When World Events Cause Triggers

I’ll never forget Raven’s football player Ray Rice and his story of domestic violence in 2014. Only a few years after I was separated from my abuser, the triggers were uncontrollable as Ray’s story seemed to be told, rehashed, and replayed everywhere. I got the impression that for the first time, our story of abuse took center stage on a huge platform.
 
To me, it seemed to be more of a curious, intriguing, I can’t believe it happens kind of story. Not a narrative that came with supportive help and actual call to action for change. But, I often hoped that something impactful might develop as a result.
 
Regardless of what did or didn’t happen, the continuous talk about the subject for months on end started a continuous trigger that had no boundaries within me. I never knew when Ray’s situation was going to be brought up at work, on the sports channel my sons continued to watch, or online as I read the news. 

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Triggers After Abuse

My heart aches as I feel like I’m falling into another world-event-caused trigger situation. The Corona virus is impacting our worlds completely. As I sit here vividly remembering where I sat with my 3-week-old daughter watching the Twin Towers collapse during 9/11, I realize the time I am currently experiencing will forever be ingrained in my heart. And the triggers will impact my future forever.
 
Anyone who reads my blogs knows I write about triggers a lot due to my internal struggle: 

Will my triggers control my world or will I have the strength to stand up to and minimize their effect? ​

My shopping bag of triggers is refilled daily; I never know how heavy today's bag will be.
 
But here’s what I do know: the greatest weapon I have against my triggers is God’s word. God’s word reminds me:
 

• He will protect me: “Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.” Proverbs 2:11

 

• He will comfort me: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

 

• He will calm me: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27

 

• He will strengthen me: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7

 
And the greatest way to activate God’s word within me is through my morning devotion and prayer time. As I journey through this season of Lent, I am learning a lot from reading Mark Patterson’s book Draw the Circle, the 40-Day Prayer Challenge. 
 
I have had a couple of people ask me what my morning devotion and prayer time looks and feels like. Please let me know if you’d like me to write about this next week.
 
Blessings and safety to all,
 
Sue ​