Faith as Small as a Mustard Seed: Sheri's Path to Healing and Transformation
Dive into this transformative conversation between Sheri and Robert as they explore the profound impact of unseen trauma and the healing power of faith, symbolized by the metaphor of a mustard seed.
“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’”
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#1: A Journey of Faith
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
I'm Sheri Timber. I am from Lame Deer, Montana. I'm Oglala Lakota Sioux from South Dakota and I've been living in Montana for 23 years and my husband helps with the ministry here in Montana.
Sheri, can you share a little bit about how God has changed you on your journey with him?
He opened my eyes to more of his love for me from going up to that training because I've been living with a lot of trauma and hiding it for quite a while. And I stopped going to church for a while because I lost faith and he just made me realize how much he's always been there for me. And, you know, the scripture, have faith as small as a mustard seed. Yes. That's what my faith was from and helped me to show me how much he loves me and he's there for me.
Healing The Wounds of Trauma
A Small Group for Bible-based Trauma Healing.
Learn more about the program that changed Sheri’s life.
#2 Revealed Wounds: Finding God in the Echoes of Others' Stories
“Encourage one another and build each other up.”
You were referring to healing the wounds of trauma in ink. Tell me what you got from that training. training. What did that training do?
Well, with the training, we weren't sure what to expect because I did go to trauma training before. This one was different because it showed more scripture where God helps us with our own trauma because we all have trauma.
And he did show that to me because at the training I sat with two ladies. And when they spoke, they were sharing my story, what I lived with before. And, I was so speechless, I couldn't talk. God was working through them to share what I wanted to share. And I never knew what was inside me.
I never thought of those kind of things that happened to me before. And I know God was working right there through those ladies to share my story of how I've been feeling for a very long time. And I see that he's always been there for me.
#3 From Survivor to Savior: Awakening to God's Love Amidst Trauma
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
You mentioned feeling away for a very long time. What do you mean by that?
Alone, abandoned, broken. I think a lot of us feel that way, and we don't know how to share that. And through that trauma healing group, it's really helped me a lot to want to try and go help other people with their own trauma.
Some don't even recognize, like me. I didn't I was, like, on survival mode for so long. I was helping with church, helping a Sunday school youth group, and I was just doing it because they needed help. And so I was doing it for that. I wasn't doing it for the Lord.
Now, since I see that the Lord is working through those women and sharing my story of how I've been feeling, I want to go and help other people with theirs, whether it's through one person or one child at a time, and show them God's love. You know, you're not the only one.
I, too, have a story and a history of trauma, and I learned from that training also how God cares about the wounded and he cares about those of us who have experienced really difficult times in our lives. And what I hope to see along the lines of what you are doing down there is to carry the message of hope to others who are around us within arm's reach.
So many of us have experienced those things, and then we just walk in silence. So I'm I'm glad that you're finding your voice and that you're recognizing that God's grace applies to you, too, and that he's been walking alongside you.
#4 The Challenge and Opportunity of Sharing Healing in the Community
“Go and make disciples of all nations, ... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Could you share a little bit about after you completed the training, what it was like to go back home to your community?
When I first came back, I so loved the idea of sharing what I've learned, but then I see how some of them were not very open to it. They put up their guard right away with me. And I understand that because I was there for the longest time. I'm somebody that helped out with the church, and I'm not a person that really tried to connect with people. And so that's what it is in the ministry, it's connecting with people, it's relationships with them. And that's what I'm finding. That's what I need to do, is try to connect with some people first. That's what Jesus did. He walked with his disciples, went out and shared his word, and tried to work in that relationship with people. That's what I have to do first.
#5 Rising from Wounds: The Transformative Power of Faith in a Native Community
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.””
Sheri, do you have a scripture that is your favorite? And what does that scripture mean to you?
Faith as small as a mustard seed. That's where I was. I had little faith for a long time and he showed me his love for me. There I was in survival mode for so long. That small faith, that little mustard seed, that's all I needed. And he showed me the way. And he is patient because I put him aside for so long and he was right there waiting for me, to see his love. I realize that now.
I remember one time sitting in a church specifically thinking I am the only one here who's experienced these things. Because I never heard the gospel message talked about what happens when you were wounded as a child. How do you honor your father and mother when they are the ones who hurt you the most? The real truth that many of us have lived. So when I started to learn about my own trauma and I started to learn that other people were walking wounded as well, as I started to heal, I became passionate. I wanted other people to have that freedom. I wanted them to be the men and women who God intended them to be.
#6 You're Not Alone: A Message of Hope and Healing for Trauma Survivors
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
If there's somebody out there who had experienced trauma too, who feels Christ is far from them, what words would you like to share with them?
That you're not alone. We all have our trauma, and not everybody as resilient as others.
Part of my story is I went across the street and I prayed for certain changes to occur in my family. And when they didn't, I assumed that was an unanswered prayer. I just thought God was just gonna to change things instantly. It's only through looking back in my life at different points in how God has blessed me in spite of my rebellion and anger and unforgiveness, that I realized when I crossed that street, he crossed it with me. I'm 51 years old, so I have 51 chapters of a book of my life. And there's chapters that were very dark, chapters that were happy, passing milestones in life. But there's also chapters weaved in through each chapter where God was present in my life and revealed himself to me. Sometimes in a major way and sometimes in a very subtle way. And now I realize that God has used those challenges in my life to better equip me to have empathy and compassion for people and to better equip me to be able to help share the gospel message in a way that people need to hear it.
#7 Limping Towards Heaven
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
I just want you to know that you have the support of Lutheran Indian Ministries. This is what we exist for is to help reach native people and equip them to share the gospel message. And that's what you're doing. Is there anything else you'd like to share?
He is a patient god. And I've realized that now because I was putting him aside for so long. And he showed me his love for me in Alaska. He showed me that we are not alone. There are other people out there hurting too. And he can heal us if we let him.
You know, I like to say limping toward heaven is okay, but it's better to limp along with other people.
You can help us help Native Americans and Alaska Natives like Bev — by transforming and healing hearts, minds, bodies and souls through Christ’s love and the power of the Holy Spirit — with a donation today.
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