“He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.”
— Psalm 147:3 (NIV)
Healing from Past Hurt and Trauma
Healing from past hurt and trauma is a process, it takes time. The pain you’ve experienced is real. The wounds, though perhaps invisible, are deep. Abuse has a way of distorting everything: your sense of self, your trust in others, your ability to feel safe, and even your view of God. But here is the truth:
You are not too broken for God to heal.
Your story isn’t over. In fact, this chapter of healing is holy ground. God is not afraid of your pain. He is not overwhelmed by your tears. He is a God who kneels beside the wounded and restores them with gentleness, truth, and love.
Trauma Doesn’t Disqualify You—It Marks the Beginning of Restoration
When you’ve experienced intimate partner abuse—emotional, physical, spiritual, or sexual, your soul can become fragmented. You may feel like a shell of who you used to be, or wonder if you’ll ever feel whole again.
- But trauma doesn’t mean you’re faithless or weak. It means you’re human.
- Healing isn’t about “getting over it.” It’s about letting Jesus walk with you through it.
- God doesn’t rush your healing. He respects your pace. But He does promise this:
You won’t stay stuck. Not when His Spirit is at work within you.
Layers of Healing: A Grace-Filled Process
Healing from abuse is not a one-time prayer or a single counseling session. It’s a layered process. Some wounds surface early. Others reveal themselves only after you’ve had time and safety to breathe. You may experience:
- Flashbacks or triggers
- Fear or numbness
- Anger, grief, or guilt
- Shame, even when you know it’s not yours to carry
None of this makes you faithless. It makes you in process. And God honors the process.
Each tear you cry is collected by the Father. Each brave step you take is celebrated in heaven. And every time you choose truth over lies, safety over silence, or peace over panic, healing is happening.
God’s Role in Your Healing
God is not just watching your healing. He is the source of it.
He is:
- Jehovah Rapha – The Lord who heals (Exodus 15:26)
- El Roi – The God who sees you (Genesis 16:13)
- Your Refuge and Strength (Psalm 46:1)
You are not alone in this. God does not minimize your pain; He meets you in it. He doesn’t say, “Just have more faith.” He says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
God heals in many ways:
- Through Scripture and worship
- Through counseling and community
- Through prayer and journaling
- Through setting healthy boundaries
- Through time and patienc
Don’t limit how He may move. Healing is both spiritual and practical. It’s okay to need help. It’s okay to take your time. God is patient with your pain.
Releasing the Shame
Shame is a cruel companion of abuse. It whispers lies like:
- “It was your fault.”
- “You’re damaged goods.”
- “No one will understand.”
- “God must be disappointed in you.”
But here’s the truth:
There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
You are not to blame for what was done to you. Full stop.
God is not ashamed of you. He is tender toward you. He knows every detail of what you endured, and He’s not holding it against you, He’s holding you through it.
Shame dies when it’s brought into the light. As you speak your truth, receive support, and let God’s Word wash over you, shame loses its grip. The enemy wants you to suffer in silence. But Jesus came to set the captives free.
What Healing Looks Like
Healing doesn’t always look like shouting victory from a mountaintop. Sometimes it looks like:
- Getting out of bed and choosing hope
- Saying “no” when you used to feel obligated
- Feeling emotions again—without fear
- Laughing without guilt
- Resting without anxiety
Healing is progress, not perfection. It’s courage in small steps. It’s learning to breathe freely again. It’s discovering that your past may shape you, but it does not define you.
An Invitation to Heal
Jesus is inviting you to bring the broken pieces to Him. He is not intimidated by your questions or afraid of your past. He’s not looking for perfection, just permission.
Let Him in. Let Him rewrite your story. Let Him teach you how to trust again, to feel again, to live again.
There is life beyond the pain. There is joy beyond the trauma. There is purpose on the other side of this healing.
And you, beloved daughter, are already on your way.
A Healing Prayer
Father God,
I come to You with my brokenness, my pain, and my questions. I lay the hurt, the memories, and the wounds at Your feet. Heal me, Lord. Restore the places in me that feel shattered. Replace the lies with truth. Remove the shame and fill me with Your peace.
Teach me to trust again. Teach me to hope again. Show me that I am safe in You. I open my heart to the process of healing—layer by layer, moment by moment. Walk with me through the valley, and lead me into wholeness.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Reflection Questions: Healing from Past Hurt and Trauma
Section 1: Naming the Pain
- What wounds from your past still feel unhealed or tender today?
- In what ways has abuse impacted how you see yourself, others, and God?
- Are there specific memories or triggers that still bring up fear, shame, or confusion? What do you usually do when those feelings arise?
Section 2: God in the Healing Process
- When you imagine Jesus with you during your most painful moments, what do you see? What do you wish you could see?
- Which name or attribute of God (Healer, Restorer, Refuge, etc.) do you most need to experience right now?
- What would it look like to invite God into one specific area of your pain today?
Scripture to Reflect On: Psalm 34:18, Isaiah 61:1-3, Matthew 11:28-30
Section 3: Releasing Shame and Lies
- What lies from your past do you find yourself still believing (e.g., “I’m not enough,” “It was my fault,” “I’m too damaged”)?
- What does God’s Word say instead? Write a truth from Scripture that speaks directly to one of those lies.
- What has kept you from fully releasing shame or guilt? What would it feel like to let that go?
Section 4: Taking Ownership of Your Healing
- How have you seen even small signs of healing or strength in your life recently?
- What is one practical or spiritual step you could take this week to care for your healing (e.g., journaling, prayer, therapy, setting a boundary)?
- Who or what has been a source of support in your healing journey—and how might you let them walk with you more intentionally?
Section 5: Believing There’s More Ahead
- What do you hope life could feel like on the other side of healing? Try to describe it in a few words.
- What are you afraid of as you move forward? What might God be saying to calm those fears?
- Finish this prayer in your journal: “God, I trust You to heal me even when __________. And I believe You will lead me into __________.”