Psalm 42:3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
A soldier after a battle suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), shell shock, combat stress, wounds, fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitations, sweating, and chest pain. They suffer from throbbing pain both physically and emotionally. The pain increases at night due to changes in hormone level. The anti-inflammatory hormone drops to the lowest level at around midnight whereby the discomfort from the aliment considerably increases.
We suffer PTSD after and through a spiritual battle as well. The demonic attacks leave us with shell shock, combat stress and shortness of breath! Our battle is not with our spouse, siblings or superiors. Our colleague is not our contender. We don’t battle with flesh and blood but with the spirits that operate through people to demean, discourage and derail us. The harsh words, a sudden bad news that was dropped like a bomb shell or the malign can throb and taunt us.
David suffered from PTSD from both physical as well as spiritual battles. King Saul was on the hunt for him for nearly over a decade. David was on the run and even took asylum in the enemy’s camp. The throbbing pain of bitter betrayal by his own master whom he served faithfully tortured him. But David spoke words of encouragement to his soul and lifted himself out of PTSD. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God (Psalm 42:5).
Overcome the throbbing pain of PTSD:
1. Shell shock: Shell shock takes a soldier back to the heat of the battlefield where he escaped death just by a hair’s breadth. The enemy tries to hurt us with shocking news, unkind comments or insults leaving a throbbing pain in our soul. David overcame the shell shock and throbbing pain but he turned the pain into praise (vs. 5). Praise through the pain.
2. Shortness of breath: Stress causes shortness of breath as the heart rate increases pumping blood into the organs preparing the muscles for action. My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” (Psalm 42:10). Waiting for God to come through can increase our stress level. David repeats vs. 5 again in vs. 11. Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God (vs. 11). To turn our helplessness into hope we must start praising. Praise lowers our stress level.
3. Suffering: The suffering from both spiritual and physical PTSD can be alleviated by singing. A study conducted by Healthline in 2017 confirms ‘singing’ as a stress reliever. Sing through the suffering and lighten the burden.
Overcome spiritual PTSD by singing praises.
Psalm 42:8 By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me– a prayer to the God of my life.
Prayer: Father God, you are the answer to the stress, shock and suffering through spiritual battles. Give me a new song to keep praising you through the tough battles. Amen
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