Overcoming Distressful Situations – Part 1
Distressful or traumatic situations affect all and sundry. Such situations do not respect fame, religious beliefs, age, gender, race, wealth, health or connections. Sadly, many folks allow extreme trauma to push them off the cliff (some took their lives, while some become mentally imbalanced). On the other hand, some folks rode through the storms of distressful situations and emerged victorious!
Why do certain folks overcome trauma while others are swept away or are seriously damaged by similar trauma? The answer is amazingly simple, trauma survivors categorize the situation, then mentally and physically tweak themselves to synch with and eventually overcome the situation. It is no secret either that practicing Christians tend to cope with trauma better, Why? Because of the cloud of witnesses who went before us.
Apostle Paul succinctly enumerated these cloud of witnesses in Hebrews chapter 11 (where he discussed the importance of faith), he concluded his discuss on faith by urging his readers to emulate these witnesses who walked with GOD in righteousness, obedience, submission, love and faith. Let’s examine his encouraging words: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” Hebrews 12:1.
Although, these “cloud of witnesses” walked with GOD, yet they experienced traumatizing situations. Let’s examine a few of these witnesses and categorize their traumas under: Self Inflicted, Trial of Faith and Pruning for Perfection.
Abraham
Self Inflicted: Abraham journeyed to Egypt because of a famine in the land of Canaan. Observe, Abraham was in Canaan in obedience to GOD’s call, therefore the solution to this famine ought to come from GOD. What do I mean? Let me explain using Scriptures: “Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, He gave commandment to depart unto the other side. And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm” Matthew 8:18,23-26.
The disciples of Christ experienced a storm in the path of duty and obedience. Thus they cried to the Lord Jesus Christ whose command made them to take the trip in the first place, their cry led to a great deliverance from the storm. Thus Abraham ought to cry unto GOD concerning the famine. His failure to do so made him to lose his wife for several years to Pharaoh. Although he eventually regained his wife, yet he was deported from Egypt to Canaan where he belonged thereafter.
However, how did Abraham handle the situation? How was he able to face Lot’s queries concerning Sarah? No doubt his servants knew their master lost his wife to Pharaoh, did he overhear their whisperings? Scriptures is silent over these happenings, yet GOD did not shield Abraham from suffering the consequence of his action. On the other hand, Abraham did not lose his faith in GOD as a result of this situation, rather, he waited until GOD restored his Sarah back to his bosom.
To be continued …
Shalom!