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Trauma causing Stress Assignment
Stress is a common experience shared by humanity. While not all stress is the result of trauma, all trauma will invoke stress reactions to varying degrees. Scripture provides valuable insight not only to stress and trauma but specifically and, most importantly, to healing in the aftermath. In one examination of the intersection between stress and biblical truth, Focht (2020) discusses her real-life experiences working with victims of trauma. She draws parallels between the biblical account of Joseph with Herman’s stages of trauma recovery. These stages–safety, remembrance and mourning, and reconnection with ordinary life–are well-reflected in Joseph’s story (Focht, 2020). Trauma causing Stress Assignment Help
When Joseph was kidnapped and sold by his brothers into slavery at the age of 17, he was traumatized (English Standard Version Bible [ESV], 2001/2020, Gen. 37:23-28). Again, he was traumatized when he was falsely accused of attempted rape and imprisoned by Potiphar (ESV, 2001/2020, Gen. 39:16-20). Still again, he was forgotten in prison by the king’s cupbearer (ESV, 2001/2020, Gen. 40:23). For 13 years, Joseph was at the mercy of those who were falsely accusing him and treating him like a slave. He was taken from his country and sent to a foreign land and culture. How did he respond?
According to Focht (2020), he never fully recovered. “While healing is possible, it does not undo the traumatic event” (Focht, 2020). She explains that safety, the first step to trauma recovery, comes in both environmental and embodied forms. She highlights that Joseph was not physically safe, nor was he able to control the events happening to him; however, she highlights that at the moment when Joseph sees a glimmer of hope as he is asked to interpret the two prisoners’ dreams, he feels safe enough to express his desires (Focht, 2020). Trauma causing Stress Assignment Help
The concept of hope in Scripture is an anchor to which those who are suffering are constantly directed (ESV, 2001/2020, Rom. 5:1-5). It is not the pursuing of hope itself as much as pursuing the object of that hope, Christ, which is the key to healing from any type of trauma and/or finding peace in the midst of stress. Joseph was not some superhuman rockstar, unaffected by the trauma he experienced. When reading his story, it is important to remember that it was included in the narrative for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness (ESV, 2001/2020, 2 Tim. 3:16).
References
English Standard Version Bible. (2020). ESV Online. https://www.esv.org/ (Links to an external site.) (Originally published 2001)
Focht, C. (2020). The Joseph story: A trauma-informed biblical hermeneutic for pastoral care providers. Pastoral Psychology, 69, 209-223. https://doi-org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1007/s11089-020-00901-w
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