How Does Trauma Affect Our Faith?

I recently went through a traumatic experience that has shaken my faith. What should I do best is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Adm. Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts course you can email us with your question at questions@corechristianity.com what it really is week two of core Christianity lie was so much fun last week taking our listeners calls live for the very first time and I was a little bit anxiety provoking as well.

Yeah, I thought I was going to be even more nervous than I was and so I was really praising the Lord because I really enjoyed myself Bill. I don't know about you, but it was really great to be able to take those questions and continue to take life questions today. You know, just going back and forth with with our listeners and and I was also just so encouraged by the caliber of questions that were receiving a lot of people really thinking deeply about the word of God in the Christian life and wanting to grow in their faith.

And so we want to encourage it and encourage them in that and point them to descriptors in a right understanding of God's word.

One of our goals. Here core Christianity is to give you confidence in your Christian walk into be able to fully understand the gospel and apply to your life and then to share with others because we know in today's world is a lot of people who unfortunately our little bit hostile to Christianity. So how can we win similarly talk about our faith with them. That's another thing we try to do on this program let's get to our first question of the day, this is Jennifer who is calling in from Phoenix, Arizona Jennifer, welcome to core Christianity and joined the program why Christians talk about praying God's will for their lives and so my question pertains to you. Are there certain Scripture passages you can point me to that help that issue. Finding God's will for our life. Jennifer really important question one. One passage that often times we go to is a verse in Deuteronomy chapter 29. A lot of people think that Deuteronomy for the will of God. But listen to what Deuteronomy chapter 29 verse 29 says the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law and so that you have this distinction that's often been made between God's secret will you know what he's decreed from eternity past what God knows and it we don't know we we know that the curtain has been pulled back for us trust up see that and then God's revealed will. What we do have for us and for our children and really that's summarizing God's revealed will for us in his law and and so first and foremost, he would say God's law to us is is the revelation of his will for his people. He's revealed that so that we might know how to live, how to walk with him how to honor and honor him. I think a lot of times today when people think about the will of God, finding God's will for my life that thinking about something really specific and it is God want me to take this job or that job or does God want me to marry this person or that person and you don't find answers to that question in particular those kinds of questions in the word of God we get in Scripture is wisdom principles God's law. Things that were called to live by. And sometimes you know that the answer may not be very clear in terms of, you know should I take this job or that job and that's what we have to use wisdom, the wisdom that God gives us as we study the Scriptures and as we as we understand them better.

There are some passages of Scripture where we help Paul. For example, talk specifically about things that are the will of God for us. So for example in the book of first Thessalonians chapter 5 he talks about how it's God's will for us to give thanks in all circumstances.

And so we can say that that certainly is the will of God for for our lives are also in chapter 4 verse 13 of first Thessalonians.

You talked about how the will of God for us is our sanctification that we should abstain from sexual immorality and there is just appealing again to what God is revealed in his word in his law, and so I would say when we think about this question of the will of God for my life.

Today we want to say look, we want to approach all of the Bible God is revealed to us for us for our children for our friends and for our family and say how does God call me to live and to use wisdom in order to to understand what that looks like in particular circumstances.

And so that's that's I would approach this question of wisdom.

Were you looking for something. Jennifer may be more specifically there in terms of finding God's will for your life but only to a really helpful I greatly appreciate it. Thanks. Hey, thank you for your call. God bless you. Thanks, Jennifer, thank you for should be one of our core Christianity listeners know Israel.

A lot of times we do struggle with the fact that God has given us free will, and we also know that he is sovereign over our lives and how those two things fit together. One week you mentioned like how do you choose between two jobs, or between, you know, to dating partners.

Let me know questions come up a lot for people I sounds like what you're saying is that our our goal. God's will for us.

