Memories that Trigger

 

Memories that Trigger

 

               I listened to her share. Tears rolled down her face. She was a babysitter in her teens. She was watching a baby while the parents went out to dinner. The baby died that night. She had performed CPR but was unable to save the infant. Later, it was determined the baby died of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). She felt responsible for the baby’s death, and never recovered.  During that weekend, she broke down and “gave that memory to God.”

               I heard that story 15 years ago, but something resonated in me. I decided that I would take those memories that “triggered” me and consciously give those God. I made it a habit, that when memories of my past “haunted” me, I would “take them captive” and pray. I surrendered those events and the memories.

2 Corinthians 10: 4-5 states, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” I came to understand that it was my responsibility to captivate those memories and surrender them to God. The memories of traumatic events began to “blur”, the details not so clear, and the emotional triggers associated with them decreased. Several events I totally forgot. When someone mentioned an event, I found myself honestly stating, “Oh, I forgot about that.”

               Recently I was at a family function. A relative started talking about things that happened in the past. Honestly, I couldn’t recall those memories. I had pushed them far into the past and surrendered them to Christ. While I certainly believed she was telling the truth and she was still very traumatized by them, I did not have those emotions or memories any longer.

               I was speaking at a women’s group last week. One of the ladies asked me how I “forgave” and “moved on from triggers.” I was reminded of another conversation several years ago when a relative was bringing up Dean’s past. I simply stopped the conversation and stated, “I don’t live in that place anymore.”  I CHOOSE not to hold onto those traumatic events, offenses, or unforgiveness. I CHOOSE to surrender them to Christ. Isaiah 61:1 states, “He (Christ) heals the brokenhearted, and sets the captives free” (Isaiah 61:1).

               What memory of your past has you in bondage? What do you need to surrender to Christ today?

 

Read 2 Corinthians 10 and Isaiah 61