Day 4: Sandwiches, Sulking, and the Stuff Beneath the Surface
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One day, I made my son the world’s best sandwich — three types of meat, two types of cheese, fresh bread. It was epic.
He took a bite, looked up with a grimace, and said, “Dad… I don’t really like it.”
I was hurt. I was upset. I was genuinely angry. I sulked. Over a sandwich.
You might think I’m loopy, but the truth is — I was triggered.
Being triggered means you’re having a strong negative reaction now to something from your past.
If you’ve ever reacted way out of proportion to something small, chances are you were triggered too.
And if you’ve got unprocessed stuff hanging around under the surface, it’ll keep surfacing until you deal with it.
Get prayer. See a counsellor. Talk to your GP. Do whatever it takes to get your past sorted — your future self will thank you.
Let’s Talk
When my sandwich was rejected, it really rattled me.
I sulked. I snapped. I got genuinely angry. And unless i’m weirdly and unhealthily obsessed with bread, it wasn’t about the sandwich.
It was about something buried way deeper.
That’s what it means to be triggered.
It’s when your current emotional response is hijacked by a past emotional wound.
Your nervous system doesn’t just respond to what’s happening now — it remembers what it felt like to be rejected, dismissed, overlooked. And even if your mind knows you’re safe, your body and emotions react like it’s happening all over again.
It’s not about being dramatic or weak — it’s about being wired for survival.
Your brain says: “We’ve been here before. That hurt last time. Let’s armour up.”
And suddenly, your reaction feels way out of proportion — because you’re not just reacting to now, you’re reacting to then.
But here’s the epic gospel truth: God isn’t surprised by that. And He doesn’t shame you for it.
Psalm 42 proves it.
The writer is clearly overwhelmed. Emotionally flooded.
“My tears have been my food day and night... why are you downcast, my soul?”
There’s no neat resolution. No clean theology.
Just honesty. And hope.
“Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him…”
That’s all God asks for. Not perfection. Not instant healing. Just honesty — and a willingness to keep hoping.
Scripture
“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,
my Saviour and my God.”
— Psalm 42:5 (NIV)
(If you’ve got time, read the whole of Psalm 42. It’s one of Scripture’s most emotionally raw and beautiful prayers, plus it’s my wife Jess’ favourite Psalm so she’ll be happy i’m recommending it :)
Mental Health Moment
When you’re triggered, your amygdala (your brain’s fear centre) lights up and signals a threat — even if there isn’t one.
Your nervous system shifts into fight, flight, freeze, or fawn — and your emotional brain takes over while your logical brain goes quiet.
This is your body protecting you. It’s not betrayal — it’s memory.
But healing and growth can happen when you slow down, get curious, and begin to ask:
“What’s this reaction trying to tell me?”
That’s where Jesus meets us — not in our polished responses, but in our raw ones.
Practice for Today
Think of a moment this week when your reaction felt bigger than the situation.
Pause.
Ask yourself gently:
What did I feel in my body?
What memory or wound might have been touched?
Write this down somewhere private:
“I’m not broken — I’m carrying something that needs kindness.”
A Prayer for the Triggered and Tender
God,
Sometimes my reactions surprise me.
They come out fast, hot, emotional — and I don’t always understand them.
But You do.
You see where they come from. You know what I’ve been through.
Help me meet those moments with compassion, not shame.
And help me trust that You’re healing parts of me I didn’t even know were hurting.
Amen.
Reflection Prompt
What’s one emotion you tend to shut down or judge in yourself?
What would it look like to let God into that space instead of hiding it?