God's desire for us is to follow his precepts to obey him and then he gives us free will. When it comes to a lot of other thing is just one concern that I have sitting a lot of times we asked this question about finding the will of God for my life were looking for some sort of sign in the sky you know God that you tell me to go this way or that way and it really isn't a matter of sin, you know it's not a question of this is the right decision and that's the wrong decision is just we want this specific answer to a particular roadblock or particular question that we have and what God is given us as his word and he's revealed how he calls us to live and that's what we should commit ourselves to his understanding that understanding the word of God. And that's can guide us to make decisions with wisdom biblical wisdom that are honoring to the Lord and that ultimately help us to live our lives in line with God's revealed will. And so that's that's we wanted you and what we want to be committed to. Are there instances in in our lives may be where God might providentially lead us in one direction or another. Sure God can can totally do that but I think first and foremost we need to understand God as revealed in his word, in terms of how we should live and then seek to seek to follow it. As Christians, your listing the core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

If you have a question for us would love to talk to you right now live. Here's the phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Diana in Orange, California hi Diana. Welcome the core Christianity much for taking my call needed to say and in Deuteronomy 32 5152 in a month of the tall he is not the promised land that I was under the impression that God is not vengeful. Can you help me understand that a little bit better yeah well one I praise the Lord that you are new to the faith. I just boy hope that you are going to continue to grow.

Trust that you continue to grow in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ and I hope that we can be an encouragement to you on on your journey. So Deuteronomy chapter 32 beginning in verse 51 because you broke faith with me in the midst of the people of Israel at the waters of Amera Buckeye � in the wilderness of Zenon because you did not treat me as holy in the midst of the people of Israel, for you shall see the land before you, but you shall not go there into the land that I am giving to the people of Israel and so here's basically Moses hearing the consequences for his sin. What he had done in misrepresenting the Lord, and in particular diamine Moses as the teacher in Israel he's held to to the higher account here in and particularly what he had done he had set a bad example for the people and so God God is is there is punishment area and that's one thing that we really have to understand as Christians is there are consequences for our sins. I say no professor would say you could choose your sin but you can't choose your consequences and I think that's one of the things that were sitting there in Deuteronomy 32. It's not that God is being harsh, per se, is just that there are very real and serious consequences to our behavior as Christians mean the apostle Paul said it. You reap what you sow and that's essentially what's happening here now in terms of God being a vengeful God.

I think one passage that I would point you to is what the apostle Paul says in Romans chapter 12 because in one sense we could talk about the vengeance or just wrath of God in the context of again his judgment against sin, and so listen what the apostle Paul said in Romans chapter 12 and at this is beginning in verse 17 repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.

To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him if he is thirsty, give them something to drink for. By doing so you will reap Bert you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. And so there I would say Diana, it were talking about the vengeance of God in the context of his judgment against sin and sometimes we also have to understand in Scripture we were getting this language of God being vengeful or wrathful night. It's God's way of accommodating himself to our understanding if this is the sort of analogy, we wouldn't say that God is in his essence.

You know, wrath or vengeance or something like that. He flies off the handle that kind of thing. I think sometimes that's the that's the picture that people get in their mind when they think about talking about the God of rather God's wrath know it's it's God's way of communicating to us particularly that he has this just a response. This righteous response to our sin. And that's what we see with Moses. But another thing that I would say to Diana's God also exhibits his grace to us and to Moses in particular. So there. He's told you're knocking to be able to go into the promised land. One of the things that I love is when you go to the New Testament, there's this scene in the Gospels, Matthew chapter 17.

For example, where Jesus is on this mountain and he's transfigured were told that he begins to just shine with this divine glory and the disciples are there with him and they have a vision of two people with Jesus there on the Mount of Transfiguration. I don't know if you are familiar with the story, but the two people that appear with Jesus or Elijah and Moses. Moses there in the promised land. We might say standing next to Jesus a picture of the law and the prophets pointing to Jesus testifying of Jesus.

So even though right there are consequences to Moses to sin and those consequences are spelled out there in Deuteronomy 32. There's also grace.

The grace that Jesus has for most this Moses is there on the Mount of Transfiguration with him in the promised land. Many years later, we might say, so Diana, thank you so much for your question. Keep digging into the word they Diana thanks for calling in perspective, we appreciate the fact that you are exploring God's word on a regular basis.

