A Year Makes a Difference?
A year can make a difference, one way or the other, good or not so good. Here we are, remembering an incident one-year ago in the Capital of the most powerful Nation in the world, or perhaps at one time it was?
This post will not be a political rant, nor will it choose sides, yet what this blog seeks to discuss is PTSD among those who were there, those who were put at risk during the siege.
Capital Police SGT Aquilino Gonell, and SGT Harry Dunn, along with Officers from the Metropolitan Police, Officer Daniel Hodges, and Officer Michael Fanone are on the news today, yesterday, and perhaps in the future as it unfolds (if it does). These Officers, as well as many other officers and civilians are still deeply impacted emotionally, spiritually, physically. PTSD has reared its head and all but crippled the Nation.
Officers have taken their lives over this past year, both those who were involved and those who were not. Civilians are afraid and perhaps nervous for the state of democracy and freedoms - and the future of this Country.
What is the answer?
PTSD is real, it is the unspoken and sometimes lethal wound which is rarely discussed, and barely understood among those who have never experienced such horrors.
How can someone learn to move forward especially when the media continues to advertise and sensationalize the past? Often we find ourselves living in the past through the media platforms we watch. The media can continue the hypervigilance and other trauma experienced since it can reignite the memories.
If I could offer some unsolicited counsel - it would be to stay away from such media. If you are aware that the news or other social media venues bring up specific storylines that will cause pain, don’t subject yourself to it.
The Bible says this, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1, ESV).
Are you in bondage to fear, trauma, or sin? Christ has come to set you free.
I don’t want to take that verse out of context since it discusses our salvation, actually it is referring to the Galatians subjecting themselves again to bondage and sin, rather than walking firmly rooted in Christ who has come to set them free - truly free! I do want to point out something, however.
Media can be a good thing to inform us, yet it can also hold us in bondage to fear and anxiety since the images which come up may bring hidden hurts from the past trauma to a full view again, and again, and again…
Christ came to set you free from that, not just sin, but those things which hold you in fear. He has come to set you free so that you are free indeed (see John 8:36).
The media continues to bring things up, and often this is needed for accountability and public information - however, if you have a thought that it may cause you harm - perhaps you should not purposefully subject yourself to that bondage of your mind through a media platform.
The news is there to provide information, so it is a much needed avenue, yet we can choose to meditate on praiseworthy and healthy things, hear what Paul the apostle says;
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8, NKJV).
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
We have a weight of affliction at this moment, and yet the exceeding and eternal weight of glory is so much better - our afflictions here in this life are real, but they are light and fleeting, our glory which will be revealed through Christ (for those in Him) will be weighty in glory!
Ahh, that sounds good! No more media, no fake news, no trauma, or tears or pain. There is a catch, if you will call it a catch…
You have to be born again to experience what I am talking about here.
Jesus says this, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, NKJV).
Not only can we not see the kingdom of God unless we are born again to a living hope found only in Jesus (see John 14:6; 1 Peter1:3), we cannot enter into it.
Our troubles here are fleeting, although painful at times, but imagine an eternal life in agony apart from Jesus and His finished work. A life apart from God will be brutal and beyond anything we have experienced in this life.
If we are born again, and saved by the finished work of Jesus on the cross, then these infirmities we face are momentary and fleeting. We will forget all about the trauma experienced in exchange for the weightiness of the glory which awaits.
So? Here we are a year removed from the events of January 6, 2020, we have painful memories of betrayal (perhaps), maybe we have recollections of physical trauma experienced during that day? Let’s cast those cares and anxieties on the Lord since He cares for us (see 1 Peter 5:6-11 - read it… no seriously read it).
We are going to suffer in this life, but after we have suffered a little while - the God of all grace will strengthen, establish, confirm and restore you. That is a wonderful thought from our Holy and Sovereign God who is able to do it.
Do you want to be restored and strengthened? Do you want to be established and confirmed? You will have to suffer for a bit here - but think of the glory to come.
This world is passing. The Lord is eternal and coming back. Our life is fleeting and our eternity is sure in heaven or hell apart from God for eternity.
The events of January 6, 2020, December 7, 1941, September 11, 2001, August 6 and 9, 1945, and other horrific acts such as August 26, 2021 are fleeting and yet often impact us on the anniversary dates. Unplug for a minute meditate on pure and praiseworthy things.
Bondage is real, freedom is redeeming us from those bonds of fear and anxiety. We can walk in that joy and hope.
Don’t allow the past to train you in trauma, look to the author of Hope - His name is Jesus.
Be blessed.