Question: "What does the Bible say about PTSD?"

Answer: The Bible does not say anything specifically about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. However, we can glean much guidance from some indirect teachings in the Bible.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder develops in some people following a traumatic event. The event, or “stressor,” could be exposure to death or threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence. The sufferer may be directly exposed, indirectly exposed through a family member or close friend experiencing the event, or extremely or repeatedly indirectly exposed through his or her work (such as first responders, police officers, military personnel, or social workers). Common trauma experiences are combat, car accidents, natural disasters, abuse, rape, and mass violence. (It should be noted that combat PTSD is a bit different than other forms of PTSD; this will be discussed in more detail below.) After such an event, most people will show signs of stress such as feeling on edge, anxiety, fear, anger, feelings of depression, a sense of detachment, desire to avoid trauma-related reminders, flashbacks, difficulty sleeping, headaches, changes in appetite, irritability, self-blame, “survivor’s guilt,” or a sense of numbness. For most people, these reactions lessen and eventually subside with time.

Those who develop PTSD have persistent symptoms for more than one month. Other symptoms for PTSD sufferers include intrusive re-experience of the trauma such as through recurrent, involuntary memories, nightmares, or dissociation; avoidance of trauma-related thoughts or feelings or external reminders; negative changes in thoughts or behavior, including an inability to recall details related to the trauma, persistent negative beliefs about oneself or the world, loss of interest, feelings of alienation, or inability to express positive emotions; and changes in arousal or reactivity such as irritability, aggression, hypervigilance, reckless behavior, or sleep disturbances. In PTSD sufferers, these symptoms cause significant impairment in work or social functioning. The United States’ National Center for PTSD estimates there are 5.2 million adults suffering from the disorder in any given year.

The situations that cause Posttraumatic Stress Disorder are different for different people, and not everyone responds in similar ways to similar situations. It is unclear why some develop PTSD and others do not. It seems that biological make-up, type of support received following the event, presence of other life stressors, and having effective coping mechanisms may contribute to whether a person develops PTSD. Interestingly, though symptoms of PTSD usually emerge immediately following or within a few months of the traumatic event, that is not always the case. PTSD can develop years later. How long the PTSD lasts also varies—some suffer for years, whereas others recover in several months.

PTSD resulting from participation in combat seems to be unique from other forms of PTSD. In combat situations military personnel are often both victim and aggressor, a dynamic which adds complexities to the issue. Often those with combat-specific PTSD will exhibit depression, extreme feelings of guilt, hypervigilance, and low self-esteem. It can be particularly difficult for combat veterans to process through the atrocities they have witnessed, come to a place of acceptance over the things they have been tasked to do, and readjust to non-combat living. For Christian military personnel, it can be especially difficult to accept taking the life of another, even as an act of war. Christians know the deep value God places on human life and often feel extremely guilty for taking the life of another, even in what would be considered a justifiable circumstance. Many times Christian combat veterans are more deeply aware of their sinful state than are other Christians. They may feel unworthy of God’s love due to the things military service requires of them. Those who suffer from combat PTSD may find accepting God’s forgiveness to be extremely difficult. They may agonize over decisions they made in the many no-win situations in which they were placed during war. They may also have persistent flashbacks of the gruesome realities of war as well as consistently feel on high-alert from months of living in life-threatening situations.

Regardless of the circumstances, there is hope. First and foremost, that hope comes from God.

The treatment process should involve a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual healing. Many will require professional help. For those with combat-related PTSD, it is likely preferable to receive help from someone experienced in treating combat-specific PTSD. There are multiple therapeutic remedies for PTSD available, ranging from talk therapy (often Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) to cognitive reprocessing to eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and other methods. Medication may also help alleviate symptoms. Certainly, a network of support—counselors, doctors, family members, pastors, the church community—is important in the recovery process. Of course, the most important support is God, our ultimate Healer and Counselor. David wrote, “From the ends of the earth I call to you, / I call as my heart grows faint; / lead me to the rock that is higher than I. / For you have been my refuge, / a strong tower against the foe” (Psalm 61:2–3). It is our responsibility to exercise faith in God, to stay in the Word, to cry out to God in prayer, and to maintain fellowship with other believers. We go to God in our distress and make use of the resources He provides.

