Trauma and the Bible

 Some translations of the Bible refer to the “crushed in spirit” as “contrite in heart or spirit,” with the idea of contrite being “I’m sorry for my sin.” The root word in Hebrew is “crushed.” When you are crushed in this way, the weight of what you’ve seen or what you carry is so heavy that you feel crushed all the time. I hear testimonies from people who feel crushed by the weight of what they carry without knowing how to get rid of it.

David declares—and this is a wonderful promise—that God is near to the brokenhearted. He saves those crushed in spirit. In Psalm 147:3, David ups the ante and says that God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. There is a hope and promise that no matter how shattered you are or how much trauma you have been through, God is the God who heals the brokenhearted. He not only heals us; He binds up our hearts too. He brings shattered pieces of our broken heart back together so that we can feel whole again.

Isaiah 61:1-3 has become the bones and structure upon which rests everything I do in ministry.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor (Isaiah 61:1-3).

This passage of Scripture is a prophecy about the coming Messiah, Jesus. Isaiah declares that when Messiah comes, this is what He will look like and how you will know that He is in fact the true Messiah. This is fascinating because in Luke 4, Jesus returns to His home synagogue, and one of the first acts of His ministry is to read from Isaiah 61. What a Holy coincidence that the reading that day was Isaiah 61! When He finished reading, He then declared that the scripture had been fulfilled. Jesus began His ministry by declaring that He was the true Messiah. I want you who are reading this right now to understand how you will know Messiah has come.

Isaiah 61:1 says, “The Spirit of God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me.” The first thing Jesus tells us is that there is an anointing on His life. Second, He says that He will bring good news to the poor. He will not come to the rich and famous or the religious establishment or heads of government—He will come to the afflicted and the poor. They are His main audience. This is part of the “good news.” The word gospel means “good news.” The next statement Jesus makes is very significant. It doesn’t say He will multiply food, get people saved, or cleanse lepers. The identifying mark of the Messiah is this—He has been sent by God to bind up the brokenhearted, bring liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners. The identifying mark of Messiah is to minister healing to the broken soul of humankind.

Humankind is broken from the trauma of sin, sickness, death, chaos, and hatred. It only makes sense that the primary mission of Jesus in this world is to declare the good news to the afflicted—the good news that He is here to heal broken hearts. He is here to declare freedom to those who have been kidnapped by evil—to set them free and break chains. He is here to declare to those guilty of horrific things that if you have a heart to repent, He will open the prison door and set you free. The power of Jesus the Messiah will set not only captives free, it will even set the guilty free.

Then, in Isaiah 61 Jesus goes on to declare the favorable year of the Lord, the day of vengeance of our God, which is the year of Jubilee in the Jewish calendar. That is the day when everything that had been stolen, everything that had been taken from people was returned to everyone. Those who were sold into slavery because of debt or other reasons were set free from captivity. People in debtor’s prison were set free. There is a sense of complete restoration that even if your own choices caused you to fall into captivity or imprisonment, on the Day of Jubilee all is restored in Jesus’ name. That is the description of the ministry of Messiah. When we give Him is our sin and brokenness, He does a great exchange.

Isaiah 61 begins by telling us of the Lord’s favor toward us, then continues by telling us that along with this favor we will receive His comfort:

To comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations (Isaiah 61:2-4).

Instead of mourning your loss, instead of walking in a spirit of grieving and mourning, you receive comfort. There is a reason why Holy Spirit is a comforter. Ultimately, we need comfort from God to heal our trauma and brokenness if we are to step out into unfamiliar places. We need comfort during those times. He gives us comfort instead of mourning, a garland of beauty instead of ashes.

When you are a “planting of the Lord,” not only do you provide shade and comfort and shelter to others, you produce acorns, which produce other oaks. You are no longer multiplying pain and hurt and trauma. Now you are reproducing fruit with seed in it that multiples over and over again. Your greatest weakness becomes your greatest platform for ministry.

