As I spoke about in my previous blog, we experience wonderful things in life, but also have more destructive, negative memories. We acknowledge them, and then we can commit them to God, to bring healing, to help us find forgiveness and peace. This can take a life time, but God’s Holy Spirit brings connection and insight which is so beautiful and facilitates our journey.
An insight into this which I wish I understood earlier, is the impact of negative memories on thought patterns, decision making and identity. For example if we tried to do something new as a child, and an adult mocked our effort and put us down, we might not try next time. Even worse, we might convert that into a damaging self belief, that we are worthless and not loveable.
Traumatic or difficult memories, especially when we are young, can give us a negative bias, where we are over cautious, anticipate disaster and doubt ourselves. It can be a difficult way to live.
There is so much good news however, to balance this all out. Neuro scientists discovered neuroplasticity, and the way that the brains neuro-network can be reshaped to form new patterns of connections and processes. This can take a lot of work, with an accredited therapist, to identify the roots of current throught processes, and to reprogramme them. There are many techniques which support this- they differ as to what is most effective for each person, but they can be very effective.
On a spiritual level, this seems to have been understood over centuries. In the psalms for example, we are urged to ‘meditate on God’s Word all day long’. Psalm 119:97 As with the prayerful practices of the desert mothers and fathers, there is a sense of letting God’s word speak to us, and let it sink deeply into our souls. The truth of God’s love for us, cleanses us from self doubt and brings healing.
In Romans 12:2: Paul writes ‘ Do not conform to the patterns of the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.’ If we are transformed by God’s love, by the working of the Holy spirit, then old chains on our souls which imprison us, are loosened, we can see more clearly, and disern God’s will. Negative thought patterns and beliefs fall away, and we can discover our true God given identity, and we find deep peace.
There are books that speaks of the impact of tramatic memories. ‘ What happened to you? Conversations of Trauma, Resilience and healing’ with Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey is a good introduction to this topic. I think so much here is congruent with Christian teaching about self reflection, love and community, as being central to personal growth and healing. Utilising the insights from neuroscience, combined with prayer and spiritual wisdom brings a wide variety of opportunities for wholeness, which is to be acknowledged, explored and celebrated.
Gracious and Eternal God, we give thanks for all that is good and wholesome and lovely in this world. We rejoice with those who rejoice. Yet we also mourn with those who mourn– those who have experienced bullying, trauma and sorrow. Lord Jesus, You come alongside those who struggle with difficult memories, with self doubt and fear. You know what it is like to face insults and negativity. Please bless and heal those who wrestle with pain and self doubt. Teach us to place our trust in You, and may your Holy Spirit transform old destructive patterns of thinking into a dance of creativity, light and hope. Help us live lives characterised by balance and wholeness, connection and possibility. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
An umbrella of healing love 