 

Today's devotional is taken from: Vujicic, Nick. Limitless Devotions for a Ridiculously Good Life. Colorado Springs, CO: Waterbrook Press, 2013. pp 11-14. 

Opening Thought: Looking at the opening title for today devotion is wonderful, Posttraumatic Growth is a nice reversal from what we normally expect, post-traumatic stress. Today’s devotional looked at the possibility of growth following traumatic events. I feel this breathes well from my devotion yesterday, as I was looking at the stress of my son’s birth, and the opportunity I found to connect with others. However, I know I have felt more pains in life than just the emotional pains of fear, anxiety and sadness around my son’s health. I have also had a struggle with lifelong physical pain, I will hold those memories of my physical stresses as I dive into this reading today.

The devotional begins with: 
James 1:2-6

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting.   

Second Thought: Diving into the foundation of Nick’s position today we see that seed of hope. We all have stuff thrown at us, sometimes it’s a physical issue, sometimes mental, emotional, financial, who knows but when something crosses our path it does not mean it is the end of the world. Nick looks to studies which amplify this point, these studies apparently demonstrated that people who have suffered from traumatic situations can experience growth, because the traumatic situation help inspire their wisdom. It brought them to an understanding that they are stronger than they previously believed, they discover their true allies in life, build better relationships, put great value on good living each day, and develop spiritually.

It may seem backwards to think that something bad happening can turn things for the better. Though I know I have experiences that, I was born with a unique syndrome, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which in my case mean’s I’m flexible and twisty, but also mean I have a variety of pains and discomforts that are always there. When I was young my family did not know what was wrong with my health, so often I was home from school, as the pain was continual. Luckily, I learned a great skill, I could do a week’s worth of homework in a day. Which meant I had the whole week to study, play and discover on my own. The skills taught by our provincial education system are great, but what I learned in my adventures in my youth during my times of illness I would not trade for the world. At the time it sucked, but I didn’t realize what God was gifting me with.    

Continual Work: "God will use you for His purpose.” I know a lot of what makes my mind so creative is what I did during my illness years. That creativity has allowed me to think outside the box when it comes to my ministry work. If I get any compliment consistently within my ministry life and personal life as well, is that I am creative. I hope that is the case, but I do not think I would have this skill set without the grace of God in my corner. This is something we should all ask ourselves this day, week and really forever, is how can I grow from my trails?  

What Rev. Jacob is Working On: I want to feel this week that my son’s situation will do for him as my health issue has done for me. The key I think is teaching our children to look beyond the current situation. Faith help with that because we integrate into our lives a fundamental call to look to the infinite, the eternal and the transcendent. When we follow Christ, we let our definition bind with God’s definition and then we can see truth; that all roads walked with God lead through pain to prosperity.  

Scripture time: James 1

The first chapter of James rang out like a good sermon to me today. James is reaching out to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion, greeting them and sharing with them his insights to Christ, and what it means to be faithful. James depicts a very steadfast and dutiful disciples, were it so easy. I like James for this reason, he is a take no prisoners Christian, shape-up or ship out. Sometimes when we struggle in life, that is what we need, someone to tell us like it is. Sometimes the most wonderful truths and the most important ones are the most difficult. The reason trails in our lives can shape us towards growth is because trial make the difficult truths come to life. I like the stark word towards the end of the Letter of James, if any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:26-27 [NRSV]. Our faith is not just a belief but should transform you, having faith is an enlightenment to the will of God, and in turn your belief and your lively actions will be as one. If God set trials upon us, or God walks with us through them, I believe it is to help us realize this truth, and when we are humbled and enlightened by our trials we can begin to see that call and need for us to aid and restore others who have yet to see the truth; in their own stories and in God’s story.

Prayer Time: Loving God, I am always amazed how your words in scripture always return to a Love and Compassion shown to your creation. Let my eye be open to your revelation, your uncovering of your truth to the world. Let is shape me, let it mold me to be the best version of myself. Let it move me to cherish what I have in my faith and be bold enough to tell it like it is, and share your Gospel with my neighbor. In Christ’s name, Amen.  

Closing Words: I hope you enjoyed and were lifted by this devotional time; it is truly important to take time for God each day. By doing so, you welcome God into your life, and in turn you will be able to better see the world through the eyes of God, rather than God through the world's eyes.

Artistic Close: A great song that speaks to Christ’s ability to help us overcome is Chain Breaker by Zach Williams, I highly recommend you look it up, but below I have put a section of the lyrics to inspire.  

If you're been walking the same old road

For miles and miles

If you've been hearing the same old voice

Tell the same old lies

If you're trying to fill the same old holes inside

There's a better life, there's a better life

If you've got pain, He's a pain taker

If you feel lost, He's a way maker

If you need freedom or saving

He's a prison-shaking Savior

If you got chains, He's a chain breaker