Those who suffer from PTSD from any experience should recognize that treatment will take time, and that is okay. Some have compared this to Paul’s "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7–10). God does offer healing, but in the way and the timing He sees fit. In the meantime, He gives sufficient grace to bear up under hardships. Thorns are painful, and PTSD is certainly a big thorn. But we can continue to go to God and remind ourselves of His faithfulness (Lamentations 3; 1 Corinthians 1:4–9).

Truth is a key component to coping with or overcoming PTSD. Reminding oneself that God loves, forgives, and values His people is extremely important. Knowing who God says we are and defining ourselves by His standards rather than by what we have done or what has been done to us is important. We need not identify as either victim or perpetrator. In God, we can identify as beloved child (Romans 8:14–17; Ephesians 1:3–6; 1 John 3:1–3), sealed in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13–14), forgiven (Romans 5; Ephesians 1:7–10; 1 John 1:8–9), and redeemed. Losing a close friend or family member is incredibly difficult, and many can feel unworthy of being spared. But those with “survivor's guilt” can remember the truth of God’s sovereignty and that He has a purpose for everyone’s life. God loved the ones who were casualties of war or another crime or tragedy just as much as He loves the ones who survived. His purpose for each person is unique. Replacing the lie that we are unworthy to have lived with the truth that God has a plan and values our days on earth is key (Ephesians 2:10; 5:15–16).

Speaking truth about practical things is also important. Often, those with PTSD will feel endangered when the situation does not warrant it. Reminding oneself that this is not the traumatic event but is a new and safe situation is important. It is also important to speak the truth that PTSD is not an excuse for bad behavior. Likely, PTSD will contribute to some negative thought and behavior patterns. This is understandable, but it should be resisted.

Having a community of support who offers grace and forgiveness and speaks truth in love is incredibly important. And it is vital that the community who supports the sufferer of PTSD is also receiving support. Remaining connected to one’s local church is crucial. Time with God through prayer and reading His Word is important for both the sufferer of PTSD and his or her family. Self-care and doing things that are relaxing and refreshing are also important. PTSD often feels as if it overtakes one’s life. Doing things that are enjoyable and life-giving is just as important as confronting the PTSD head-on.

PTSD is a difficult challenge that will require strong faith in God and willingness to persevere. But God is faithful, and each day we can choose to surrender to God’s love, battle the PTSD as best we can, and ultimately rest in God’s grace and compassion. PTSD is not something to ignore but something to turn over to God and actively engage with. We are invited to approach God boldly and to pour out our hearts to Him (Hebrews 4:14–16). We are assured that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:35–38). God can restore the mental health of the PTSD sufferer. In the end, God can even use the situation for His glory. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:3–5).

Recommended Resource: Psalm Twenty-Five & PTSD: A Journey Into the Darkened Realms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by Robert Scholten

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​It is Halloween and time for spooky stories and scary costumes. Whether it is your local haunted mansion event or a sinister parent trying to scare his kids silly, the best fearful pranks and scares use tricks or “smoke and mirrors” to cause us to be afraid. Since it is all in fun, we wouldn’t call it lying but the double-dealing less than straight forward actions certainly can spook people and cause real fear.
 
In real life, we can often live in fear and anxiety because of the same type of “smoke and mirrors.” Although these tricks really are lies and come from a sinister foe. Jesus said that the devil is a liar—and the father of lies.[1] The devil cannot “make” us do anything, but he is a master deceiver who is very much experienced at making people believe anything that interferes with God’s plan. Jesus Christ, in contrast, is called “the way, the truth, and the life,” and his plan is for each person to experience life “more abundantly.”
 
Here are five lies that cause us to fear and the Biblical truth that sets people free from those fears if they will believe and trust God’s word.  
 
I can’t 

The worst thing about the “I can’t” lie is that it stops us before we start. It fills us with fear as we face our biggest obstacles and challenges.  “I can’t overcome alcohol.” “I shouldn’t expect to have a good marriage.” “Everything I touch turns out wrong.” “I’m a failure.” “I can’t follow God.” “I can’t start that business.”
 
