“Faith, learn to deal with it.”
As you've walked through something hard, maybe even something traumatic, are these the words you speak over yourself?
"Learn to deal with it!" I mean, isn't that OBVIOUS? Of course you need to deal with it. But here's what I hear when I speak to myself in that way:
get over it
suck it up
try a little harder
someone has it worse than you.
what is wrong with you??
In my own healing journey, I'm having to work extra hard to unlearn this way of doing things. Because the harder we are on ourselves, the harder healing will be. And here's the incredible part:
Research shows that one of the main keys to dealing with traumatic stress is something we can all learn to do: the telling of our own story in a safe space. YES, therapists are needed in some of the harder situations or when we develop things like PTSD. This is not a knock on the importance of therapists (I can promise you, I am a huge advocate and wish there were enough to go around!); instead, I'm sharing the huge opportunity we have to foster healing in communities that have limited access to resources.
The trauma healing workshops I've helped to facilitate are multiplying this healing work in some very under-served communities. Very few have the resources or infrastructure (or cultural approval!) to see a trauma-informed licensed therapist. But they can all start the healing journey by becoming skilled listeners and holding space for the traumatized people around them.
Faith recently attended a trauma training we held in Nigeria, a place where trauma is multiplied beyond your wildest imagination. On my first trip, one of the needs that was expressed was a need to multiply trauma-healing efforts beyond what our friend, a trauma therapist, could do on her own. Two years later, our friend brought together a group that is now mobilized to go serve their respective communities.
I want to share Faith's 2.5 minute ah ha moments as she walked through the training:
https://youtu.be/-3RPiSYc6aw
Did you hear those words? "Everything has changed" and "They are not ready for me."
Here's my conviction: Jesus is raising up
unexpected people, in
unexpected places, to do
unexpected things, with
unexpected results.
And we get to be part of that.
May the healing journey multiply in the places that need it most.
Amen.
Grateful for your partnership in this work!
Jen
