Main Idea: Processing your pain. David. 

'He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. ' -Psalms 147:3

One of the most powerful aspects about bringing God into your life is the process of Him healing your heart. So many people go through life hurt but numb the pain by pressing it down and covering it up. Whether it’s trying to just not think about it or masking it with something else, we avoid processing our emotions. The problem is that, when left unprocessed, you will likely develop false narratives and beliefs about yourself that are unhealthy for your soul.

Today, I’m going to use David’s story to identify some common painful life experiences people go through and the narratives that come from them in order to expose the lies and show the truths. Throughout this entire message, my goal is to show you some tangible truths to process trauma and to lead you to the ultimate Healer of your soul.

The reason that this is important is because your subconscious will develop some unfair fears and unnecessary defenses in an attempt to protect you from getting hurt again. The unprocessed emotions will shape your worldview and can endanger and self-sabotage meaningful opportunities and relationships in your life if left unresolved. (Psalms 27:7-14)

1. Neglected - “No one wants me.” [EVERY PERSON NEEDS TO FEEL LOVED]

(1 Samuel 16:10-11; 1 Samuel 17:28-29; 1 Samuel 17:32-37; 1 Samuel 16:19-22)

Neglect can really mess with a person’s soul. Thinking that you are unwanted by even your own family can totally alter your personality and the way that you see yourself in the world. It is a pain that can go so deep and make you feel incredibly lost. It can easily make you believe that “no one wants you.”

But nothing can be farther from the truth. God made you valuable. It doesn’t matter whether or not people around you recognize your value because they can not determine your value.

2. Oppressed - “It was my fault.” [NO ONE DESERVES THE TRAUMA THEY FACED]

(1 Samuel 18:10-11)

We try to make sense of something that seemed senseless, and it can be easy to start to believe that somehow it was your fault. Your mind is trying to rationalize the chaos in an attempt to learn how to avoid the pain again. No matter how many things you can think of what you could have done differently, it still should have never been done to you. You do not have to carry the weight or burden of responsibility for someone else. You deserve freedom with your healing. You don’t have to harbor that confusion any longer. Simply know and believe that it was wrong and that you didn’t deserve that. God did not destine you for pain or abuse. He does not want you hurt, He wants you healed.

3. Isolated - “I’m just meant to be alone.” [NO ONE IS DESTINED TO BE LONELY]

(1 Samuel 22:1-2)

One of the most common reactions of trauma is isolation. Our minds begin to push everyone out, good and bad alike, in an attempt to protect oneself from being hurt again. That’s when the self-created loneliness comes in, and it mixes with the trauma to create the false narrative, “I’m meant to be alone.” Thank God for His Word which always reveals TRUTH:

'Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” ' -Genesis 2:18

Being able to relate to someone in life is one of the most valuable experiences we can have. It gives us hope and helps us to see that we’re not the only ones carrying burdens. For David, it was in this kind of moment that inspired a turning point in his life. It was after this moment of being joined with other hurting people that David started to get his life back. It was after letting people into his life that he was able to find the strength to endure and overcome his traumatic experiences. And in this moment, God turned his pain into a purpose.

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