Been Through the Valley of the Shadow of PTSD

Genesis 19:17 (NIV)

 As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” 

You haven’t had the nightmare in over a month.  You haven’t been blind-sided by an anxiety attack in two whole weeks.  And you actually have a little money in the bank.

You are climbing up the hill out of the valley of the shadow of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Take extra care of your footing.

Look ahead.

Enjoy the light.

As you climb a steep hill, it is too easy to slip and stumble back down.  Be careful where you place your feet.

Are you a mean drunk? Don’t drink.

Does the sound of gunfire set you off?  Don’t watch war movies or fireworks.

Do you think no one will ever love you because of who you are?  You’re not that person anymore.  You’ve climbed out of the valley, a new creature.  Stronger.  Wiser.  Better. 

Look ahead. 

You cannot climb by looking over your shoulder.  You have to keep your eyes on the path ahead of you.  Set goals:

Today I will…

Tomorrow I will …

Next year I will …

In ten years’ time, I will …

You can’t wallow on a hillside; you’ll only roll back down into the valley.  So don’t let yourself begin to wallow.  When you start to say or think phrases that begin with “If only…” or “I wish it hadn’t …” or “What if I had …” or “Why…” stop yourself.  Don’t let yourself finish that thought.  Think about the path ahead.

“Today I am…”

“Today I will…”

“Tomorrow I will…”

Enjoy the light.

In a deep valley surrounded by mountains, there is very little sunlight.  Everything is attached to shadows.  There are shadows on the hillside, too, but there is also wonderful light.  Enjoy it.  Take short breaks from your careful steps and your path ahead and feel the caress of light and fresh air again.  Notice that it is there.

Climbing up is so much harder than marching through.  But the view can be spectacular.  Enjoy it.

Once you’ve been Through the Valley of the Shadow of PTSD, life is still tough.  But it is also glorious.

I know you can take this hill.

Dear Father, let the words that I say, the actions I take, and the works I do keep me climbing upwards.  Amen.

When the world says, "I'm alone. I'm all alone."

Genesis 28:15 (New International Version, ©2011)

¹⁵ I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

You're not alone.  There are people all around you.  This planet is swarming with people.  Even if you live thousands of miles from the nearest human, you have contact with people via technology.

However, being surrounded by, or even being shoulder to shoulder with people, you can feel alone.

Loneliness. 

It's like a cancer creeping in slowly, cell by cell until it engulfs you and nothing can heal it.

Sometimes it's easier to shove people away than risk them rejecting you.

Being alone can be a choice.  \

Being lonely can be a choice, too.

But the reality is that you are not alone.  God is with you.  He promised He'd never leave you.  You can ignore Him like you do other friends and families.  But He's not going away.  Even if you don't acknowledge His presence, He's still beside you.

He's not going to leave you alone.  He's not going to leave you lonely.

He promises.

When the world says, "I'm alone.  I'm all alone."
God says, "No you're not.  I'm right here.  I won't leave you."

.

Dear Jesus,
Sometimes, especially when it is quiet around me, I feel so alone.  Sometimes, when something wonderful happens, I look around to share it with a friendly face, and there's no one there.  
Wrap your arms around me, Lord.  Lift this loneliness from my heart.  Thank you for never leaving me.

  Amen.