Psalm 147:3
Have you experienced a moment when a place, experience or interaction made an unwanted memory surface and suddenly you feel unsettled, overwhelmed, uncomfortable or angry? This is called a Trigger. When we experience a trigger, our body goes into survival mode; Your body may tense or your heart may race. Triggers come from something that touches a vulnerable part of ourselves such as old wounds, unresolved pain, or unmet needs.
We can bring these moments to God's throne of grace, who sympathises with us in our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15-16) and works strongest in them (2 Corinthians 12:9). As we come to God we learn about who He is: The God who sees (El Roi) and The God who heals us (Jehovah rapha).
Hebrews 4:15-16
'For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.'
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Our Triggers reflect our Pain.
Triggers
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The fear of someone leaving
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Most feedback feels like criticism
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Raised voice/tones/look on faces
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Authority/being told what to do
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Not feeling worthy or good enough
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Worrying someone is upset at you
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Spending money on yourself
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Feeling dismissed or invalidated
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Feeling like you are a burden
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Loud noises/sensory overwhelm
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Feeling unimportant to loved ones
Trauma Responses
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Abandonment/rejection
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Critical/disapproving authority figure
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Unpredictable scary authority figure
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Controlled/could not have a voice
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Had to 'perform' to earn love
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Harsh/punitive caregiver
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Poverty/raised in scarce mindset
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Not allowed to show emotions
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Your needs were ignored or shamed
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Chaotic environments
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Unavailable/self-focused authority figure
HELPFUL VERSES
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Psalm 46:1
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Psalms 28:7-8
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Psalm 34:18:
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Proverbs 3:23
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Joshua 1:9
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Isaiah 41:10
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Isaiah 43:1-3
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Isaiah 54:17
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Matthew 5:1-12
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2 Thessalonians 3:2-4
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Revelation 21:4
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Romans 8:26-28
God's Plan > Suffering
What can we learn from Paul?
Romans 12:12 NKJV Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer
2 Corinthians 12:7-9:
'And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. '
Here, Paul understood that a messenger of Satan was "given to" him by God to ensure he did not exalt himself through the abundance of God's revelations.
God didn't have pleasure in sending this messenger of Satan to Paul. Instead, God knew what Paul could handle and only God knows our human nature and our sinfulness. Sometimes, we don't always have the answer to our pain but we know through God's response to Paul that He hears our pleas and cries, and will respond when we ask. It might not be an immediate answer, but there wil be an answer in His perfect timing, for God is not silent to our pain.
God reassures Paul and us that His Grace and strength shines through perfectly in our weakest moments. God's Word is full of God's endless mercies and grace towards us even when we fall short, He knows none of us can perfectly do the law so He sent us Jesus. We are weak in the Law but strong in the one who fulfilled the law for us (Matthew 5:17).
The disciples felt weak often (Mark 4:35-41), Moses had moments of "weakness" (Exodus 3:11-12), Elijah (1 Kings 19:4–5) and Job (Job 3:1-26), yet they all serve bigger purposes in helping us understand how God's grace is ALWAYS for us no matter what our situation looks like right now (Romans 8:31-39) .
2 Corinthians 13:4
"For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you."