Comments on: Do You Want To Get Well?

By: Nancy Jo

Nancy Jo — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 03:27:18 +0000

I know well how it is to stuff memories of abuse. I suffered great emotional trauma as a child. My problem was, I had no memories of the abuse until later in life. I started remembering after my son was born. I thought I was loosing my mind. How could I trust what I was remembering?

I was married to a man when I was 20 and for 10 years would rationalize the emotional abuse directed towards me. I kept quiet. I stuffed the feelings. The problem with stuffing I have learned is it comes out in some other way. I was physically ill with IBS all the time. I used alchohol and drugs to blurr the emotions. Later I joined an abusive church that told me how to act, how to dress, how to live. I would spend as much time there as I could. But as with all drugs, the effect eventually wears off and you either need more or you quite all together. I quite church, but returned to the alcohol over and over in my life.

There is a verse in Psalms somewhere that said something like, “when I kept quiet my bones dried.” My denial dried my bones and no matter how much I drank or tried to escape the pain was awaiting me again the next morning.

Little by little I open up. Little by little I heal more. I can’t hold it in and I also cannot force it out. I have to let God do the work. Like stitches, God removes each stitch one by one. They can’t be pulled out all at once.

Thank you for your article, it only confirms this journey to healing I am on.

I had a hard time truly assessing my experiences and the emotional trauma experienced there. I still had the tendency to overlook, excuse and rationalize that “It really was not that bad”… .

By: Admin

Admin — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:20:51 +0000

In reply to Pam.

Pam,

The author uses that example in his book… It fits. Thank you…

John

By: Pam

Pam — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:28:48 +0000

This reminded me of Jesus’ question to the very ill man lying by the pool of Bethesda. Jesus simply asked him, “Do you wish to get well?” The man was completely helpless and hopeless…and expressed that to Jesus. If only he had someone to help him…then he could be healed. And so Jesus healed him! The man didn’t know who Jesus was at the time, but expressed just a miniscule bit of faith that he knew he could be healed (and probably a much greater amount of resignation and excuses)…if only. It was a tiny step, yet a huge one…an expression of a tired longing and just a little faith moved Jesus to act in his behalf. And he’d been stuck for 38 years! Each of our needs for healing and the pits we’re in look differently…and the healing will come in different ways, as well. But I love your reminder that we need to start by answering that one question: “Do you want to get well?” Most of us need to answer that in some respect. Thanks.

By: Admin

Admin — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 21:32:41 +0000

In reply to Arthur.

Arthur,

The author of the book addresses the genetics factor in what affect people’s health. But, he gives a strong case for not pushing the genetic signals to engage faster by abusing your body. All that being said, the point of the post was what you addressed- spiritual health. Fear and the resulting stress- is a killer. Since I have left, I have heard of several members who have faced some serious physical “attacks”. Shall we say- stress shows up – even in WOFF. If a person or group says they represent the “Prince of Peace”- shouldn’t there be an enduring peace in their life?

Thank you for reading and taking time to comment.

John

By: Arthur

Arthur — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:47:21 +0000

Another excellent post. Accepting the fact that we are 100% responsible for our lives and the choices we make. My greatest break through came when I heard some one say “change your thinking and you can change your life”. If I understand part of the message of the book you are currently doing battle with that thought is probably in there.

There is no vibrant health in Spindale. Hearing Jane claim that she was “taking hold of her health by the spirit of God” was nonsense. Unfortunately most members wouldn’t accept this at face value even if she ever shared the truth about her Dr.’s visits and what ailments she has. “Your sin makes me sick”. (“Do You Want to Get Well? Taking Responsibility for Your Health” )

Stress (or if we call it for what it really is—FEAR!) will kill you. This includes salvation issues. Why be tormented by a woman who has shown herself to be everything but perfect and who, if she ever embraced the basic teachings of evangelical faith in the area of salvation, left them and orthodoxy long ago,

I hope you finish the book and take the parts that are helpful. Arthur