Shirley
Photo by Tanya Layko on Unsplash
Reclaiming the word trigger for good
According to psychcentral.com, in psychology, a “trigger” is used to refer to a stimulus that causes a painful memory to resurface. A trigger can be any sensory reminder of a traumatic event: a sound, sight, smell, physical sensation, or even a time of day or season.
Every time I have heard the word trigger used, it is often in a negative context. It is used to point to a stimulus that reminds one of a painful memory or experience, and usually results in a negative reaction. However, I recently had the opportunity to listen to a sermon by Sarah Jakes Toure, a powerful word that was titled Glory Triggers, and that was the first time my eyes were open to the possibility that we can also use the word trigger in a positive context. This completely blew my mind and had me digging into the word to better understand what a good trigger would look like.
I remember the word ruminating in my mind; it settled in my heart and I knew of its truth, that just as there are triggers that take us to a bad place, there are triggers that can also take us to a good place. That is why certain smells or a particular meal or even a trip to the village can take us back to a wonderful childhood memory. All the above are triggers, but triggers that take us to a positive place, in this case a memorable childhood memory, and this eventually leads to a positive reaction. Yes, a good trigger can just be as powerful as a negative trigger. Hence, the options we have when we come face to face with triggers that make us feel some type of negative way, is not to helplessly take it lying down or to run and avoid it at all costs, but we can also fight back by cancelling out damaging effects of a negative trigger with a good trigger.
So, what are examples of good triggers?
The first thing to note about a good trigger is that we can choose to intentionally carry them with us everywhere we go, and use them as a defence mechanism whenever we face a negative trigger. Additionally, when I think of a good trigger, four things come to mind.
Firstly, in the book of Joshua 4, we see the Israelites being instructed by God to carry their testimony (in this case 12 stones), and to pass it on to the next generations and to use it as a reminder of God’s goodness and faithfulness. Joshua 4 provides:
Twelve Memorial Stones from the Jordan
4 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”
8 And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the Lord told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down[a] there. 9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day. 10 For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua.
The people passed over in haste. 11 And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the Lord and the priests passed over before the people. 12 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had told them. 13 About 40,000 ready for war passed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.
15 And the Lord said to Joshua, 16 “Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan.” 17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” 18 And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.
19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. 21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”
The twelve stones to me represent remembering the goodness of God. When we remember how far God has brought us, then we can boldly face difficulties in our now or future because we are assured that the same God who stood and fought for us in the past, is the same God who is standing with us now even when we come face to face with a negative trigger. Remembering the goodness of God is a very powerful weapon. Sharing our testimony whenever and wherever we can, and journaling are great ways to remember the goodness of God. Journaling is particularly effective as you are able to not only note down what God did, but even how you felt in the moment. Further, the best part of journaling is that you can pass your journals down to your children, family, friends, and they can also use your written down testimony as a good trigger.
Secondly, Philippians 4:8-9 provides another powerful weapon. It provides that:
Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
This particular bible verse always touches my heart in a powerful way. My mind is always blown away by how relevant and applicable this word is today despite being it being written down many years ago. Imagine the impact we would have in our lives if we intentionally choose to dwell on things that are good. I know that whenever we find ourselves triggered in a negative way, we often assume that we have no choice but to accept the negative way that it makes us feel, but I have come to find out that we actually have a choice. We decide whether we will allow the negative trigger to affect us based on what we choose to dwell on. We may not have a choice in being exposed to our negative triggers, but we have a choice in how we receive it by what we intentionally decide to dwell on once triggered. We can intentionally decide to dwell on God’s goodness or the good things that are already in our lives, and if we find ourselves so deep in a hole that we are not able to see anything good, then we can ask the spirit to remind us of the good things in our lives that we can dwell on.
So yes, we do not have to dwell on things that result from being triggered negatively, we can instead choose to dwell on good thoughts.
Thirdly, the word of God is another powerful good trigger that we have at our disposal. I believe that the verse in the bible that perfectly highlights the power of the word of God is Mathew 4: 1-11.
Jesus is Tested in the Wilderness: Mathew 4: 1-11
4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Only when we know the word of God can we use it as a weapon. It is not enough to just read the word; it is important to also do the necessary self-work in order to be able to identify your negative triggers and what negative reaction they create in you. Example, if you know that when you are exposed to a particular stimulus, it could be words or certain action, you are always triggered to feel unloved or unworthy, then go to the word and dig out verses that speak of God’s love for you. Then memorise the verses or write them down somewhere that is easily reachable. So that every time that a negative trigger makes you feel unloved, the strategy is to meditate on the verses that speak of God’s great love for you over and over again in order to restore the balance in your soul. God’s word is alive and powerful, it moves, it touches, it changes the atmosphere, use it!
Lastly, you can never go wrong with worship. Worship is one of the most powerful good triggers that you can find. I do know that it is hard to worship especially when we feel low, forgotten or like the world has turned against us, but the best thing about worship is all you have to do is start. In fact, my advice to anyone is that when you feel least like worshiping, that that is when you need to worship. Worship has the power to move and change things. Worship has a way of lifting us up spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically. It has a way of encouraging us, of lighting that flame of hope in our hearts, and even to change things.
The best story in the bible that highlights the power of worship is the story of Paul and Silas when they were in prison in Acts 16: 16-40.
Paul and Silas in Prison: Acts 16: 16-40
16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Highest God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.
19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”
22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.
So, today I want to reclaim the word trigger, and use it to refer to stimulus that causes a wonderful and encouraging, hopeful reaction. You are not helpless. You do not have to allow a negative trigger to terrorize you unchecked, you have a choice.
You can cancel out a negative trigger with a good trigger. Can you just imagine how you would carry yourself with confidence into this world if you intentional carried triggers with you that remind you of good things even when triggered by a negative stimulus. I dare you!