Diffusing Childhood Wounds by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
“Lisa, you did not turn in your report card.” “Yes, I did.” “No you did not.”
This was a conversation between my fourth grade teacher and myself in front of the entire class, one of several embarrassing moments created by that particular teacher. However, she eventually found my report card that she had misplaced—but made no apology for the false accusation. This week, one of my professors could not find a paper I had submitted and asked, “I can’t find your paper. Did you turn it in?” I sent him proof that I had submitted it and he found it shortly thereafter—but this memory from years ago emerged again.
The enemy of our souls will often try to remind us of past wounds and will speak lies into our souls: Look, it’s happening again. Nothing has changed. You are still that pudgy, awkward, favor-less girl.
No matter how spiritually mature we are, childhood wounds can still creep into our souls, but what should we do about it? How do we speak back to the enemy of our soul’s attempt to drag us back to a place that is a distant memory? We have to ask ourselves questions. Is this really the same scenario? Generally, it is not. Is what I am thinking about myself true? That is a flat no. How can God’s Word help me through what I am feeling? We have to give our feelings to God, and ask Him to enable us to maneuver through the temporary emotional setback. We should ask, Show us your truth Lord.
Toppling back into the abyss of childhood wounds can steal our present contentment. Despite his hardships, the Apostle Paul learned to be content no matter what. In Philippians 4 he said, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” The enemy does not want us to be secure and content, so that’s why he speaks lies into our minds. He wants to shake us up so much that we cannot move forward confidently.
I almost let the painful memories ruin my evening, but I attended a Shabbat dinner where the focus was on worshipping God and the enemy was not invited. And that is the final key to diffusing childhood wounds. Worship. When we take the focus off ourselves and move it to God, he will remove the heaviness and close up the wound that the enemy, Satan, has tried to reopen. We do not have to be who we once were. When we accept Jesus as Savior, we are new creations and at our fingertips is the power and strength of God that helps us overcome our past.
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).