In contrast, God is the creator of potential—and the completer of fulfillment.   “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” [2] Yes, that verse is specifically about Paul’s learning to handle both plenty and poverty without being distracted from his life’s purpose by either. Still, if God is the great creator, if he knows us, if we will one day be rewarded for what we have done, then we may assume he has a plan for us—something we can do. No, we can’t do everything, but we can do anything he wants us to do. That includes overcoming our sins and failures by his grace and with his help and accomplishing his will for our lives.
 
Whether it is something people consider to be great or small, God looks on the heart, and the very act of seeking to serve him is a success. And failure is an essential part of success. “ For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.” [3] The only way to never fail is to never attempt. So don’t be afraid to attempt that which God is leading you to do through prayerful and Biblical wisdom. Don’t fear and believe the lie of “I can’t.”
 
God won’t 
 
“God won’t help me.” “God won’t forgive me again.” “God won’t hear me.” God won’t love me.” These are real cries of the hurting heart. And God is ready for that: “As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear him. He knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” [4] God is not frustrated at our weaknesses and failing. Ask Peter after his denial of Christ. Ask the woman who was so ashamed that she could not even look up, but washed the feet of Christ with her tears. But he is severe to those who stubbornly persist in rejecting his grace. It’s Okay to be weak, but we must guard our hearts against being willfully and stubbornly resistant of God’s grace. The key differences? Sincerity and repentance. “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart.” [5]
 
Nobody cares 
 
This is a lie from Satan, “the accuser,” much too close to the first recorded lie. His approach to Eve was that God did not have her best interest at heart. She could have more than God was offering. Although she had known only good, she could know both good and evil. And that experiential knowledge of evil brought pain and misery.
 
God cares. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” [6]
 
And people care. It is natural to retreat from people when we hurt, to hide, to isolate ourselves. It is natural, but it is counterproductive. The healing comes as we choose the supernatural, God’s plan. And God’s plan involves accepting the provisions God has made, including people. That is one function of the church: “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting [encouraging] one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” [7]That may take letting some people inside your life, opening yourself up, sharing your hurts when you just want to hide. But God intends to use his people. Will everyone respond rightly? Maybe not. In fact, probably not. In any group of people, some will let you down, but in a good church, there will be someone with whom you can connect. One function of pastoral leadership is to help people make those connections. If you are in our area, we would like to help. Please feel free to contact us or come for a visit to a service soon. We are here to listen and we care.
 
 
I don’t matter 
  
You matter to God. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” [8] You are worth God assuming human flesh, dying on a cross to take the punishment for your sins, and rising again.
 
You matter, not because of what you can do, not because of who you are, but because of whose you are, if you are a child of God. A loving parent cares for the child, even in the child’s failures. Your own parents are, or were, fallible. But your heavenly father is not.
 
Yet we know by observation and by scripture that God’s children—and all people—suffer. The “why” behind suffering is a topic of its own, and has been a lifelong passion of Phillip Yancey, who wrote the book Where Is God When It Hurts.”  This is a good source for deeper consideration of this topic.
 
 It’s too late 
 
This is a powerful lie of the devil. The feeling of urgency which should prompt us to action becomes his tool to intensify despair and fear. The feeling of guilt which should prompt us to repentance, this the devil uses to make us hide from God because of fear instead.
 
But what does God say? The mercy of God is “new every morning.” [9]  I love Psalm 103:8—“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy—because it begins and ends its description of God with his mercy.
 
And lost opportunity? True, yesterday cannot come again. But should we throw away today because of that? You might be surprised at how encouraging it is to do something rather than to stagnate in yesterday’s sorrow.
 
 
This has all been written for the perspective of a person who has a relationship with God. It’s never too late to start. The first step in truly dealing with fear based on the lies of Satan is to begin a relationship with God. For more about knowing for sure of the forgiveness of God, having a real relationship with him that can bring peace and relief from fear,  Click here to learn more about how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. 
 
[1] John 8:44
[2] Philippians 4:13
[3] Proverbs 24:16
[4] Psalm 103:13-14
[5] Psalm 34:18
[6] Romans 8:32
[7] Hebrews 10:25
[8] John 3:16
[9] Lamentations 3:23