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.'
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

Invite God into your heart and give him your hurt and trauma. Talk to Him about everything you are going through. El Roi sees your pain (Genesis 16:13). God is eager to show mercy , patient and willing to help you overcome your hurt in Christ Jesus. God will heal your heart and create a new spirit within you (Psalm 51:10-12)
HOW DO YOU GIVE YOUR HURT TO GOD?
01. DON'T FIGHT YOUR HURT
Allow yourself to feel and seek God's Truth and Hope about your situation in His Word. Don't be afraid to ask for guidance from His Holy Spirit. God's promises INCLUDE you. Jesus will carry your burdens (Psalm 55:22), so keep your eyes on Him, not the storm. God is always listening (psalm 65:2). He records our every tear (Psalms 56:8). He is Your Rock, stronger than any circumstances or emotions (Psalms 18:1-3, Psalm 61:2). In moments of overwhelm, it is okay to rest in God (Matthew 11:28-30). Let go of the need to fix everything and trust that God’s peace will meet you right where you are.
02. PAUSE WITH GOD BEFORE YOU REACT
Take a moment to breathe and allow your emotions to settle with God before you make a decision or react. It is important to act on Faith in God's Word , The Truth and not our feelings because our feelings are always changing and can be based on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). Be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). God offers wisdom, clarity, and the peace freely, and will guide us to quiet waters and safe pastures when we trust in Him (Psalm 23:2–6).
03. PUT YOUR HOPE IN GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU IN JESUS
God is Love (1 John 4:16). Defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:
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Long-suffering
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Kind
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Does not envy
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Does not parade itself
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Is Not puffed up
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Does not behave rudely
God shows all these qualities towards you. Why? Not because of your works but because of who God is. God is merciful and patient towards ALL of us (Ephesians 2:8-9, Lamentations 3:22, 2 Peter 3:9).
For God so LOVED THE WORLD, He gave His Son NOT to condemn the world but SAVE it (John 3:16-17)
You cannot earn or lose God's Love, He already loves you in Jesus (Romans 8:38-39).
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday , today and forever so you can trust in His love for you (Hebrews 13:8)
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Does not seek its own,
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Is not provoked,
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Thinks no evil
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Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth
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Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, & endures all things.

Psalm 91:4
His Truth will be your shield and buckler
1. God is always in control.
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Jesus has victory!
Far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.'- Ephesians 1:21-23
I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. - Revelation 1:18
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name - Philippians 2:5-9
God's Word will always be accomplished and His Word over your life is to turn everything intended for evil over you for your good (Genesis 50:19-22, Isaiah 55:11). The days were fashioned for you (Psalms 139:16)
Genesis 50:19-22
Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father’s household. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years.
Proverbs 8:29
When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth
In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about suffering :
2 Corinthians 12:7:
'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.'
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.
'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. '- II Corinthians 12:8-9
What does this mean?
- God hears our pleas and cries, He will always respond and be there to comfort you. God reassures Paul that God's Grace and strength shines through perfectly in our weakest moments. God's Word is full of God's endless mercies and grace towards us when we fall short, God knows we cannot 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 (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."
2. Satan is not in charge.
Satan has no authority over anything and is unable to do anything without God’s sovereign disposition. God does not listen to "Satan" or "Curses" (Deuteronomy 23:5), He promises to never bring trouble or grief willinglingly to the children of men (Lamentations 3:33). Paul affirms that, as hurtful and discouraging his problem was, the “messenger of Satan” was given for a greater purpose— one that would result in the maturing of his own humility and faith, resulting in God’s greater glory and honor:
'And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me.'- Galatians 1:22-24
Romans 5:3-5
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Read Mark 5:1-20
'Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.'- Mark 5:9-13
We learn here that Demons need permission from God before they can do anything.
3. God uses our "problems" to achieve His higher good purpose for us.
God has thoughts of peace and not evil towards all He creates. When "Bad" things happen, we can trust God works all things our for your Good (Romans 8:28). It is okay to ask God, "Why?" (James 1:5). We have lack of understanding compared to Him, after-all, HE is GOD. God's thoughts are higher than ours, His ways higher than ours, so only God knows the end (Isaiah 55:8-9). Only our sovereign God knows everything: The birth of every deer, the seasons etc. (Job 38)
Thanks be to our God who shares his wisdom with those who ask in Jesus' name. May our hearts and eyes be open to receiving the hope and good news of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour in all our storms and troubles in Jesus' name, amen.
Remember, suffering is never punishment - Christ took ALL the punishment for our sin on the cross so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). We suffer in Christ to be glorified with Him: Life was not fair to Jesus, Son of God, the sinless man, who died for the world's sin. We will have tribulation but be of good cheer cause Christ as overcome (John 16:33)! Christ died for you and now lives in you (Galatians 2:20). The Thief came to steal , kill and destroy; But Jesus has come to give us all life abundantly" (John 10:10).
Suffering helps chastise us like an olive tree that is beaten. The tree is beaten severely for its fruit to come out. Rain comes before the flowers bloom. Our troubles can "beat us" but through the suffering, there is opportunity for us to show the fruit's of God's spirit just as Jesus did when he was crucified.
God chastises and rebukes with love (Revelation 3:19). Although it may feel like we are being beaten, God's Grace will not allow us to be harmed by the wolf like the Good shepherd who tends for his sheep (Revelation 3:19, John 10:11-16). God is love, therefore all that He does IS LOVE no matter how we see it through our lens. It is okay to be hurt over things that happen to us; They enable us to connect to God's feelings and share in Christ’s holiness by being sanctified (2 Corinthians 3:18 ) and ultimately be able to yeild the fruits of The Holy Spirit (John 15:1-5, Hebrews. 12:3–11). In our suffering, we can learn to rely on our rock, Christ Jesus, who was rejected by the world yet became the Chief cornerstone (Psalm 118:22, Ephesians 2:20-22, Acts 4:11). Through Jesus and the Holy Spirit he gives us, we can learn about who God really is and see His true grace and mercy for all of us throughout generations.
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 (James 1:3–4)
Romans 12:12 NKJV Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for helping me understand that my thoughts are not your thoughts and neither are your ways my ways. Please take my understanding on this situation that hurt me and help me see your bigger, better plan for me and everyone involved. It is hard to be in this pain but I declare that as Your Truth says, You are in control and your plan is better than anything I can come up with. Thank you for everything you have done for me. Thank you for comforting me and delivering me in your Perfect timing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
