Overcoming Traumatic Events

Verses 22-25 examine four of the emotional consequences that accompany trauma. “For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust. My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness. I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads.”

1. You may have a wounded heart. You may feel a deep hurt that you are unsure whether you can ever recover from. You may have fallen prey to the feeling that you can never feel “normal” again. Beware of the extreme thinking of “never” and “always”. Few things in life are this way, and by following the Scriptures you can overcome this trial, too. Remember Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
2. The second emotional consequence is that of withdrawing. The Psalmist says that he is gone like the shadow when it declineth. Have you withdrawn from others? Do you desire to be alone instead of facing people? Have you had an emotional withdraw, building up walls so that people cannot get close enough to hurt you? You may have thought something was wrong with you, when the truth is that you are responding just as a normal person does, just like David did. Hold on! God has an answer coming for you; He has deliverance for you.
3. Next, the Psalmist says that he is tossed up and down like the locust. We may express this by saying, “I’m on an emotional roller coaster. I can’t seem to control my emotions.” Remember this was the same response King David had before he applied the cure that God gave him.
4. The last emotional consequence David experienced was that he had a sudden health change. He lost weight, a noticeable altering of his physical appearance. Those around him could see the change. You may have experienced the opposite, gaining weight instead of losing it. You may have become trapped in a cycle of eating disorders. If you have fallen into an eating disorder since your traumatic event, you need to be cautious that you are not giving heed to doctrines of Devils as it says in I Timothy 4:1-3.

So what’s the answer?

How did David go on and overcome this traumatic event? More specifically, how can you overcome the trauma that you have experienced?

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