According to Dr. Lisa M. Najavits’ break through book “Recovery from Trauma, Addiction, or Both”, 2/3’s of all addicts first experienced trauma and addiction followed as a result of their effort to cope with the resulting emotional and/or physical pain. She goes on to stress that the trauma and addiction need to be addressed simultaneously since they are so closely enmeshed.
Jesus experienced traumatic events during His time on planet earth as well. Highlighting a few, people started trying to kill Jesus from the moment of His birth when Herod ordered the killing of young boys to eliminate King Jesus requiring Joseph and Mary to take Him to Egypt for safekeeping. Numerous times the Scribes, Pharisees and others tried to kill Him for healing on the Sabbath and implying He was God. In the Garden of Gethsemane He sweat drops of blood which is a medical condition called hematidrosis caused by extreme anguish as a result of His praying and contemplating the drinking of the cup of the Father’s fury over sin. That’s not even taking into account the temptations by Satan, the mock trial by the Jewish Leadership and Pilate, the resulting humiliation, beating and crucifixion. Clearly Jesus encountered traumatic events during His lifetime here on earth.
Perhaps we should consider following His relationship with the Father as described in John 5: 19 to overcome the pain, trauma, addiction, and sin problems we all experience? This verse states:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.”
Here God the Son is saying that He only and always does exactly what the Father was doing.
Jesus also said that we disciples would do greater works than He did.*
Perhaps the key to our doing that is only and always doing what the Father is doing which we will only know the full details of if we “pray without ceasing” as scripture commands in First Thessalonians 5: 17.
Why don’t we give it a try!
Mason Swinney
*John 14: 12
Men, Women, Moments 