Our response to trauma, when viewed through the lens of Scripture, is broken heartedness. I want to highlight three factors that impact how we deal with broken heartedness. The first has to do with our family roots. Many people who experience trauma don’t carry it around with them because they have strong family roots. Their family has taught them how to deal with difficult times. They experience a very strong sense of belonging. When you know people really care for you, you have a high level of emotional security. I am an only child. My mom and dad were my biggest cheerleaders. They’re both in heaven now, and I know they are standing on the balcony of heaven cheering me on. I grew up secure in who I was in their love. I have been able to walk through trauma in my life because I grew up with a sense of belonging and being loved. People who deal with trauma successfully typically come from strong families.

The second factor has to do with faith. People who are able to handle trauma in healthy ways typically have a strong faith. They walk in faith to such a degree that they can roll pain over onto Jesus. They know the yolk of Jesus is easy and His burden is light. Jesus says, “Come to me you weary, and I will give you rest.” The sense of walking in the rest of God in strong faith helps us walk through trauma without it sticking to us.

The third factor that helps us deal with our broken heartedness is the ability to process trauma. Processing is very important. Those who have the ability and opportunity to process trauma right away are much less likely to carry it around with them. They learn how to lay it down right away. We had a young man who was part of our global school who was the sergeant of a crew that would blow up all IEDs in a war zone so the troops could walk on the road safely. This young man had served three tours of duty in war zones. When I questioned him, he didn’t seem to have any post-traumatic stress. As we talked, I realized why. He said that at the end of the day he would get his guys together, and no matter who had been injured or what had happened, they would talk about it. They would talk all the trauma out and deal with it instead of carrying it to bed that night.

There is a principle involved in not letting the sun go down on your anger. Dealing with trauma and the emotional responses it produces, no matter what you have been through that day, means rolling it all over to Jesus before you go to bed. When you forgive and release and get cleansed, you can sleep in peace. God designed sleep to regenerate us so that we are ready for each new day. Firefighters and police officers and EMTs who see trauma all the time use these three factors—strong family, faith, and the ability to process the trauma—to stay healthy. In this way they are able to continue to do their jobs. The medical community also employs these three factors to help deal with trauma by getting their team together and debriefing when the work is over for the day. When we have been through something traumatic, we need to debrief with someone. We need to be able to put into words what we have experienced. Women have a grace on them to process in a way that men don’t have. Women know how to put words to feelings. Men need to learn how to do this because we have sons and grandsons who need to be raised up in healthy ways. Society has taught us, particularly as men, to suck it up, get over it, stuff it down, and not cry. In Jesus’ time, it wasn’t just women who carried dead bodies through the streets weeping; it was the men too. That kind of mourning gave everyone an opportunity to get out their grief. When you continue to carry grief, it does harm to your soul and your body.

God provides healing from trauma. If you let Him, He will take the broken pieces of your heart, put them back together, and make you whole. I have seen it happen time and again. This is not just theology; it is reality.

Holy Spirit, we welcome Your Presence to fulfill the mission of Jesus according to Isaiah 61:1-3, which says that God sent Jesus to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for captives, and to release prisoners from darkness. Jesus, thank You for a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

1. Psalm 91:4–6

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings, you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

God is close to the brokenhearted and comforts us when we suffer. As a prisoner who came to faith in Christ while incarcerated, Jason developed a passion for comforting those in the deepest moments of suffering: those facing their last breaths in the prison hospice unit. He has seen first-hand the supernatural comfort of God for the brokenhearted and forgotten. 

2. Proverbs 6:16–19

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

God hates evil and injustice. Not everything that happens is the perfect will of God. But God heals and is close to the wounded. 

3. Romans 8:35–39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake, we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Trauma can create a barrier to people engaging with Scripture and understanding just how much God loves us. Hearts are hardened by anger and bitterness, and the seed falls on this hard ground and does not take root. Trauma healing helps us to fulfill the gospel of Jesus Christ, setting the captives free (Is. 61:1-4). 

Want to learn more about World Impact’s Trauma Healing workshop? In the program, students are trained to identify, address, and begin the healing process from personal trauma that’s been experienced.

4. Romans 1:18

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness…

God knows about the trauma experienced by every single person. He knows the details of how the trauma came about, and He hates the wickedness that caused such pain. 

Take heart in knowing that God comforts us. He is close to the brokenhearted and comforts us when we suffer, holding us in His arms. 

