Is Spiritual Trauma a Reality?

16 Sep

Is Spiritual Trauma a Reality?

June Paul Faith and Hope, Forgiveness, Holy Spirit, Love, Ministry, Prayer, Salvation, Uncategorized 0 0

I’m asking this question because I believe it’s a very important part in balancing our lives and in the healing process.

I believe that spiritual trauma is very real and I’m going to pull out a few examples from Scripture in the Old (Hebrew) Testament, the New (Christian) Testament and the Psalms.

The first verse that I think begs us to consider the effects of spiritual trauma is this one:

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)

Grief is a very difficult and sometimes traumatic process. We grieve many things throughout our lifetimes. We grieve the loss of friendships, the loss of lives, the loss of jobs, the loss of limbs, the loss of innocence, the loss of . . . . anything and everything we value with great regard. The way in which we grieve is important. I believe it is the Lord’s will that we do not grieve alone. As he approached the hour of his own death Jesus instructed his disciples to wait together for the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. As we read the stories about how the disciples mourned together we gain wisdom in how we can grieve the many losses we endure in our lifetime together with the Holy Spirit, who is also called the Helper.

Think about the times you have wanted to help or comfort another person and they have pushed you aside or rejected your assistance. How did you feel about that? Probably not very good, in fact it grieves your soul. So how do you think our God feels when we reject the Holy Spirit of God? You see, the Spirit lives and moves and works through God’s people on earth. It is the Holy Spirit who unites us to one another and helps us pass through the tough experiences in life. What if rejection is one of the most powerful spiritually traumatic experiences we encounter?

Read the story about Joseph being rejected by his brothers in Genesis 37 -50. A family story filled with rejection and jealousy and secret sin brought into the light that ends with family reunited and then experiencing death and mourning again.

It is easy to be led astray when we are alone. Joseph never lost his faith and hope in God because the Holy Spirit remained with him throughout all of the trauma he endured. Jesus never encouraged his disciples to be alone, he sent them out in pairs. There are practical reasons for this physically and it makes sense from a spiritual perspective as well. Spiritual forces of evil work to divide and separate God’s people. Spiritual forces of evil use doubt and induce fear into God’s people. Spiritual forces of evil reject the Holy Spirit and cause us to reject one another.

Another verse that I think we should consider in regards to the reality of Spiritual Trauma is this one

“Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.” (Psalm 51:11)

This verse is written by a person who knew he had committed ‘transgressions.’ This is a verse written by a man who had been acting outside the will of God and his desire for us to honor God and one another by honoring relationships. He knew he had grieved the Holy Spirit, confessed his sin and his desire to be redeemed and restored through the Holy Spirit.

Another important verse for us to consider in regards to spiritual trauma is this one

“I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.” (Psalm 119:125)

Discernment is best done within community and fellowship with other people who are equipped in the skill and gifts of spiritual discernment. Discerning the spirit of a person or an action requires the sharing of our stories in healthy environments with experienced people who do not judge the person but who listen with judgement to the stories and experiences shared by the person seeking discernment.

Think about the disciples and the call, plan and purpose Jesus had for their future life without his physical presence in their lives. In advance he told them the hour would come when they would grieve and mourn. Then he told them to stay together and wait for the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:4-5)

In the middle of our darkest hours of traumatic losses the Holy Spirit comes suddenly and everyone responds a little differently. The disciples recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread. They had experienced this with him prior to his resurrection. When we’ve been separated from one another, how do we recognize the Spirit of God in one another? How can we recognize that which we have never experienced and who can help us understand and receive the Holy Spirit except those who have already received the Holy Spirit? Prior to Jesus’ ascension he breathed on the disciples and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’ (John 20:19-23) What if the greatest healing we can have in regards to spiritual trauma is the forgiveness of sin, our own and that of others? What if this is the greatest healing we can receive or give? What if the greatest purpose of receiving the Holy Spirit is for the purpose of forgiving? What if lack of forgiveness is the worst form of spiritual trauma we would ever experience?

Compare the stories of Jesus encountering the devil after the Holy Spirit whisked Jesus into the wilderness to the story about the Holy Spirit coming over Saul, a man who was persecuting the church and murdering believers. Saul and others began discerning his experience and he was sent from one to another before he received a new name and was sent out to teach the church. Compare the same story with that of the Holy Spirit sending angels to speak with Mary and Joseph regarding the birth of Jesus, who would (did and still does) save people from sin. (Matthew 1: Luke 1 & 2) Both Mary and Joseph took time to discern their experiences. Mary visited her faithful relatives and while it’s not written in the bible I think Joseph probably spent some time with faithful people as well.

Finally, consider the experience Saul had with the Holy Spirit.(Acts 9:1-31) Being overcome with a bright light and hearing a voice asking him “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” It took Saul and other people a full three years to heal, process and move forward from the experience and become an Apostle.

What if spiritual healing begins with overcoming the biggest liar of all time – the devil? What if we all quit lying to ourselves and one another about who are and who God is and our need for acceptance and the Holy Spirit? What if this is the way God want us to heal from spiritual trauma?

Let us pray . . .

Lord, we confess that we have grieved your Holy Spirit. We have left you out of our lives and our processes of healing. We have tried to heal ourselves and others in the world in our own power and our own ways. We have failed and have sinned against you. Again and again we turn our backs against one another, we fail to seek your face and faith in each other. Please forgive us, draw us together through your Holy Spirit and help us to love one another as you love us. Help us to draw others to God through your Holy Spirit. Fill us and use us for your good and holy purposes. Grant us the gifts of healing and discernment so we may bring your light and healing to others. We ask this for the sake of the building up of your heavenly kingdom and the glory of your name. AMEN

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Is Spiritual Trauma a Reality?

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