Expectations Of Getting Baptised.

[MelNix]

Hey. Sorry I am new here and have no idea where to post this so if this is wrong I am sorry.

I am getting baptised this Sunday and I feel like it is the right thing to do and I did have a peace about it. Thing is, I have been struggling for years now with flashbacks and stuff from my past. I have recently started really working through them and doing some really intense work.

I guess I am kinda looking for answers. See the people around me and the family I live with are really supportive and have been helping me through this journey, and are really excited for this Sunday, they will not stop talking about it. To the point they are saying, all my issues will be gone, I will no longer have nightmares, I will be able to sleep fine, I won't struggle with eating, I won't have flashbacks. I will be in a so much better place. I feel bad for admitting this but it's make me really anxious because what if that doesn't happen. I know I am suppose to have hope and faith and put my trust in god. But without even noticing I feel like they have put the expectations on me. And I am so scared that if all these amazing things don't happen then it's me that has done something wrong. I want to express this to them but I am scared they will judge me and I don't really know how to say it. I am really close with my friends mum who I live with and she is the one mostly saying it.

I want these things to happen of course I do. But is this what generally happens? I haven't been a christian for very long, but am I wrong in feeling this way? I was excited about getting baptised but now not so much. Because I feel if I don't come out of that water cured, people will be disappointed with me.

Sorry if this isn't right to post here. I am just looking for answers or advise cause I have looked everywhere and prayed about it and I just feel really lost.

Mel

 

[HisSparkPlug]

Hi Mel,
I have never heard of flashbacks ceasing just because someone gets baptised.

Being baptised is very important however and I do know of a man who stopped having night terrors the night after his baptism, but they weren't flashbacks caused by abuse.

Abuse recovery generally takes time to work through. I'm baptised but I still have to deal with my trauma memories also. If I thought baptism would stop them I'd run out tomorrow and be baptised all over again though!

Unfortunately I don't think it works that way, unless God provides you with an amazing miracle and I do hope He does as He is certainly capable of anything... But please prepare yourself for the reality that this may not occur.

Where did your family get the idea God will stop all the suffering with baptism by the way? Curious.

 

[MelNix]

Hey thanks for your reply.

I am not really sure where they got the idea from. I think it's them just hoping. I think they are getting a bit impatient with my recovery. They want the process speed up, so they are hoping this brings a miracle.

It kinda makes me feel better knowing that you haven't heard of it happening. Not cause I don't want it to happen because that would be amazing. But just cause if it doesn't I know it isn't my fault I am not all of a sudden cured.

Mel

 

[Kristen.NewCreation]

Hi Mel,

If you still have flashbacks and struggles, it's not having done something wrong. While it's possible God could miraculously heal you from past and the consequences of it, Baptism isn't said to do such. The healing would be from God... not the baptism.

In my experience and in the experience of many people that I know, healing from past trauma's are a journey or process. It requires a lot of hard work, and for many of us, help from a professional.

If people are disappointed in your not being cured, that is probably because they want so much more for you. But not a reflection that you've done something wrong. I know my friends and family have been disappointed at times with my struggles - but not disappointed with me. They've wanted things to be easy for me, and fact is, at times they just haven't been.