God’s Reminder
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” - Romans 15:4
What triggers you? Author Carolyn Spring says, “Triggers are like little psychic explosions that crash through avoidance and bring dissociated, avoided trauma suddenly, unexpectedly, back into consciousness.” The concept of being triggered is what came to mind for me when I reflected on the Old Testament book of Ezra.
Israel here is actively trying to piece her life back together in light of a major season of trauma after the Babylonians destroyed the city—destroying all of its sacred institutions, capturing many Jews and sending them into exile; and forcing them to give up their language, their religion, and their culture, along with their way of life.
Babylonian soldiers had broken through Jerusalem’s walls, burned the city, and taken its king captive. It was a period of suffering for those who had to fend for themselves. When the conquest was over, several books of the Bible like Nehemiah and Ezra describe how the Jews who were allowed to return sought to rebuild and reconstitute their lives after such great tragedy.
Ezra, the priest, arrives on the scene with the intent to encourage and motivate a depressed and spiritually depleted people. Their current situation was so bad that the spiritual leadership of the high priesthood was compromised by apostasy and immorality.
Like Moses, Ezra is descending from the mountain of God to see how wayward the people had been. He offers his spiritual energy and insight to help the people of God get back on track. Rebuilding would be a visible and a virtual reminder of their duty to love and serve Yahweh, who loves them still.
Have you been triggered recently? Is there something that you see or hear that takes you back to the pain and suffering? Is there something that triggers trauma in your life? If so, you need a reminder. Ezra’s goal was to remind the people that God still loved them. That they would get through this! And as you read this, God wants you to know the same is true for you today.
God is here to remind you that you are still loved and that you are going to get through this time in your life. There is better ahead! You just have to trust Him. After the dark comes the dawn.
What triggers you? Author Carolyn Spring says, “Triggers are like little psychic explosions that crash through avoidance and bring dissociated, avoided trauma suddenly, unexpectedly, back into consciousness.” The concept of being triggered is what came to mind for me when I reflected on the Old Testament book of Ezra.
Israel here is actively trying to piece her life back together in light of a major season of trauma after the Babylonians destroyed the city—destroying all of its sacred institutions, capturing many Jews and sending them into exile; and forcing them to give up their language, their religion, and their culture, along with their way of life.
Babylonian soldiers had broken through Jerusalem’s walls, burned the city, and taken its king captive. It was a period of suffering for those who had to fend for themselves. When the conquest was over, several books of the Bible like Nehemiah and Ezra describe how the Jews who were allowed to return sought to rebuild and reconstitute their lives after such great tragedy.
Ezra, the priest, arrives on the scene with the intent to encourage and motivate a depressed and spiritually depleted people. Their current situation was so bad that the spiritual leadership of the high priesthood was compromised by apostasy and immorality.
Like Moses, Ezra is descending from the mountain of God to see how wayward the people had been. He offers his spiritual energy and insight to help the people of God get back on track. Rebuilding would be a visible and a virtual reminder of their duty to love and serve Yahweh, who loves them still.
Have you been triggered recently? Is there something that you see or hear that takes you back to the pain and suffering? Is there something that triggers trauma in your life? If so, you need a reminder. Ezra’s goal was to remind the people that God still loved them. That they would get through this! And as you read this, God wants you to know the same is true for you today.
God is here to remind you that you are still loved and that you are going to get through this time in your life. There is better ahead! You just have to trust Him. After the dark comes the dawn.
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