Romans 7:15-20

We often overlook the effort involved in navigating life and the lasting impact of spiritual pain on our well-being, regardless of how far we've progressed.

Spiritual trauma manifests differently for each individual, potentially leading to triggers, depression, anger, fear, and anxiety. These experiences can significantly impact our spiritual well-being as they represent places of deep emotional wounds.

Spiritual wounds are complex because they involve relationships with others, oneself, and God. This complexity creates a tangled mess. 

In Romans 7:18-20, Paul addresses the inner conflict we all face. He expresses his struggle to do what is good but finds himself unable to carry it out. He acknowledges that he often ends up doing the very evil he wants to avoid. This constant battle within him leads him to understand that it is the power of sin dwelling within him that causes this struggle.

I want each of you to say out loud these three words: Declare, Decide, Devote. Now, whisper these words to yourself. Whisper the words to yourself as softly as you can one more time. 

Paul states in Romans 6:9, “For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.”

Then, in verse 11, he says, "In the same way, because you are in Christ, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."

The word “count” really means believe or declare. Declare that sin is not your master. 

Replace the word "sin" with "trauma." 

Because you are in Christ, the spiritual trauma you experienced is not your master.

Let's all say it out loud, "I DECLARE I am IN Christ. This trauma is not my master."

Whisper softly to yourself, "I DECLARE I am IN Christ, this trauma is not my master."

Whisper it to yourself two or three times. 

What is going to happen is that tomorrow or, at some point, that thing that has been controlling you is going to suddenly rise up.

If you're comfortable, share with your small group about the things that have been controlling you and making you do things you don't want to do. Discuss how you can recognize the triggers.  Also, talk about how declaring to yourself, 'This trauma is not my master!' in a quiet voice might help you pause and think before you act.

Paul writes in Romans 6:12, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.”

Paul is saying that when you allow trauma (sin) to control your body and react to trauma triggers, you’re letting that trauma rule your life.

I'd like to ask you a question: when you grapple with the effects of spiritual trauma, which side of the argument do you identify with? When you're in that "I shouldn't but..." mindset, which side do you feel is the “you” side?

Do you automatically think, “Well, nobody is perfect; I’ve always been susceptible to this; it’s their fault; they are so rigid and all hypocrites; give me a break?” 

You’re arguing from the standpoint of the trauma. You have identified with someone you’re not. 

Somehow, the goodness of God stands apart from you, and you’ve identified by your trauma. It’s a different kind of struggle. 

Here is the point: When you struggle, and we all do, when you find yourself in that raging battle … oh, that again … there it is again … here it comes again … at that moment, you decide whether you recognize it or not which side of the equation you’re going to identify with. 

Which side of the equation you identify with has everything to do with the outcome. 

As long as you identify with this spiritual trauma, I can't help it. Nobody's perfect; it's their fault I'm this way. What do you expect? 

I was brought up in this kind of church… this kind of home. As long as you identify with who you used to be, you will continue to behave as you've always.

Paul says, therefore, do not "let", because you have a choice; you get to decide.

You have the power to decide to say no, not to yourself, but to the effects of spiritual trauma because its power has been broken. 

You are now part of a new spiritual family and environment. Even if trauma tries to come back, you have the potential and power to refuse to let it rule and influence your life any longer.

Whisper to yourself, “Decide.” “I get to decide.”

It is simple to declare, "Spiritual trauma will not control me, and I have decided not to let it dominate me any longer. I have experienced enough of death in life." 

No problem, right?

In your small group, share your thoughts on how challenging it is in real life to simply declare and decide and be free from the deep-rooted trauma that rules our lives. What are the barriers, and what are some strategies to overcome these barriers?

 Right after Paul wrote, "Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?" (Romans 7:24), he wrote what could be considered one of the most significant statements: "Thanks be to God, WHO delivers me THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Paul is saying the actual spirit of Jesus Christ, our Lord, lives in us, and through him, there is a way to break the bondage of religion and to break the bondage of the I should, but I can’t; I want to, but I never seem to be able to pull it off.

In much of Paul’s literature, he talks about our relationship with the law. Here is the thing: this applies to you and your law because everybody has laws. A way that we think we ought to live but we can't quite manage. We don’t even live up to our standards. 

Here is what he has to say: As long as we approach Christianity as having a God who has given us rules, and I'm going to do my best to live up to them, we will never experience freedom from spiritual trauma.

Approaching God through the law is our default. 

But it eventually leads to defeat. 

Here is the hinge verse: For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14

For our purpose, we could say that spiritual trauma shall no longer be our master because we are not under the law but under grace.

I read this and I think I believe it, but I’m not entirely sure what that means.

Paul says the road divides and there are two different approaches. One leads to fail, fail, fail, and can’t help us.  

But here is a better way. We will have to abandon the way of law to understand the way of grace. 

The way Jesus stated it: I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing. John 15:5

What does this say about the law? What does this say about being apart from Jesus?

Say to yourself, I want to (take deep breaths by breathing in through your nose and breathing out through your mouth until you feel calm) learn to live so that your fruit is produced through me. 

As we learn this, at the end of the week and at the end of the month, we will look back and realize that something has changed in us.

In those moments when I feel the weight of this trauma impacting my life, I choose to let go of all the anxiety, guilt, and darkness. I take a deep breath and acknowledge that I can't do anything without God. I want His Spirit to work through me. When I make mistakes, I will realign myself because, ultimately, I want God to work through me and for the fruit of the Spirit to be evident in my life (Galatians 5:22-23).

Please take a few minutes to contemplate the "In those moments..." statement above. Share your thoughts with your small group on how applying this could help us all embark on a journey to heal our spiritual wounds.