Healing the Wounds of Trauma

the blind, to set free the oppressed and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people” (Lk 4.18–19). We further learn that after reading this passage, “Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it to the attendant, and sat down. All the people in the synagogue had their eyes fixed on him, as he said to them, ‘This passage of scripture has come true today, as you heard it being read’” (Lk 4.20–21). Jesus felt the full burden of human pain and sinfulness. Jesus knows the pain that is in our hearts and we need to bring it to him so he can heal us. In this exercise, we will experience bringing our pains to the cross. A. Write down your worst pain. Take time alone and ask God to show you the painful things that are buried deep in your heart. Which ones are most painful? Which memories do you not like to think about? Write these down. We will bring these to the cross and burn them later, so no one will ever see what you have written. Be as specific as possible. You should write down the worst things that you remember such as: • Bad things that have been done to you. • Bad things you have seen done to others, or bad dreams you have had. • Bad things you have heard about that have happened to others. • Bad things that you may have done to others. Take about twenty minutes for this. If someone is not able to write, they couldmake amark on paper or have someone else write for them, or use an object to represent their pain. B. Share your pain in small groups. Divide into groups of two or three. Give each person the opportunity to share as much or as little as they wish of what they wrote down. The other two should listen without criticizing or offering advice. Share openly but don’t dwell on violent parts. Pray for one another.

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Response: Taking Your Pain to the Cross