Lasting transformation: What’s the Connection Between Personal Trauma Healing and the Gospel?

5. Matthew 9:35–36

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

For many, traumatic events in our childhood affect how we act and react as adults. But God takes our past and transforms it into a testimony of healing. Darryll’s traumatic past played a significant role in leading him to years in prison. Through God’s grace and healing, he is now the founder and director of The Prisoner’s Hope in Louisville, Kentucky.

6. Psalm 34:18

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

It takes time for heart wounds to heal. This process consists of numerous steps, including remembering God’s love, expressing our anguish in words and via art, grieving, lamenting, taking our suffering to the cross, and forgiving.

7. 2 Corinthians 1:3–5

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

We rejoice when we hear of another individual being set free from the impact of their trauma through trauma-healing resources. If you’re interested in walking this journey alongside others and sense a calling to help others find healing, check out how you can train in trauma healing.  

8. Psalm 119:50

My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

When our wounds are severe, we might have to rely on the lessons we have already learned and give God more time to heal our hearts. Eventually, we will be able to reconstruct our lives as we put effective practices into action and become better equipped to deal with hardship in the future.

Keep reading: A Powerful Story Of God’s People Being The Conduit For Trauma Healing

9. Isaiah 53:3–4

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

We hope that every afflicted individual is encouraged knowing that Jesus Himself experienced deep suffering during His time on earth and can relate to our suffering. 

10. Hebrews 12:2–3

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Good and bad days will come; it’s all part of the healing journey. But we have access to God at every turn and He is close to the brokenhearted.

We hope these ten verses will encourage your heart as you journey toward trauma healing. When individuals begin to experience the healing work of the gospel, churches are healthier, and individuals, families, and neighborhoods can flourish.

Why We Need Transformation

Despite what we may know is true in Christ, our identities and how we view the world are shaped by our environment, experiences, cultural influences, memories, and relationships. When trauma weighs heavily into our personal narrative, it often results in shame, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and feelings of isolation.

Quite literally, our brains conform—or develop patterns of thought, belief, and action—based on these personal stories. Without conscious effort, we relive our trauma by reinforcing the beliefs it caused. For example, if you were neglected or rejected as a child, you probably formed a (false) belief that you are worthless. This belief might have provoked you to act out: looking for love in all the wrong places; cutting or engaging in other self-harm to relieve the pain; self-sabotaging opportunities for success; rejecting others or their love; numbing with the use of alcohol or drugs; or using rage and anger as a cover for fear of abandonment or insecurity. Conversely, you might deny the harm it caused you, blame others for your problems, minimize your pain, or rationalize the actions of the person responsible.

How Is Transformation Possible?

Scripture offers tremendous hope for those who feel trapped in harmful patterns of thinking and living: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom. 12:2, emphasis added). Our amazing minds are renewable! That is, new neural pathways develop as the Holy Spirit guides us into truth (John 16:13). As we look to the Scriptures, we can affirm what God says about us: nothing can separate us from his love (Rom. 8:35-39); God rejoices over us (Zeph. 3:17); God has good plans for us amidst suffering (Jer. 29:11). We can know the truth which sets us free (John 8:32); we can learn wisdom from God (James 1:5); we can develop positive, healthy habits and relationships (1 John 1:7). Through Christ’s work at the cross, God has delivered us from darkness into the kingdom of light (Col. 1:13), and he is at work in us through his word and by his Spirit, renewing us day by day (2 Cor. 4:16; Titus 3:5).

How Transformation Works

In my personal process of transformation, God sent me specific help at appropriate times to grow my faith and renew my mind. A compassionate, trauma-informed pastor listened to my story and let me grieve; he kindly pointed out the differences between my distorted beliefs (God is against me) and what God is really like (he is for me: Rom. 8:31). God sent other women into my life who shared similar experiences and were also seeking truth during their recovery, so I did not feel isolated and alone. Corporate worship during church suddenly meant something much deeper: Christ had rescued me, had invited me into his story, and I shared in his glory! The Lord’s Supper was a fresh reminder of my union with Christ. God had made a way of escape from the patterns of my past (1 Cor. 10:13) and was transforming me from the inside out.

