From The Warfighter's Study Bible
Combat and traumatic events can sear painful images in the deepest recesses of a soul like ancient hieroglyphics etched on the walls of hidden underground caverns. Unlike hieroglyphics, which only record historical events, the painful memories of a soul struggle for discovery. The battle deep within rises to the surface and disrupts life the way an earthquake deep within the earth's crust shakes the surface. You don't see the earthquake, but the evidence manifests from a few broken dishes that fall from a shelf to homes left in piles of rubble. Often, the wounded and their loved ones cannot see the pain carried, only the evidence from disruptive behavior.
For some, a traumatic event can result in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). When an ethical or moral principle is violated in the transaction of a traumatic event, the result can also produce moral injury. Moral injury can happen when an individual is personally responsible for a traumatic event or associated with one in authority who was responsible. On the surface, moral injury symptoms can look like PTSD. However, when a person has a moral injury they experience the added components of guilt and shame.
The hidden images and memories that returning Veterans carry home in their souls can be heavier than the rucksacks carried on their backs in combat. Scripture tells us that God is aware of every detail of every buried memory we try to ignore. He knows the hidden weight every Veteran carries home from combat. The Bible says God "reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness" (Daniel 2:22). There is no pain so deep that God cannot see. There is no moral wound so severe that God cannot heal.
The biblical word for a violation of a moral or ethical standard is sin. The clinical treatment for a moral injury includes a key component that is also the biblical solution for sin: forgiveness. How does a person know if a heinous act committed can be forgiven? God gives the answer in his word: "And you, who were dead in your trespasses... God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses" (Colossians 2:13). When we accept the forgiveness of our sins through Christ, we are empowered to forgive others (Ephesians 4:32).
Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have hope for the healing of painful memories. Sometimes we need help to decipher the hieroglyphics seared into the deepest darkest places of the soul. Don't hesitate to seek that help. Whatever is discovered; it is already known to God. Whatever needs forgiveness; it is already granted in Christ. We only have to bring it to him.
More Scripture for Further Study
Luke 8:17
1 Corinthians 4:5
Hebrews 4:13
Commentaires