Dealing With Trauma: Steps Toward Faith-based Healing

Trauma is any experience that causes deep emotional pain and can cause deep wounds that affect a person’s mind, body, and spirit. There are many causes of trauma, including abuse, loss, violence, betrayal, illness, or natural disasters.

These painful life experiences often change the way a person views themselves, others, and even God. The emotional pain may be carried silently for years, and a person may feel trapped by shame, fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, or all these emotions. Healing is possible with support, faith, and perseverance.

Trauma and the Bible

There are many stories in the Bible of people who experience grief, heartbreak, persecution, abuse, betrayal, and other forms of emotional pain. God understands trauma because He sees every person and the emotional wounds they experience.

He promises to draw close to the brokenhearted. Through faith, a person can find comfort, strength, and direction during the healing journey. Faith does not prevent or protect us from trauma; however, it provides a pathway for healing.

Trauma is more than a bad memory. It is an emotional response to a deeply distressing experience that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. Trauma may be a single event or repeated events over a span of time.

After trauma, a person may experience difficulty sleeping, focusing, regulating their emotions, eating, interacting with others, or taking care of themselves. People may struggle with anxiety, panic, emotional numbness, distrust, shame, or feelings of worthlessness.

It is important to remember that reacting to trauma is not an indication of weakness or a lack of faith. Many people in the Bible who had a strong faith faced emotional suffering. David cried out in despair in the Psalms. Elijah experienced deep exhaustion and hopelessness. Even Jesus experienced anguish and sorrow.

God never condemns people for experiencing emotional pain. God offers comfort and healing. Psalm 34:18 states that “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Acknowledging the Pain

One of the first steps on the pathway to healing is to acknowledge the pain instead of avoiding or hiding it. Often, people try to suppress or minimize their emotional pain from trauma because of the fear of being judged as weak, dramatic, or attention-seeking.

Others may think they should simply “move on” and count their blessings. However, people can feel blessed and have emotional pain at the same time. Ignoring the impact of trauma often causes it to grow stronger and deeper.

The Bible encourages people to be honest before God. The Psalms are filled with prayers of grief, confusion, fear, and anger. Emotional pain can only be healed when it is brought into the light and shared with others, whether it is a counselor, pastor, support group, or trusted friend. Healing happens in community rather than isolation.

Distorted Thinking

Trauma can distort thinking patterns and may cause feelings of being unloved, powerless, or worthless. These feelings and thoughts can become strongholds that affect daily life. The Bible reminds us in Romans 12:12 not to be conformed to the pattern of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Being abused may bring thoughts and feelings that a person is damaged and unlovable; however, God says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made in Psalm 139:14. Betrayal and loss of loved ones may create an overwhelming feeling of being all alone, but in Hebrews 13:5, God says that He will never leave us or forsake us.

One step in the pathway to healing is reading Scripture regularly, as this can help reshape distorted thoughts and bring comfort. Prayer is another step that creates a space to express fears and pain to God. The book of Lamentations is all about crying out to God when in pain.

Counseling for Trauma

Another step may be to see a counselor. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify unhealthy thinking patterns and replace them with healthier beliefs. God tells us to take every thought captive and to renew our minds, which is the formula for CBT. Some specific techniques include journaling or therapeutic letters, expressing thoughts through art, learning relaxation skills, challenging negative thoughts, and gradual exposure to feared situations.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective technique for trauma recovery. During EMDR, the therapist guides the person through traumatic memories while using bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping, to help the brain reprocess difficult memories so they are not so overwhelming.

Somatic Therapy focuses on how trauma impacts the body. Trauma often causes chronic tension, increased startle response, hypervigilance, fatigue, or other physical pain. A counselor can help a person become aware of their body and learn grounding techniques, gentle movements, deep breathing, and relaxation training. All of these can help a person’s nervous system, which may stay overstimulated even after the initial traumatic experience calms down.

Psalm 46:10 reminds us to be still and know that He is God. This isn’t only referring to physical stillness, but mental stillness.

Sometimes, groups are more effective than individual therapy, as healing often occurs when people know they are not alone and have others with whom to share encouragement, empathy, and connection, reducing shame and fear. Seeing others in the group who are further along on the pathway to healing can provide hope.

The Bible tells us to carry each other’s burdens and that “two are better than one…if either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” Also, the prayers of the faithful are effective.

The Path Forward in Dealing With Trauma

Healing does not mean forgetting the past, but that it is no longer controlling your life. A person does not need to know which path to take before starting, but simply taking one step toward healing, and often the first step is the hardest. Praying that God will show you the path and bring the people into your life who can help you heal may be the first step. Or just acknowledging that help is needed is not a sign of weakness but takes courage and strength.

The path to healing from trauma is not fast or easy, but necessary, as trauma can keep a person stuck in pain or numbness. Most people will experience some sort of trauma in their life, and the Bible tells us that we will experience trials, but that God will be present through the suffering.

With healing, a person will strengthen faith, build character, and develop a deeper relationship with God. Even though Scripture never states that the Christian life is free from trauma, it does offer hope, endurance, and purpose during difficult times.

Trauma, once healed, can become our testimony. We can find purpose from our pain. This is why it is imperative to seek healing, rather than avoiding, hiding, or trying to run from the impact of trauma. Healing is possible when we seek it, and there is a pathway for everyone.

If you are ready to find your path to healing but don’t know where to start, reach out to a counselor or pastor. As a counselor, I would be honored to walk with you on your healing journey. Please call 469-943-2962 to schedule an appointment. God bless.