Though there’s no formula for how God brings about healing, for those with whom I walk in their personal stories of renewal, I offer these practical suggestions:

• Re-engage with Scripture. In addition to sitting under the preached word each week, take time daily to read a Psalm or a chapter from the Gospels. Receiving truth and pouring it over yourself by interacting with God’s word is crucial for refuting distortions and tearing down lies (2 Cor. 10:4-5). Pray for clarity as you ask questions like, What is God like? How does Jesus treat people? What is this saying to me?
• Pursue your own healing. Care for yourself as you would for a loved one by getting enough rest, eating nutritious food, moving your body, and spending time with encouraging people. Allow yourself space to grieve losses that occurred due to your trauma; God is making room for a new thing, preparing the way forward (Isa. 43:19)! If necessary, don’t be afraid to seek the help of medical or psychological professionals to support and guide you in this process.
• Invest in your growth. Since trauma is often rooted in disordered relationships, learn what healthy relationships should look like. The book of Proverbs instructs us in wisdom by identifying characteristics of helpful and unhelpful people, starting with you and extending to your relationships.
• Do something creative. Creativity stimulates positive neural pathways, releases helpful hormones, and reflects God’s character. Whether it’s music, gardening, photography, writing, crafting, quilting, or underwater basket weaving, engage in an activity you love.
• Share your struggle with others. God created us for relationships; a small group of empathetic people can be a means of grace in your healing. If you are yet unable to engage at this level, sharing with one trusted friend at a time will help you know you're not alone. Ask for prayer as God transforms your heart and share what you’re learning on your journey.
• Celebrate milestones. When you see yourself replacing old thought patterns with new ones, celebrate this evidence of God’s grace in your life! Share it with a friend, thank God and give him glory for helping you, and rest in the comfort of knowing that you’re growing!

The experience of trauma is one of suffering beyond words, and yet, God is at work redeeming and renewing us for our growth and for his glory. The more I see good stem from the outcome of my trauma, the more grateful I am for Jesus’s gospel, and the more my heart aligns with God’s purposes for my life and story.

Though healing may continue to be a process on this side of eternity, we can look to Christ and behold his glory, trusting that we “are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18.

That God is present and in control of our suffering

Firstly, God is present and in control of our suffering. In times of great suffering and pain, we often feel the farthest from God. Where is He? Has He forgotten me? How could He let this happen? This was also the case in the lives of great men of faith in the Bible. Look at David (Psalm 13:1), Jeremiah (Lamentations 3:8) and Job (Job 9:16). Even Jesus at the height of his pain cries out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

From our limited human perspective, pain and suffering seem contrary to our idea of a sovereign God who is good and loving. We think that God blinked and wasn’t able to stop this traumatic event or He isn’t really a loving God. We forget that Adam chose to sin and that we live in a fallen world, full of suffering. Suffering should not cause us to question God’s sovereignty, as Job so clearly understood (Job 2:10). God is sovereign despite our circumstances. He created all things and He controls all things (Deuteronomy 4:39; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Psalms 103:19; Daniel 4:35; Colossians 1:15-17).

He allows us to experience the consequences of sin while remaining fully in control of all things including Satan, who can only bring suffering into our lives if God allows it (Job 1:12; Luke 22:31). God is in control of our circumstances, and He wants to transform us into the very image of His Son.

2). That God is good and cares for us

Secondly, God is good and cares for us. We have all heard this statement, “How could a loving God allow __________?” Fill in the blank with any horribly traumatic event that occurs here on planet Earth. People often use this statement to argue against not only the love of God but also the very existence of God. But God does love us and that is evident in our redemptive history. The creator of the world made a way for disobedient, powerless creatures to come into an eternal relationship with Him. He is patient and gracious. He became one of us (John 3:16) and then sacrificed Himself for us (1 John 3:16). Self sacrifice is the ultimate act of love (John 15:13). God is indeed good and He longs to be in an ever deepening relationship with us.

