Overcoming Traumatic Events
The next thing that David did was to praise God for what had happened to him.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
It is not just God’s will for you to give thanks when things get worked out for good, but to give thanks for the traumatic events that happen to you as well. This is a very difficult thing to do, to actually thank God for the bad thing that happened to you. This is a foreign concept to us, but is exactly what the Scripture requires for us to do. Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
Praising God for the traumatic event that happened in your life takes power away from the adversary, the Devil.
Do you remember what the Devil said Job would do if God removed the hedge of protection from him? He said that Job would curse God to his face. What do you suppose it does to the Devil, when instead of causing you to curse God, you begin to praise God for the trauma in life? The last thing that the Devil wants is to see God praised. Praising God for trauma is a sure way to get the Devil to flee.
Praising God also begins to remove the cloud of depression that often shrouds those who have been burdened down with trauma.
Isaiah 61:3 “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”
Praising God takes your mind off of you and puts it on Him. It also trains your mind to think on things that are profitable to you.
Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Praising God is the essence of thinking on these things. It may help you to make lists of things that you are thankful to God for. You can use a notebook or 3×5 cards. Make it a habit to list more things every day.
Daniel did this three times each day: Daniel 6:10 “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”
David praised God seven times a day: Psalm 119:164 “Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.”
You would be surprised how many things that you have to thank God for. You should thank Him for everything you can see. If you have an enemy, you should look for things about them to thank God for. Even in the worst circumstances we are to thank God.
Once you have done these two things, acknowledging God’s control in your life and praising Him for the trauma in your life, then you will have given all the power back to God. That is when He will take all things and work them together to good.
David ended Psalm 109 with verse 31, “For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.” You see, God stands ready to deliver and save you from condemnation. It may be from the condemnation of others, or it may be from yourself. When you give to God the position and praise He is due, it opens the door to Him to deliver you.
