Finding Hope Amidst Trauma: Spiritual Strategies for Healing

Categories: AACC BLOG

by Greg Jantz, Ph.D.

When working through trauma, your spiritual life and faith in God are your most powerful allies.

I don’t offer the following ideas as a to-do list but as a way to present pathways to healing that can open up for you. These strategies have helped me and countless others I have had the privilege of counseling.

Seek Intimacy with God

To experience healing, we must first recognize any dead ends and join or rejoin the path toward wholeness. Along this path, we walk in a relationship with God. God doesn’t deny the sorrow that comes when death, separation, and loss occur. Instead, he works through those things to grow us and make us whole.

God changes and restores us through spiritual intimacy. This inside-out change is a benefit of the intimacy created through our relationship with God. Healing comes from knowing that God will never leave you and trusting and obeying Him. Lean into God’s arms and experience the love and grace that will change your life.

Cultivate Gratitude

Even though life may be challenging, you can pause each day to observe your blessings and know there is much to be grateful for – like a good talk with a family member, money for groceries, or a baby’s laugh.

When you express gratitude, you deliberately acknowledge God and others who have blessed you. And as you cultivate a heart of thankfulness, your mental and emotional burdens lighten. Gratitude doesn’t just benefit the recipient; gratitude benefits the giver as much or more than the receiver.

Find Relief through Prayer

Everybody feels down and distressed now and then, especially when working through the pain of trauma. Yet, ordinary gloom can turn into serious depression. When we are depressed, we don’t feel like eating right, getting together with friends, watching a funny movie, or taking a brisk walk in the sunshine. And we certainly don’t feel like praying.

When you are overcoming the inertia of depression, praying through the Scriptures is a powerful way to find relief. Chances are, you shy away from praying when you’re down because you don’t know what to say. However, God can speak to you through His Word. When you’re down, forget what you feel. Pray—because God can hear you in any weather.

Listen Closely for God’s Voice

Ponder this metaphor: Suppose a friend calls you with an invitation to meet for coffee. The moment she joins you, your friend starts talking. She barely greets you before beginning to ramble on about what’s happening in her life since you last met. She starts anew whenever you sense an opening and draw breath to respond. The conversation continues like this until your time is up.

I’d say the chances of this scene occurring between friends are pretty slim. That is unless one of the “friends” happens to be God.

Let’s face it: He gets this kind of treatment all the time. While we’re often quick to present our requests and concerns to God, we can be slow to listen to Him. What good is pouring out our hearts to God if we never seek his wise guidance?

When you pray, take time to silently reflect on what you’ve read in Scripture and listen for the Holy Spirit – who encourages us, reminds us of God’s promises, and leads us in paths of obedience.

Surround Yourself with Allies

One of the most formidable enemies facing people working to heal from trauma is isolation. By ourselves, we’re far more likely to get stuck in unhealthy habits and distorted thought patterns. Our lives become closed echo chambers that endlessly reinforce our sense of hopelessness and despair. A community of caring people willing to open their arms and make room for one more is needed to break through those lonely walls.

Find soul-mate sisters or brothers who will pick you up when you’re feeling down and celebrate with you when you’re feeling up. Find a community of people you feel safe with, such as a church group or volunteer organization.

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Trauma Therapy at The Center • A Place of HOPE

The Center • A Place of HOPE is a holistic treatment facility that offers treatment for a range of mental health issues, including trauma.

Our Whole Person Care approach to treatment is proven to help trauma sufferers regain their lives, balance, and happiness. Whole Person Care means fully examining each component of our mind, body, and spirit–relational, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, physical, and nutritional.

If you would like to learn more about our Whole Person Care approach to treatment or discuss therapeutic ideas with our licensed staff, please contact The Center • A Place of HOPE today at 1-888-771-5166 or visit aplaceofhope.com.