Forgiveness in Trauma Recovery: A Christian Perspective
Navigating the Struggle
Your faith encourages forgiveness, yet your mind craves revenge and clings to anger. Bitterness takes hold, making it challenging to consider forgiving those who've deeply hurt you. If the pain feels too raw, forgiveness may not be immediate, but with healing, it becomes a possibility. Those who truly desire to enter into forgiveness can get there with the right support through authentic healing.
The Complex Landscape of Trauma
Trauma, arising from countless events, varies from physical to emotional wounds, contributing to complex experiences affecting physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Understanding the intricate link between traumatic experiences and mental health is crucial for individuals and those supporting them on their healing journey.
Forgiveness in Trauma Therapy
In trauma therapy, forgiveness means consciously releasing resentment and anger towards the source of pain, prioritizing personal well-being. Forgiveness doesn't validate the actions of others but lightens the emotional burden. Psalms 147:3 says "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." The Lord is passionate about healing your past. Forgiveness is simply choosing to no longer carry the heaviness.
Reciprocity in Forgiveness
God’s word shares forgiveness being a reciprocal concept. In Matthew 6:14-15 it states "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." This verse is often avoided when discussing forgiveness in the trauma healing space as this can be a difficult area to explore. Jesus modeled this same forgiveness on the cross when he said “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
Continuous Forgiveness
Those sinning against God did not have a complete understanding of the depth of wrong they were committing. With no way of truly knowing the mindset of the person/people who have contributed to your trauma, we are instructed to forgive anyways. And to do so continuously. "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." (Matthew 18:21-22). Walking this path is so personal, so intimate for each woman. This is a space where daily communication with God through prayer is needed, continually asking for grace as you surrender the weight of this baggage to God.
The Daily Commitment
Understanding forgiveness is a daily commitment, a decision to entrust the weight of events to God. Therapists create a safe space to explore trauma's impact on your body and brain, helping you validate emotions and work towards resiliency. Forgiveness is a slow, repeated process under God's grace, allowing you control over its speed and direction. Your Christian therapist encourages, but you and God lead the way.