Presence Matters: YouVersion DEVO SUMMARY

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Presence Matters: Faith, Science & Trauma

Paraphrase from Beth Guckenberger

Beth Guckenberger, author of nine books, including Start with Amen and Tales of the Not Forgotten, was at the Christian Alliance for Orphans Conference in Atlanta in September this year. Our former T.R.A.C. behavioral specialist shared Beth’s devotion from the YouVersion Bible app with me. I’ve completed several studies over the years, and this makes the top ten list.

I highly recommend doing the devotion with your T.R.A.C. volunteers as part of training. In addition to great biblical insight, Beth shares trauma-informed tips at the end of each day.

Below is a summary of the five days.

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Day 1: “The Greek word for compassion (splagchnizomai) is translated as “to be moved down to one’s bowels.”

When the pain of another moves us, we model Christ’s compassion and character. The Hebrew word ra’ah meaning “to see,” also means “to respond to a need.” No matter how empathy wells up in our guts, may it cause us to reach out and connect, knowing in the end that presence matters.

TRAUMA-INFORMED TIP: The first step to becoming trauma-informed is awareness. We must “see” and acknowledge the existence of trauma and its impact on people around us. Only then can we respond with the compassion of Christ.

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Day 2: Trauma…

·       Passes down from one generation to the next.

·       Is the work of the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy.

·       Steals physical, emotional, and psychological safety.

·       Kills permanency and predictability.

·       Destroys well-being and derails all areas of development.

·       Causes the brain to develop differently and struggle to process memory, emotions, language, and judgment.

·       Delays the body’s development.

·       Warps belief systems to include thoughts like “I’m damaged,” “I’m powerless,” or “I’m worthless.”

·       Leads to unpredictable, disruptive, and antisocial behavior.

·       Hurts relationships due to the inability to trust or to set healthy boundaries.

Trauma’s destructive hand will touch everyone somehow, yet there is hope because trauma is not the end of the story.

God is not overwhelmed. He is seated firmly on His throne. He stirs up and equips His people with the compassion and resources to bring hope, restoration, and healing to those experiencing pain due to trauma. God invites us to be a part of the stories of hope and redemption He is writing in the darkest of places.

TRAUMA-INFORMED TIP: The first goal of a person who is becoming trauma-informed is to understand the life-altering impact of trauma. Trauma causes chronological age and developmental stage to be out of sync. To avoid frustration, set expectations to align with a youth’s developmental age.

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Day 3: When people feel safe, we have access to all parts of our brains, including an area called the prefrontal cortex, which helps us learn, use logic and reason, and predict how our actions might affect someone else.

Since the world we live in is not always safe, God designed our brains with an incredible capacity for protection. When we feel threatened, the brain “shuts down” parts of itself—most importantly, the prefrontal cortex—to save energy for more important activities, like staying alive! This state is often referred to as the “fear brain,” and it instinctively reacts to perceived threats with a “fight, flight, or freeze” response.

When children live in constantly chaotic and unsafe environments, their brains are in a chronic state of fear. It’s like a gear shift that gets stuck; even if the environment and circumstances change, the brain cannot shift back to a healthy state.

Living in the fear brain looks like:

·       A suppressed conscience, unable to distinguish right from wrong.

·       Little access to higher-level thinking, planning, and reasoning.

·       Use of protective strategies like manipulation, triangulation, and aggression that prevent healthy relationships.

·       An inability or unwillingness to express one’s needs.

·       An inability to discern the needs of others.

·       A heightened startle response.

·       A quick, sometimes irrational, shift into fight, flight, or freeze.

God is well acquainted with the effects of fear. He knows how unhealthy levels of fear can disable the well-designed function of the human brain. But He hasn’t left us defenseless!

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

A spirit of fear stands in direct opposition to a sound mind. It depletes our power and stifles our capacity to love. It’s why God is graciously persistent in offering us His perfect peace and protection. He longs for us to find our safety and security in Him. When we do, our brain can relax, having full access to all of its incredible capabilities. How beautiful! When we recognize fear and invite the peace of God into our lives and the lives of those around us, we are empowered to be part of God’s redemptive work in this broken and disintegrating world.

TRAUMA-INFORMED TIP: Learning the signs of the fear brain is key to a trauma-informed response. Look for:

·       An inability to discern right from wrong.

·       An inability to voice needs or recognize needs in others.

·       A quick or irrational reaction of fight, flight, or freeze.

·       Dilated pupils.

·       A tense body or clenched jaw.

·       An increase in the startle response.

When you recognize these signs of fear in yourself or others, make a plan to increase feelings of peace and safety. Pray for God’s peace, practice deep breathing, give or gather more information, or minimize other stress or distractions.

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Day 4: Every day is a battle for youth trying to survive. His/her weapons are:

·       Manipulation

·       Violence

·       Aggression

·       Control

·       Triangulation

These natural responses to extreme fear are called “protection strategies.” As adults, we label them “poor behavior.” We might tell a kid to “stop being violent,” “stop being manipulative,” or “stop being controlling.”

We forget these weapons are useful and protective strategies. If our response is to say “stop,” we rip the weapons out of their hands, leaving them exposed and vulnerable. Instead, our job is to communicate, “This is a safe place to lay your weapons down. You won’t need them here.”

When we picture a scared child hiding behind the shield of control and the sword of violence, a new opportunity emerges to exchange weapons for tools.

“Instead of control or violence, use the tool of your voice and ask for what you need. I promise I will listen to you.”

“Instead of the weapon of manipulation, use the tool of a negotiation and ask for a compromise.”

Rather than stripping away the only weapons a child or teen has ever used to survive; we can make an exchange.

Fear provokes the pulling out of weapons. God repeatedly tells us not to fear, we are His, and He will do the fighting.

“He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1 (ESV)

God teaches in His Word that it’s safe to lay down our weapons, to release the old sinful strategies we’ve used to protect ourselves and learn the new tools of the Kingdom.

TRAUMA-INFORMED TIP: When you see a child or teen using a protection strategy (i.e., manipulation, violence, aggression, control, or triangulation), ask yourself: What are they afraid of? Increase felt safety by relaxing your own body, speaking in a calming voice, and lowering yourself below their eye level. Even sitting quietly in a youth’s presence can calm them. Proactively teach new tools and remind them to use them.

“The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Exodus 14:14 NLT

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Day 5: What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” Psalm 8:4

Mindfulness is about presence. It’s an active engagement in your present reality, allowing you to be aware of your own needs and emotions and the needs and emotions of those around you.

An overwhelming crowd of people surrounded Jesus and his disciples in Luke 5, clamoring for His attention. In the middle of the chaos, Jesus was present and aware. He stopped as He felt the "power go out of him." Jesus sensed the touch of a broken woman, stopped what He was doing, honored her, and healed her.

TRAUMA-INFORMED TIP: Take regular time to pause during the day and assess how the world and its chaos impact you. For one-minute, mentally scan your body and heart for areas of distraction or tension. First, bring your mind to your present reality. Then, look for the needs of those around you and be present.