3). Through our trails and suffering we have an opportunity to draw closer to God

In James 1:2, we are told to “consider it pure joy” when we go through difficult times. What kind of strange mental gymnastics does God want me to do? I’m supposed to be happy when I’m in pain? No, not at all. Even Jesus was sad when he went through difficult times — at Lazarus’s grave, in the garden of Gethsemane, and on the cross. The third truth we are called to recognize is that through our trails and suffering we have an opportunity to draw closer to God.

During the easy times we often become self-reliant, forgetting our need for God. It is in the hard times, when our faith is tested, that we recognize our need for complete dependency on Him. James tells us that persevering through the difficult times develops a mature and complete faith (James 1:4). We are ever being conformed into the image of Christ and suffering is a necessary part of that transformation (Romans 8:29; Philippians 1:29; 1 Peter 2:21).

4). Jesus understands what it is to suffer

Jesus understands what it is to suffer is the fourth truth. We do not worship a distant, unapproachable God. We worship a God that knows what it is to be human (Hebrews 4:15). He knows what it is to suffer (Hebrews 2:17-18).

Just think about Jesus’ life for a moment. He didn’t experience just one traumatic event during His time on Earth. His whole life was full of suffering. The prophet Isaiah told of His suffering hundreds of years before His birth (Isaiah 53:3-5). He was born into unimaginable poverty in a country occupied by a cruel army (Luke 2:1-7). He narrowly escaped a mass slaughtering of children that was ordered because of His birth (Matthew 2:16). He was physically assaulted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11), persecuted because of His teachings (Luke 4:28-29), thought insane by His family (Mark 3:21), betrayed by His own disciple (Mark 14:43-45), deserted by His friends (Mark 14:50), falsely arrested (Mark 14:56-59), publicly humiliated (Mark 15:16-20; Luke 23:8-12), beaten to the point of death (Matthew 27:26), and then slowly and painfully publicly executed by crucifixion as a common criminal (Matthew 27:33-39).

We can take great comfort in the fact that God can relate to us on our level, He understands what it is to suffer.

5). Our identity is grounded in Christ

Finally, our identity is not defined by traumatic events or suffering but is grounded in Christ. God does not see you as a victim. He sees you as His child. The scriptures tell us that as children of God, we were chosen before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless adopted sons and daughters, lavished with grace, redeemed, forgiven, given spiritual wisdom and understanding and marked with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:4-14). We are in Christ! We sit at the right hand of the Father! We have His righteousness! We must not allow tragedy or circumstances to define who we are or how we live. We have His very life within us and we must choose to live out of that truth.

The Bible Speaks the Language of Trauma

Notice the language David uses as he processes his situation: “My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me” (Ps. 55:4–5).

David describes his experience as anguish. He sounds as if the “terrors of death” have completely overwhelmed him. I’ve heard similar things from people I’ve counseled. The Bible understands the language of trauma. If you have experienced something traumatic, you can find encouragement in knowing God hears you. The Bible understands the language of trauma. If you have experienced something traumatic, you can find encouragement in knowing God hears you. CLICK TO TWEET

The Bible Recognizes the Impact of Trauma

Notice the impact trauma has on David: “And I would say, ‘Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest’” (Psalm 55:6–8).

Research has revealed categories of reactions to trauma, referred to as “trauma responses.” Some of the most common responses are fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. These observations are helpful, but when we engage with God through his Word, we see that he has an awareness and understanding of the impact of trauma long before our ability to identify and label it.

How does David want to respond? He wants to fly away and be at peace. He wants to escape and find shelter. To use the research from above, David displays the trauma response of flight. The Scriptures make it clear—God understands the impact of trauma. The Scriptures make it clear—God understands the impact of trauma. CLICK TO TWEET

Trauma Throughout the Bible

The Bible reminds us that trauma is not a new phenomenon. Consider the trauma found in these stories in Scripture. 

Isaac: He was tied to a pile of wood and almost killed by his own father. Even though Abraham was seeking to be faithful to God, that experience surely left a lasting impact. Imagine how Isaac must have felt the next time Abraham asked him to gather wood for a sacrifice.

Joseph: He was sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused of sexual assault, imprisoned, and all alone in a foreign land. Imagine how he must have felt the first time he saw his betrayers.

