Primary

Oprah Winfrey recently conducted a series of interviews about childhood trauma. On the 60 Minutes broadcast she learned about “trauma-informed care”, an approach to facilitating healing and correcting behavior in adults and children. On a special web exclusive available after the broadcast, Winfrey remarked that the investigation was the most impactful exploration she’s ever experienced.  The life-changing broadcast taught her not only how to consider what has happened to a person when trying to understand and break through their behavioral barriers, but also the importance of relationships in facilitating healing.

Winfrey remarked that her relationship with her fourth grade teacher helped to facilitate her own healing from a traumatic childhood. She went on to recount how school became the primary place where she experienced acceptance, value, love.

Photo by Celia Ortega on Unsplash

In 2007, Winfrey opened the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls - South Africa. I suspect that the school was born out of Winfrey’s own desire to perpetuate the love she experienced. It seems we always circle back to the places where we feel validated.

School. Work. Disney World. Church. In the arms of a man or woman. Grandma’s kitchen. These places, experiences, foster thoughts and habits that influence who we reveal ourselves to be later in life. Today, Winfrey holds many titles as a media mogul and is also known as a woman who advances female education.

Who are you when you circle back to your primary place? Does your primary place need to change so that you can positively influence the world?

Disciplined in Hearing His Voice

At the end of each class, my dog was usually identified as the one needing a little extra attention from the trainer.  While the trainer taught lessons, my dog often ran in place to the point of exhaustion or tried to earn the attention of other dogs so that they could play together.  My dog is a lot of fun… and she’s still not disciplined solely because of me! Ha!

I remember one of the first lessons we dog owners learned.  We were instructed to stop talking to our dogs. Filled with affection, we often talk to our dogs constantly, about everything.  With all the information coming from us, dogs often tune us out -- unable to discern what’s important to hear.  The trainer explained that in order to effectively communicate commands that our dogs will adhere to, we owners must only communicate with them when the information is important and when there’s something that the dogs must do in response.

Nearly every other week I minister God’s kind thoughts and intentions to others in the Body of Christ.  I don’t always hear something new from God for myself with the same frequency. I consider these “dry spells” periods where I am not worthy of God’s attention. That’s a lie. God’s silence is not a punishment, but rather one way that he disciplines those he loves into accepting the gravity of the truth he shares and responding to his words in kind.

My declaration:

“God’s silence is not a punishment. He is disciplining me - his beloved - into accepting the truth in his words and responding to his carefully curated promises with hope, newfound elements of identity, and love.”

Friends, you are his sons and daughters.  He doesn’t hate you.  He loves you!  His silence is a method for preparing you to receive and accept his words and direction.  When the words come, they will land securely in the tenderized places of your heart. You will be transformed.  Your inner life will receive an upgrade and you will see God’s hand on your outer circumstances. Wait on his words.

Excerpt | The Discipline of Hearing --- Oswald Chambers

"Are you in the dark right now in your circumstances, or in your life with God? If so, then remain quiet. If you open your mouth in the dark, you will speak while in the wrong mood— darkness is the time to listen. Don’t talk to other people about it; don’t read books to find out the reason for the darkness; just listen and obey. If you talk to other people, you cannot hear what God is saying. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else once you are back in the light."