The Sunday Mail
Pastor Tinashe Zinyemba: The Christian Youth
BLESSED regards to you today. For some strange reason I sense a need to discuss trauma and challenges that we face as young people.
It is possible that your elders will not be able to relate to what you have faced or might consider it to be trivial in comparison to some of the other issues of life they are facing. Maybe you are unable to speak to someone about your challenge. The devil takes advantage of these issues to manipulate your outlook on life and if possible hinder you from fulfilling your destiny.
One man from scripture comes into my mind when I think about this. Judges 11 is entirely dedicated to Jephthah and this is how he is described in verse 1, “Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot . . . ”
Two striking elements about Jephthah jump out from that verse. He was a mighty man yet he was the son of a harlot.
You can imagine the names that he grew up being called by the other children in the neighbourhood or at school because he was the product of an affair. Or how the other mothers treated him. Actually in the same chapter the Bible says that when his father discovered that Jephthah was his son he took him in and treated him no different from his other children. However, the moment the father passed away Jephthah was chased away by his siblings.
This must have been a terrible time for him. Jephthah did not let this get to him however, he became a mighty man and built a very strong army and gained much respect in the region.
Sometimes in life we do not choose what happens to us. Maybe you are a product of rape, or born out of wedlock, or you do not even know your father. You could be an orphan living with relatives, or you were given up at birth.
Perhaps you were abused, raped, or involved in a terrible accident that injured you terribly. You could have a disability or ailment that severely hampers your progress in life. I want to encourage you to write your own story today.
Just like Jephthah, before they mention that you are the son of a harlot, they will first have to acknowledge that you are great. However, we would not have done justice to this story if we leave it here.
I believe Jephthah faced so many challenges growing up which gave him the determination and drive to become great. However he had some serious character flaws as a result of the trauma he faced as a child.
First, he had some serious trust issues. When Israel was in a difficult spot and the nation needed him he would not trust the leaders at all. Second, he learnt how to take advantage of those who were vulnerable. Because he was once weak he could identify the weak and capitalise on their weakness for his advantage. That is how he became the leader of Israel, the elders were desperate and no option so he used that desperation to get control over someone in a weaker position.
Third, Jephthah had experienced so much disappointment in his life that he lived in the now and did not give much thought to the future. When he was about to go to war with the Ammonites he made a vow to God without thinking and it cost him dearly.
Verse 30-31 says, “And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, if thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.”
There was no need for this God was already on His side and victory was certain. Unfortunately for him his daughter was the first one to meet him. And with sorrow in his heart he had to sacrifice her to God because of his vow.
Sometimes the challenges we face in life cause us to be unbalanced in our perspective. We find young girls who have been hurt or ejected in life will give themselves away to any man who just shows her a little bit of affection and then go on to live a life of abuse. Young men who have been abused go on to be abusive themselves and have challenges having meaningful relationships.
I need you to understand that God is on your side and He will find a way of making the best of any situation for you no matter how bad it looks, (Romans 8:28). Seek professional help to deal with the emotional baggage that comes with trauma. There are many institutions willing to provide free services to you.
Yes I know human beings cannot be trusted but you can put your trust in God, He will not let you down.
Till next time, God bless.
Tinashe Zinyemba is a pastor with New Life Covenant Church. Feedback: [email protected]
