The military community is far too familiar with the adverse impacts of PTSD. In this week’s Monday Minute, Ashley bravely shares how she knows God can heal PTSD.
God Can Heal PTSD
by Ashley Saulnier
PTSD lingers. It consists of memories and memories are there to stay. But, is God’s will for the memories to haunt us? Or is his desire for us to celebrate him and his faithfulness in the midst of hard times? Can we experience the goodness of God in the midst of tragic thoughts?
The expression ‘time heals all wounds’, in my experience, isn’t sufficient to rise up and overcome PTSD. Instead, I needed something far more powerful to conquer the thoughts that haunted me. Jesus Christ has healed my PTSD. Now, when I think about the tragedies of my deployment, the events don’t affect me anymore. Is this really possible?
God really can heal us from our PTSD.
How can we move from the haunting thoughts of PTSD to the thoughts God wants us to have?
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:1-3
We can take heart that Paul, much like us who struggle with PTSD, saturated his mind with the thoughts of Christ. He focused on God’s faithfulness and relied on that focus to carry him through every struggle. Because Paul wrote this letter while in a Roman prison, I take heart that my PTSD or anyone else’s can be overcome by God.
This requires us to have faith in Jesus Christ.
If we have that faith, our hearts are open to the change God will help us make. God is full of fulfillment and promises which will not waver, no matter how much PTSD shakes us. The thoughts of God are higher than ours, his ways are not our ways, and we can have the understanding of heaven and what is to come when we release the chains that imprison us, like PTSD.
In a way, time has helped heal my wounds of PTSD, but not in worldly timing. Time is subject to God anyway. It’s been in God’s perfect timing that I’ve healed and handed my thoughts to God. His Word also says, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). We need to trust God with our struggles, including PTSD. Let us not forget about him, who he is, and his power.
After all, He is all we need.
Rise Up
Pause Take a few minutes to reflect on this thought–God works for the good of those who love him. That includes the terrible experiences and terrible thoughts we and our loved ones have experienced because of past trauma, military related or other. (Romans 8:28)
Pray In your quiet prayer time, pray through your experience and leave it at the cross. Ask God to help take away the past wounds causing your PTSD and to use them for good. (1 Peter 5:7)
Submit Trust God with your PTSD. He is bigger than your PTSD or your spouse’s. Submit it over to him, trust that he will take care of it, and watch for what he does. (John 16:33)
Prayer
Father, you are a God of miracles. Your truths are everlasting and your word is never changing. Thank you for your consistent care and work in our lives.. Please heal our experiences and thoughts with PTSD. You defeated Satan and won the battle over death. Therefore, nothing else is worthy to compare to your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you or a loved one suffers from PTSD, it would be an honor for us to pray for God to break the chains and help you rise up to overcome. Submit your confidential. prayer request here.
