NorthStar Community Daily Devotional

July 29 - Continuous, low-lying black clouds

Scripture focus: With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn't deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all. The law code, weakened as it always was by fractured human nature, could never have done that. The law always ended up being used as a Band-Aid on sin instead of a deep healing of it. And now what the law code asked for but we couldn't deliver is accomplished as we, instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us. Romans 8:1-4 (The Message)

Because the human body was not equipped to handle sin, shame and betrayal, the effects of sin, shame and betrayal are felt in body, mind and soul. Some common types of trauma that result in suffering include: assault, serious car accidents, other accidents or injury, natural disasters, life threatening illness, sudden death of a loved one, learning about another's trauma.

Trauma is so serious that even listening to someone else's story can trigger PTSD, depression and anxiety disorders. In fact, trauma is so stressful to the human experience that these three conditions can co-occur. Did you know that panic attacks, agoraphobia and other phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder and general anxiety disorders, separation anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and bipolar disorder can all be triggered by an encounter with trauma?

These continuous, low-lying black clouds have physiological and spiritual components.

It really freaks me out when well-intentioned folks suggest that our low-lying black clouds will blow away and reveal blue skies of happiness if we just have enough faith, pray more and up our quiet time commitment. Trusting God is absolutely key to the clearing of the air and acquisition of the freedom we desperately seek.

God in his infinite wisdom uses a multitude of ways to provide deep healing. He uses faith-based communities to provide support and encouragement, gifted therapists to help us see ourselves clearly and provide tools for transitioning from victim to survivor, sometimes medical interventions are needed. These are just a few of the tools that God has had his disposal to help us recover our lives.

For today, it's my prayer that you will embrace what the Spirit is doing in you -- in every form that that aid takes. May the eyes of your heart recognize the rescuers God sends your way!

Recommended reading: 1 Samuel 28-29

- click on the word comments and join our conversation

© Copyright 2009 NorthStar Community