2 Corinthians 11-12

  • Today’s emotion...Trauma
  • Thought of as an event
  • Thought of as a physical injury
    • Both true...but also emotion
    • Trauma is a response to deeply disturbing or distressing event.
    • The wounds you can’t see can hurt as much as the ones you can see.
    • How do you feel? I feel traumatized
    • Generation—Get over it! Not that bad. (like Rubbing dirt in a wound)
    • You don’t just get over trauma—Heal from it. Which takes WORK
    • The 3 Types of Trauma
      • Acute—Response from a one-time traumatic event. (Car accident—Natural disaster—Complicate birth— rape)
      • Chronic—Long-term response from prolonged or repeated events. (Bullied. Racism. Porn. Mom/Dad alcoholic. Sexually abused.)
      • Complex—Response to multiple and ongoing events. (combination)
    • Symptoms of trauma going unaddressed (not acknowledging)
      • exhaustion, confusion, sadness,
      • anxiety, agitation, numbness,
      • dissociation, confusion
      • Self harm…suicide
    • Trauma—Changes how you see—People—God—Life.
    • Makes it Difficult → Trust people. God. Yourself
  • Church has caused trauma (youth leader affair...no counsel for youth)
    • Pastors have put down people from the pulpit
    • Churches have excluded people groups (race, orientation, status etc)
    • Unfortunate church building are not often known as places where people can share their trauma…
    • “get over it” – sweep under the rug
    • Or worse...after Horrible experience Well-meaning Christian—Quotes Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Rom 8:28
    • True? Sure—Not always helpful—Not yet, not while they are coming in traumatized...Shock. Denial. Moody. Anxious. Numb. Guilty.
    • Healing from trauma is possible...not easy, no – but possible WHEN WE ACKNOWLEDGE IT

Yourtrauma may not have been not your fault, but pursuing God for healingis your responsibility
2 Cor 11:23-2823I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I haveworked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped timeswithout number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five differenttimes the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times Iwas beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I wasshipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 Ihave traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from riversand from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews,as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, inthe deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men whoclaim to be believers but are not.[c] 27 I have worked hard and long,enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty andhave often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, withoutenough clothing to keep me warm.28Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for allthe churches.

1. Process the pain of trauma with trusted people

  • Paul is processing all he has endured
  • Prison too many times to count
  • 5X Received 39 lashes—
  • 3X Beaten rods
  • Stoned—Shipwrecked—Almost starved—Froze—Danger…
  • We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 2 Cor 1:8
  • Paul processing his trauma—Talks about it with his church in Corinth
  • TALK ABOUT IT
    • Don’t heal when you → Ignore—Suppress—Forget.
    • Start to heal when you → Process it.
    • Reason we want to bury it—Feel vulnerable—Helpless. IT HURTS
    • So then...Instead of seeking connection, we prioritize protection.
    • We don’t heal in isolation. We heal best in community.
    • Ignore pain—Wound still will be there

If you broke your arm, you can ignore it and not talk about it...but it will still be broken!

    • And the reality is if you do not process...your body will find something else cope with the trauma—Drugs/alcohol. Porn. Self harm. Gossip/Drama. Etc.
    • 1. PROCESS (talk) the pain with trusted people

LORDLET US BE A PEOPLE AND LET THIS BUILDING BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLEFEEL SAFE TO PROCESS THE PAIN OF THEIR TRAUMA!

2 Corinthians Iwas given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment meand keep me from becoming proud.8Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each timehe said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best inweakness.”

  • After 1. Process… 2. Press into God through Prayer
    • Paul went through 3 seasons intense prayer—
    • Prayed. Pleaded. Begged. Questioned
    • Take your hurt to God—Then take it again—Take it a 3rd time!
    • You can unload on God—
      • Wasn’t fair—Shouldn’t have happened!
      • Not my fault—Don’t know what to do—Don’t know how to heal!
    • Be honest—Don’t hold back—Cast cares on God...God Cares for you!
    • 2. Press into God through prayer...once, twice, three times...500 times

2 Corinthians9Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works bestin weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, sothat the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I takepleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships,persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I amweak, then I am strong.

  • 1. Process, 2. Press into God 3. Pursue purpose in our trauma.
    • Nothing can change your past. But God can heal your broken heart.
    • 18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
    • I am slow to talk about this – maybe I shouldn’t – still in the process of healing from trauma myself...so I know now if you’re still hurting you might hate me for even suggesting that purpose can be found
    • So if it’s Too soon for you… then this is Not for you yet and that’s ok
      • Praise be to … the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Cor 1:3-4
    • 3 years of processing and pressing in—still Hurt—have Healed. Stronger
    • NOTE: Purpose...does not mean “it happened on purpose” or trying to find some reason WHY behind the traumatic event
    • What it does mean is...you find purpose FOR YOU TO LIVE after the trauma
      • Ability to share your story to help others
      • Relate to those who have had similar situations
      • Strengthen faith
      • Connection to God and others

Yourtrauma may not have been not your fault, but pursuing God for healingis your responsibility