Trauma

It is natural for patients to question the nature of God in the context of trauma and grief: “Why would God let this happen to me?” “Where is God when I am suffering?” “What kind of a God would allow these tragedies? Responding to these questions effectively not only requires understanding where the patient is coming from religiously and spiritually, but also on you as the Chaplain or caretaker. How does your religious formation, spirituality and personal experience inform your responses to someone’s whose background may be very different than your own? How might your response add to or alleviate the pain of the patient and their family members?