RESPONDING TO TRAUMA (44 OF 52)
Scripture: Job 1:13-22
This content is part of a series.
Responding to Trauma (44 of 52)
Series: Discipleship Part Two
Christopher B. Harbin
Job 1:13-22
We all experience events that leave us traumatized, hurting, raw, and uncertain with regard to the future. We cannot easily see past obstacles that appear before us, and trauma steals energy away from carrying out the basic tasks of living. The more intense the trauma, the harder it is for us to spring back and get on with the process of living. It is not all about the trauma itself, however, part of the process of healing involves our reaction to the storms of life. How do we respond to trauma that is presented to us?
Job lost it all. Through no fault of his own, Job lost his oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels, servants, sons, and daughters. His wealth and family were wiped out in one moment, and there was nothing he could do about it, nothing.
Job tore his clothes and shaved his head in a demonstration of distress. Then he fell to the ground in humility or worship. This last is not the quite what we expect. It is actually very different.
We have expectations for people who grieve. Some cultures are accustomed to responses of wailing and loud crying. Some deny any outward display of emotion. Some cultures expect family to gather in the home place, talk with one another, make plans, and relive memories of the past. We generally regard trauma as having a communal impact. In the Ancient Near East, we would expect to see a greater communal and effusive response than in our Western context. Job's reaction, however, seems much more personal and intimate. Part of that is simply how the narrator tells the story. Part of it is this narrator's focus on Job, and Job alone. In the main, however, we find culturally appropriate responses to grief, as well as Job leaving cultural expectations behind.
Job was facing devastation. This was the most severe trauma of his life. It was completely unexpected. It was the equivalent to him as the loss by those suffering the ravage ...
Series: Discipleship Part Two
Christopher B. Harbin
Job 1:13-22
We all experience events that leave us traumatized, hurting, raw, and uncertain with regard to the future. We cannot easily see past obstacles that appear before us, and trauma steals energy away from carrying out the basic tasks of living. The more intense the trauma, the harder it is for us to spring back and get on with the process of living. It is not all about the trauma itself, however, part of the process of healing involves our reaction to the storms of life. How do we respond to trauma that is presented to us?
Job lost it all. Through no fault of his own, Job lost his oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels, servants, sons, and daughters. His wealth and family were wiped out in one moment, and there was nothing he could do about it, nothing.
Job tore his clothes and shaved his head in a demonstration of distress. Then he fell to the ground in humility or worship. This last is not the quite what we expect. It is actually very different.
We have expectations for people who grieve. Some cultures are accustomed to responses of wailing and loud crying. Some deny any outward display of emotion. Some cultures expect family to gather in the home place, talk with one another, make plans, and relive memories of the past. We generally regard trauma as having a communal impact. In the Ancient Near East, we would expect to see a greater communal and effusive response than in our Western context. Job's reaction, however, seems much more personal and intimate. Part of that is simply how the narrator tells the story. Part of it is this narrator's focus on Job, and Job alone. In the main, however, we find culturally appropriate responses to grief, as well as Job leaving cultural expectations behind.
Job was facing devastation. This was the most severe trauma of his life. It was completely unexpected. It was the equivalent to him as the loss by those suffering the ravage ...
There are 7743 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
