Piercing
I cover my ears and face, rocking back and forth, knees to my chest, and choking back big sobs. I take another anti-anxiety pill to stop the trembling and hopefully get some sleep tonight.
They are so loud. Memories piercing like blasts of a siren. These flashbacks in the clutter of my mind that choose to leap front and center into view from the nightmares I had, while wide awake, in my childhood.
At any time just when I think its okay to let down relational defenses and allow intimacy a chance traumatic, sorrowful, crushing blow of memory surfaces. Like lottery numbers pulled from the jumbled mess of my mind.
I search for that word. The one I hid in my heart about who I am in Christ but all I can do is tell God I can’t do this. I hate them for doing this to me. I know I have no business allowing my thoughts to rage against my abusers, but its real and I have to bring my whole heart before Him.
You will find Me when you seek Me with your whole heart. Jeremiah 29:13
Out of Control
I have no control over the chaos. It can strike at any time. A trigger could be a word spoken, someone else’s prayer request, another’s testimony, a song, a scent, cuddling with my husband, or someone screaming. Suddenly I am recalling these horrific events that occurred from age three to age seventeen.
God and I have been traveling down the road to healing for years. Five long ones. At first the unconscious suppression left me with just one small glimpse into different times in my life. Four years later after sorting through the painful clutter, after many layers of protection I was buried in, much healing has occurred and full memories have been returning.
This has been a process of mind renewal that will continue for the rest of my days on this side of heaven. Like playing 52 pickup I gather one thought card at a time scripted with lies of the past, and replace it with God’s truth.
Tonight I just couldn’t find that truth until I brought the truth of my feelings before a Holy God asking Him to take them.
Blown Away
I listened to Blown Away by Carrie Underwood one more time to imagine my past blown to smithereens. A pile of rubble and ash that can’t hurt me anymore. I apologize to God for all the hate in my heart, and through my cluttered emotions I hear, “You are beautiful.” It is whispered across my heart by the Holy One, and I weep over God’s goodness. I am blown away by His mercy, His love, and His grace. I gave Him my ashes and He calls me beautiful.
Immediately I feel the peace come, security surrounds me, and the deck of truth gets in order. I am not my past. I am the daughter of the Most High. I am loved just as I am.
What clutter of the heart and mind do you need to bring before the Holy One who promises a sound mind?
and provide for those who grieve in Zion–to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:3 NIV
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Another Samaritan Woman 
So beautiful that you lived the Isaiah passage! Yes. I don’t have a dramatic story only that I too am bit by bit stepping out in faith, turning to the Father more and more for direction, like, “should I eat this or not?” in small things, anything, to hopefully reach a point of everything being under his control.
God bless you!
I just wrote recently about God sized dreams and aeveral small steps on the journey. This is a walk, a dance with our God. Those small steps are so significant, and take just as much courage.
What a heartfelt post. Bless you for sharing with such transparency. I too am on a journey to healing from the clutter of my memories. I also am in the process of making our home a more peaceful place to be. Both take effort but we are not alone. As you say, God is with us. Stopping over from Faith Barista Jam.
Im trying to be sure I include the memories of sal Ation, and when God has been faithful to His promises to me and others. It fuels my faith to keep goin child which is why I love sharing words in the Faith Jam.
Thank you for your courage and perseverance in seeking the Lord in times of agony.
Thank you for sharing how He rescues you, His Beloved. You are His Princess Warrior.
Thank you for your words. Being transparent is difficult, but what we all need is for people to be real with us.
I love the way you share how you deal with the clutter in your heart and mind. We all have it. I place my clutter on the altar of the Lord, every day and every night. I can’t handle all of the chaos and clutter that I allow into my mind and life. So, on the altar it goes! As a result, I feel so blessed and calm, even in the middle of a crisis. Daily, I remind myself: It’s only God that keeps me together! Blessings!
Oh what praise I owe Him for holding it all together in my life. Be blessed abundantly!
Dear Melinda, it’s such an honor to hear your heart’s cry and longing in the midst of such pain. Thanks for sharing your words in the faith jam – harvest. pastor. Which is the journey I am walking through. I haven’t been able to read much, much less write, but I wanted to circle back to let you know I heard and hear your voice — and to say, it’s time for us to receive the “me” that was rejected time and again since time began. It’s time for us to heal. And to know you’re not alone. may writing be God’s calling to bring you home, as it is for me — even when all is being triggered and you can’t write – know He hears every word you are whispering and He’s writing your words in His book. *hugs*