TRANSFORMED THROUGH TRAUMA (GENESIS 32:24-31)

REFLECTION Transformed through trauma is the theme for today’s reflection. The word trauma can be confusing. There are two main definitions – firstly, that trauma relates to a distressing or disturbing psychological experience. Trauma also means physical injury which may result in wounds, broken bones or internal organ damage. Often people that experience a physical…

Jean-Paul Agidi

Jul 18, 2022

2–3 minutes

REFLECTION

Transformed through trauma is the theme for today’s reflection. The word trauma can be confusing. There are two main definitions – firstly, that trauma relates to a distressing or disturbing psychological experience. Trauma also means physical injury which may result in wounds, broken bones or internal organ damage. Often people that experience a physical trauma may also experience psychological difficulty due to the shock of the unexpected injury.

Jacob experience physical trauma in the process of holding onto an Angel. “When the man (Angel) saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.”(Genesis 32: 25). Although, Jacob experience physical trauma, his life was transformed because the Angel blessed him (Genesis 32:27-29).

Dear friend in the Lord, Jesus also experienced trauma through through His suffering and death on the cross but He resurrected victoriously. Again, Paul experienced trauma but continued to be blessed when he wrote that “a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-8). God is able to transform our lives not only in pleasurable times but even in trauma we experience His glory and blessing in our lives. It is important to hold onto Him in faith just as Jacob held onto the Angel and was blessed even after experiencing a trauma at his hip.

Life comes with a wide range of traumatic experiences such as car accidents, losing a beloved one, losing your property through fire or flood and other unexpected calamities. Do you give up when these things happen to you in life? God continues to be faithful to us even in trauma, and more importantly He is able to transform our lives and restore us, it is for this reason, David who also experienced a series of trauma in his life and relationship with God, wrote that “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:6). Beloved in the Lord, don’t give up! God is able to transform your life through the trauma you are experiencing or about to experience. Shalom.