That is so exciting and we do encourage you to to continue to solidify your your walk with God. So thank you so much. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and if you are new to this program. We have something just for you. It is called our core kit. Yeah, I am very excited about this bill. The court kit is our offer to listeners who are wondering what core Christianity is all about the free resource that jampacked with items like our DVD finding yourself in God's story answers to the top three questions we get asked on the show a printed copy of our most read articles it core, Christianity.com our Bible reading plan and in even more and so the quirkiness is just that a kit that introduces you to the best content in the items we have over it core Christianity. We've heard a lot of testimonials about how these resources of help people encourage them in their faith.

And so we want to collect them all in one place and give them to you for free. It's really a great way to get to know who we are and what our mission is here it core Christianity to receive your court kit. All you have to do is go to core Christianity.com/kit and sign up its core, Christianity.com/kit you can also call us at 833-843-2673 for help getting any one of our offers, that number again is 833. The core one of the ways you can ask ask a question here core Christianity is by leaving us a voicemail or going to our website and clicking the little microphone icon there and recording your question, let's go to a recorded question right now. I'm a believer and I like that to the Lord four years ago.

Recently I went through a lot of romantic experiences. I want these in life-and-death fears of being attacked a light. I felt like I would be Cooper's form. I believe Michael that all the time and I lived with people that are really believing worldly people but my question and is God trying to tell me to leave that behind me that it's all in here can all what I do from now on. They were really traumatic experiences and I don't know where how to get my joy back my faith back or anything out. I read my Bible. I can't find faith in. I don't know what to do about the situation. Thanks SSO will sounds like you've been to quite a bit and felt the first thing I want to. Sometimes on this program. We differentiate between sending and being sinned against you and we can really be sinned against as people and as the people of God. It sounds there in in your question like there are certain things that have happened to you that you've experienced that were the direct result of your wanting to follow Jesus and to be faithful to him. And so when were sinned against, whether it's for our our faith in Jesus Christ or for some other reason.

It truly can be traumatic and leave these these wounds. These deep wounds that require healing well. Of course as a follower of Jesus.

That's almost something that that we won't be able to escape his were following the Lord faithfully faithfully the apostle Paul said in first or second Timothy chapter 3, I believe it's first 12 that everyone who desires to live a godly life in Jesus Christ is going to suffer persecution as a look if it were followers of Jesus seeking to be faithful to him and to his word.

Don't be surprised. Jesus said when the world hates you.

But that doesn't mean that were knocking. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't deal with the traumatic experiences that we phyletic it out may be processing through that stuff is really important for us if were in situations or if you're in a situation where you're continuing to be in an abusive relationship or something like that and and in context like that. I think I was saying and probably bill you would say as well. I as a counselor, that it if it is good to remove yourself as much as is possible from that kind of situation right about about yeah it it it and so and so yeah it is not just like you know just try to forget about it and it's not that big of a deal know we have to work through that pain that's been caused to us now. One thing I will say in terms of the traumatic things that we experience as the people of God, is don't let the traumas that you experience cause you to question the love of God for you sister immediate when I was just hearing your question my mind a meal, he went to Romans chapter 8 beginning in verse 36, Paul says, as it is written, for your sake is because I'm a follower of the Lord, for your sake we are being killed all the day long we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered, knowing all these things Paul says we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord is the a lot of times and we experienced trauma abuse. Even we can begin to question the love of God for us. We can begin to feel like we are unlovely and that's where we go to Christ in his word were reminded of his gospel.

Where we rest in his grace and so I would I would want to just encourage you by saying don't let these experiences cause you to question the love of God for you and Bill, I mean in terms of experiencing trauma.

I just want to want to pitch this to you. Also, for a moment as a counselor what are some of the recommendations that you might have one of the first things you want to do. Of course, as you said, be comfortable, be free and talking about expressing your feelings, and sometimes that can be to counselor it could be to a pastor it could be to a small group, the more we can express what we felt what we went through and how it made us feel the easier it is going to be for us to process the trauma.

