"'But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the Lord,…"
Jeremiah 30:17
We sat in reflective silence, processing the words just spoken over the several hours it took to share her story. Recounting the catalogue of childhood traumas and the subsequent repercussions in her adult life was painful to hear. I prayed silently, asking God for wisdom on responding appropriately. As she concluded her story, she looked at me imploringly and asked, "Will I ever heal?"
This is not an uncommon question, particularly from individuals who have been left deeply wounded or traumatised by adverse, severe life circumstances. Yet, with time, therapeutic interventions, counselling, prayer and adequate support, many have recovered and now live a fulfilled life.
Commencing the healing process
Outlining seven steps to emotional healing, therapist John Bradshaw explains the process in his book – Healing the Shame that Binds You. He outlines the stages as follows:
- Awareness – identifying the emotional pain and trauma that needs healing
- Acknowledgement – admitting that there is a problem and committing to addressing it
- Acceptance – realise that healing is possible, release doubts and fears, trusting that it is possible to move forward
- Feel the pain – express your pain and emotions relating to the trauma
- Grieving: Acknowledge the losses that have occurred due to the trauma, e.g. trust, safety, or a sense of self, and allow yourself to mourn these losses.
- Forgiveness – forgiving others for any associated harm, getting help to let go of anger, blame and resentment, finding self-compassion and understanding for self and others
- Moving Forward – create a vision for the future by setting goals, seeking support, and engaging in activities that promote healing and growth.
Questions to ask yourself
In their article 'How to find emotional healing?'*1 Verywell Mind suggests commencing with the following self-reflective questions:
- How is not healing affecting your life?
- What do you want your life to look like after you've healed?
- If you woke tomorrow, how would you know you had healed?
- Are you ready to heal?
- Are you willing to sit through some discomfort in service of healing?
- What will help you on your emotional healing journey?
- What can you do to make your healing journey gentle for yourself?
Pursuing healing
Wisdom International*2 outlines the following ten tips for pursuing healing:
- Prayer: Seek God's healing through prayer. James 5:16
- Faith: Trust in God's ability to heal. Mark 11:24
- Community Support: Engage with your church community and seek prayer and support from fellow believers. James 5:14
- Scripture Meditation: Meditate on healing verses from the Bible. Proverbs 4:22
- Repentance: Address any unconfessed sin. James 5:15
- Healthy Living: Take care of your physical health. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
- Emotional Healing: Seek emotional healing through counselling or support groups if needed and choosing joy. Proverbs 17:22
- Forgiveness: Forgive those who have wronged you. Holding onto bitterness can hinder emotional healing. Matthew 6:14-15
- Anointing with Oil: Consider anointing with oil as a symbol of God's healing presence and a tangible expression of faith. James 5:14
- Patience: Be patient and trust in God's timing. Psalm 27:14
How to help others heal
In order to help others heal; it is important to learn about how trauma affects individuals and how to meet their needs. Here is an excellent article by Dr Torben Bergland on how to minister effectively:
https://www.eldersdigest.org/en/2022/2/ministering-to-the-traumatized
Recovery resources
- The Trauma-Informed Church seminar by Joanna Daniel – a trauma-informed counsellor and author and CEO of Wounds to Scars*3 is an impactful resource for assisting churches in supporting people recovering from trauma.
Explaining Joanna's seminar work for the 2024 enditnow emphasis day programme package, General Conference Women's Ministries shares:
"Recognising the importance of extending healing beyond individual experiences, Joanna is actively involved in creating and writing training programmes for organisations and churches. These programmes are designed to equip these entities with the tools and knowledge needed to create safe spaces for people to heal collectively by fostering environments of trust and empathy." Adventist Women's Ministries | enditnow Emphasis Day
- Another impactful ministry is Replenished Life, an independent charity which supports individuals who have experienced abuse and trauma within faith settings. You can access them via: https://www.replenished.life/
- The BUC Health Ministries Department has developed HEAL (Help & Hope, Empathy & Encouragement, Attitude & Approach to Recovery, Lifestyle & Letting Love in). This is the intervention God inspired me to create in supporting the woman mentioned at the commencement of this article and others with positive outcomes.
An excellent quote from Helen Keller states:
"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it."
Embrace the power of hope that with God's help, recovery from life's traumas is possible.
If you're struggling with emotional wounds, don't suffer in silence. Seek help from a trusted friend, a professional counsellor, or a supportive community. Let the healing begin.
*1 How to Find Emotional Healing
*2 Christian Healing: Physical and Emotional Restoration in the Bible · Wisdom International