Bathsheba: She was beckoned by King David, objectified, and used to satisfy his desires. She walked through an unwanted pregnancy as a widow. She suffered the loss of a child because of the sin of another. Imagine the weight of shame and grief she must have carried. 

We could talk about the traumatic experiences of Sarah, Ruth, and Tamar. We could explore the trauma of Daniel, Elijah, and Paul. But there’s one example that surpasses them all—Jesus. He emptied himself and took on the form of his creation. He was despised and rejected, abandoned by his friends, falsely accused, ridiculed, mocked, and scorned. He was beaten, stripped naked, scourged, and publicly humiliated as he willingly marched toward his death. Then, as he hung on a cross, he absorbed the wrath of God for the punishment of sin. 

The most traumatized person in the history of the world knows the pain you feel. By his wounds, you are healed. By his wounds, you are being healed. And by his wounds, you will one day be healed forever. Your trauma will not outlast eternity. The most traumatized person in the history of the world knows the pain you feel. By his wounds, you are healed. By his wounds, you are being healed. And by his wounds, you will one day be healed forever. CLICK TO TWEET

To those who have experienced trauma: God understands your pain. He’s been drawing near and binding up the wounds of trauma from the beginning. His Word is power, his hand is gentle, and his intentions are for your good.

To pastors and those providing care: We have the privilege and responsibility of bringing the light of the gospel into the darkness of trauma. God equips us by his Word and Spirit to bring help and hope to the weary and wounded. 

The language of “trauma” and “trauma-informed”1 has become more prevalent in Biblical Counseling circles. I have become increasingly alarmed because I have suffered much from the trauma-informed approach to counseling. We should be cautious when it comes to adopting secular language. Words such as “trauma” and “trauma-informed” carry an entire worldview and presuppositions that are at odds with a biblical worldview. As I seek to outline my experience with Trauma-Informed Care, you will observe how these secular strategies are counter to biblical goals. It was only by becoming biblically informed that the symptoms of my Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) diagnosis were folded into God’s redemptive plan. I plan to share my testimony and personal context in this article, and in a following article I will evaluate the counseling systems I experienced and how I biblically counsel others with the presenting problems that result from intense suffering.  

I was deployed to Iraq four times starting in early 2004, I served 44 months in an eight-year period. Combat tours like this will take a toll on both your physical body and your heart. My response to the situational heat of combat was entirely destructive. When losing friends and facing night terrors, I turned to alcohol and medication for comfort. Eventually, I became bitter, angry, and selfish.  

In time, my sinful choices led to an inability to function, creating greater situational heat in my life. So, I went to the Army doctors for care. After ten years of service, I was medically retired. The diagnosis? Complex PTSD, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, suicidal ideations, and several other comorbidities. I thought having a diagnosis would make me feel like I understood myself better, but it turned out to only add confusion.  

I committed myself to get well. If you have read The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Van Der Kolk2, you will know the “best practices.” Among these were psychoactive medications, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy3, EMDR4, and an infusion of Eastern mysticism, including yoga, acupuncture, and similar therapies.  

I gladly committed to weekly appointments with my therapist, and they placed me on five different medications. I applied myself to every suggested activity to get better. I became more self-centered over time, justifying my treatment of my wife as “PTSD” and this was my “new normal,” which I must accept, as must everyone else. I became isolated; when the medication didn’t stop the night terrors, I drank to drunkenness and passed out. My family suffered greatly during these years. The medication numbed me and made me so tired I would sleep 12 hours a day. I didn’t help with our newborn because I needed my sleep to “get better.” I refused to go shopping or engage in social activities because it made me anxious. In my life, this is what Trauma-Informed Care did. They are essentially broken cisterns that can hold no water, which appear to be good, comforting, and appealing to my sinful desires. But I was left dissatisfied, entangled in sin, and was brought to the end of myself (James 1:14-15). 