If we just bottle it up inside it's gonna come out in different ways. It's going to come out and anxiety depression. Sometimes posttraumatic stress disorder, nightmares don't know exactly what she went through but it sounds like it was very traumatic, though I would say find a trusted person and a safe person that you can talk to about these experiences and it also sounds like she's currently issues that I'm living with people who don't share my faith in who are hostile to it.

I think your advice. There was really sounded real. She needs to.

If at all possible, remove herself from that situation and find a more positive living environment.

I realize that that might be a challenge but I think that's the goal that she should really be shooting for. At thank you for that bill. Maybe we can just really quickly pray for the sister we didn't get her name, but let's let's lift her up to the Lord in prayer. Gracious father. We do ask for your healing hand and your hand of protection to be on our dear sister and and Lord, would you bring healing with the trauma that she's experienced and would you comfort her with your word with the gospel with the promise that there is nothing in this world that can separate her from your love that is found in Jesus Christ, may she rest in that message Lord and I would you please surround her with with godly and good influences were going to be able to encourage her and build her up in our faith. We pray in Jesus name, amen. You're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, just a reminder that we are listener supported.

We don't play commercials we don't receive money from the government which we must do it because it was just so if you feel like you could make a gift or core Christianity just got your website core, Christianity.com and learn more about that really appreciated. Let's go to another call, this is Tommaso from St. Louis hi Tommaso how are you doing well for doing well you didn't get to hear from you what your question was recently have a conversation with one of my family members who is not a Christian and I'm a little back but over the summer I got really really ridiculous. All apologetics and kind of amounting a defense of the state like a happy conversation and have to read and she asked the question you talk about the prophet stuff and she was asking why did Israel believe the Old Testament prophet right and so I I told her about how long the standard for being a prophet is very strict when she got your number wrong because no dog in the past that I understand that in retrospect you can look at what Psalms and stop and see all of the prophecy came true, but the pop up like the minor prophets like Micah and Obadiah, why did Israel follow them and believe that they were speaking on behalf of God is a great great question that the sad reality is so often in Israel's history. She didn't follow the prophets write me like even though they were sent by the Lord. Many of the prophets were rejected. Jesus talks about this Jeremiah over and over again. These referred to as the weeping prophet, not because he had the most successful prophetic ministry, but because continually the people of God, the church of that day they were persecuting him.

Now God when he reveals himself through the prophets, he makes it very clear that one of the ways were going to know that is truly speaking is through their prophetic testimony to declaring things that take place before they happen. Isaiah chapter 46 verses nine and 10. God says I am God and there is none other.

I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, things that are not yet done. I love that verse because God is saying look I am the true God, and here's how you can know that I meant to tell you what happens before it doesn't. So we have this vivid prophetic testimony throughout the pages of the Bible. That's one of the reasons why the people of Israel were called to believe the prophets what were called to believe the prophets as well. The other thing is just the efficacy, we might say of the prophetic word. These prophets had stood in the very counsel of God.

It was as if guided raise them up into his presence to receive a message from the Lord a word from the Lord that they were called to deliver to the people and that word had a very powerful effect. I think about what the prophet Jeremiah says in Jeremiah chapter 23 verse 29 is that you, God speaking through Jeremiah he says is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces. That's what the word of God does for us that's that's what the word of God that the prophets brought to the people of Israel did for them. It was like this fire that consumed like this hammer that breaks the hard rocks and so those are reasons why they were called to believe the prophets the prophets stood in the counsel of the Lord they had received this word this message from God. This authoritative proclamation, and so they were meant to embrace it.

But the sad reality was over and over again as I mentioned at the outset of my answer. Israel rejected the voice of the prophets, and so what happened, God sent his very own son Jesus. The Old Testament prophet, priest and king. And he's depicted as the one who truly reveals to us by his word and spirit. The will of God for our salvation. He was prophesied by the prophets long before in the Old Testament, and then he came for us and for our salvation, to forgive our sins. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time.

As we explore the truth of God's word together