Takvor*, a 9th grader from Armenia, knows the pain of war. For decades, his town of Nagorno-Karabakh has been at the center of a conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In late 2020, another war erupted bringing more pain and trauma to the region. “I lost my homeland, my house, my friends and what is more important, I lost my grand-father and my uncle because of the war,” he said.
Takvor fled to Ararat province with his mother and grandmother. “Here I go to a new school … I can’t make new contacts, new friends, and I’m not able to tell why, to tell what I feel. My life has two parts: life before the war and life after the war.”
He felt stuck in his pain.
Trauma causes deep suffering. It hurts every part of us: our relationships, our bodies, our thoughts, and our faith. Those who experience trauma can often be overwhelmed with intense fear, helplessness, and horror. But God is with everyone who suffers. He wants to help us heal.
Helping Teens Heal Using God’s Word
To help Armenian teenagers heal from their trauma, Bible Society of Armenia launched a Teens Trauma Healing program for teenagers in Ararat province. The program uses a resource called, “Unstuck: A Teen Guide for Living in Uncertain Times.” Unstuck helps teens cope during times of uncertainty.
Takvor was able to participate in the Trauma Healing program. He recalls how it helped him heal from his trauma: “The discussion on the Unstuck book in my class and the activities helped me to write about my emotions, which helped me to understand my feelings better,” said Takvor. “I liked the activity ‘Anger Volcano.’ It helped me to see why I often get angry and I destroy my relation with family members and friends. But the good thing is that I know that anger isn’t bad, and it tells me that something is wrong, that if we are feeling something, we need to deal with it in healthy ways. So, finally, I got the healthy way to deal with it; it is to read Psalms and to get more time to pray.”
Through the program, Takvor was able to release his anger and find peace. We praise God that many teenagers in Armenia are experiencing the healing found in Scripture. And we invite you to pray that many more will be comforted through God’s Word.
Let’s Pray Together
Father, thank you for comforting teens like Takvor who have lost loved ones and experienced trauma due to war. We pray for Bible Society of Armenia as they continue to bring God’s Word to traumatized teens. Grant them all they need to successfully reach those who need it most. And we pray for every wounded teen to experience your comfort and hope. May their hearts, minds, and bodies be healed in your loving presence.