But God, in His redemptive providence, led me to a book on prayer. This book laid out daily office hours of praying through the Psalms. As I spent time in the Psalms, I saw David and the other Psalmists cry out to God in their pain. Their experience matched mine, and I began to follow the age-old pattern of crying out my own psalms to God. The more I followed this pattern, the more I trusted God. I began to see Christ’s suffering on the cross in more than two dimensions. I was beholding Christ daily through the eyes of faith. The Holy Spirit began to convict me of my sin. I began to confess my sin. First to God (Psalm 51, 1 John 1:9), then to my wife and others (James 5:16). There was no blame-shifting, and I needed to take responsibility for my own sin. I confessed to those I had hurt by my drunkenness and anger. This process led to a greater conviction that the therapy and medication I had been taking were counter to Christ-honoring faith.  

God provides the resources in His Word to cultivate greater holiness in the midst of intense suffering. More importantly, the Son of Man, who knew no sin, came to learn obedience through what He suffered (Hebrews 5:8). The Man of Sorrows, who is acquainted with grief, is our God, Redeemer, and Lord (Isaiah 53:3)! There is no depth of suffering or depravity of sin that is beyond the redemption of God, but we must humble ourselves under His mighty hand for salvation, which He alone can provide, not Trauma-Informed Care.  

The Bible as a record of trauma

Let’s start by defining trauma. Broader and narrower definitions exist, each with their own merit, but trauma generally constitutes a reaction to the extreme stress caused by the threat of severe harm. If someone asks whether the Bible recognizes and records these kinds of traumatic events, we quickly see that the pages of Scripture are weighed down by all kinds of them.

Who can forget the brutal sexual violence suffered by women like Dinah (Gen. 34) or Tamar (2 Sam. 13)? Who cannot feel parental horror as infants and toddlers are killed by power-hungry, paranoid rulers (Ex. 1–2, Matt. 2)?

David’s intense rage radiates from Psalm 52 as he stares into Doeg’s extermination of the priests and their families at Nob (1 Sam. 22). Perhaps most strikingly, the prophet’s deep grief pours out from Lamentations as he looks at the mangled bodies of children—dead from starvation, the swords of the enemy, and the unimaginable hunger of their parents.

Our holy book is full of terribly unholy things. It is no stranger to the deep depths of human suffering, and this is a good thing. If the Bible did not capture the deepest, blackest, vilest sorrows that can befall people, we could not be certain that its true and precious promises apply to such situations. It’s one thing to affirm, “The Lord is my shepherd” when the sky is bright and you sit in a church composed of firm stone and majestic beauty. It’s another to affirm it when you’re tending to a nation full of women who have suffered from the rape-as-weapon assaults of a cruel army (Lam. 5:11).

But promises like “I will not leave you as orphans” (John 14:18) and “Even though I walk through the darkest valley … you are with me” (Ps. 23:4) stand alongside the most grim and awful human situations. Trauma is not a category of human experience that places someone outside of God’s vision, God’s care, and God’s promises. There is nothing we can do or nothing that can happen to us that places us beyond the horizon of God’s help.

Trauma-informed discipleship

But the Bible’s silence on such specific trauma-care processes is not a bad thing. The Bible speaks to the core of the person, the heart. It offers us critical things that we cannot find anywhere else—the naming of evil as evil, the comfort of God Almighty, regeneration, the power to fight sin, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and a thousand others. And the Bible validates and gives us lenses to see how breathing techniques and all the rest can help people made of body and soul.

Being a Christian who is trauma informed requires a deep and thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. It also requires other knowledge that God has given us through the observation of ourselves and the world he has made. Being trauma-informed isn’t a hat tip to a “snowflake” generation’s oversensitivity. Rather, it’s based on the recognition that wounds cut deeply, and some wounds are more injurious than others. Put yourself in the shoes of someone whose youth pastor groomed them, exploited them, blamed them, and threatened them. What is it like for them to put their own children in youth group? Or imagine a veteran who tends to feel strong sense of threat when surrounded by loud noises. What’s it like for them when the congregation belts out the chorus of a hymn with gusto?

God has much to say into both situations through his Word. And his Word could also be used in a way that bypasses the actual struggle within each person’s experience. Words like “Love believes all things” or “Don’t forsake the gathering together” are certainly true; yet the damage done by past trauma creates a wake that makes these straightforward principles much choppier in application. Being trauma informed doesn’t mean that God’s Word is somehow superseded by life’s struggles; instead, it means that those life struggles are deeply relevant to the process of discipleship.