Microtrauma is any small injury that can happen in many areas of one’s body, including muscle fibers, the sheath around the muscle, and the connective tissue.
Most microtrauma causes a low level of inflammation that cannot be seen or felt. These injuries can arise in muscles, ligaments, vertebrae, and discs, either singly or in combination. Repetitive microtrauma can result in the development of more serious conditions.
You may be wondering, Why are you talking about microtrauma? Because I realized the same thing can happen in our spiritual walk with the Lord and our relationships with one another.
Have you ever been disappointed with the outcome the Lord allowed to happen? Or perhaps you’ve been praying for an extended period of time, and you have yet to receive an answer. Over time, these disappointments (seemingly inconspicuous tears and traumas) become debilitating. For some, it has “deconstructed” their faith, for others, their relationships have ended in shambles.
So how do we handle when we feel like the Lord isn’t answering our prayers? Or have we felt hurt by how our lives are not going in a way we expected or even wanted? How do we not succumb to despondency and despair?
I often go to Psalm 62:8, which says, “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”
I once heard a pastor say that if you don’t want to or are struggling to pray, say that. Start with, “Lord, I don’t want to pray.” Or “Lord, I’m tired of praying.”
He knows everything anyway. He knows you’re struggling to pray. He knows that you live in a fallen world. He knows things are not going the way you want them to go. He wants us to know that He’s the safe place (refuge) we can express these things to, even if they’re directed toward Him.
God does not change (Hebrews 13:8). His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). It’s because of His mercies we are not consumed (Lamentations 3:22).
“Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you…” Isaiah 30:18
That’s the God we can run to, and when we turn to Him, He will make us lie down in green pastures, lead us beside the still waters, and restore our souls (Psalm 23:2-3).
So, if you feel burdened by hurt, unmet expectations, or fraught with fatigue, my encouragement to us is to: “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22
And in regard to the relationship tensions we may feel now, we must forgive. Hold no record of wrong. Retire the sword. Give the other person a clean slate in your mind and heart. “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Hebrews 12:14-15
We also need to ask God to help us forgive the person who wronged us.
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15
Friends, this is hard. It’s not easy. It requires dying to yourself. But as John 12:24 says, “unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” If we want a fruitful life, we must die to ourselves so that Christ can live through us.
In turn, these microtears, if healed, can actually strengthen your walk and life. In fact, that’s how muscles can grow. If there are tears, healing, and then more tears, you build muscle. If there are only tears, a serious injury will eventually occur.
We will all have microtraumas and injuries in our relationship with the Lord and others, but if surrendered to the Lord, they can bring about more fruit than we ever deemed possible, and it all can be for the glory of His name.
