The Flame Within

In the midst of distressing circumstances, our bodies often send us messages that are hard to ignore – tightness in the chest, shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat, and racing thoughts. These symptoms are the bodies attempt to protect us in potentially threatening situations.  God has instilled within all creatures, humans included, a “fantastic” alarm system.  Its purpose is to keep us safe and free from threat.  Trauma is quite common and to many of us, these sensations are not new.  These triggers are echoes – alarms in the present attempting to guard us against past traumatic events. 

Good Christian therapy consists of  learning to recognize the sensations and thoughts we experience in everyday life.  While learning to recognize that these symptoms are often rooted in past experiences. The “uncomfortable” trauma triggers we experience, are protective cues informing us that our bodies and souls have been here before.

You may find yourself in a situation where you’re afraid to set a boundary, afraid to say no, or to disappoint someone. You feel that heavy knot in your stomach or that flutter of anxiety in your chest. Why is it so hard to speak up? To protect your peace?

When we explore these feelings honestly and prayerfully, we often discover that they are rooted in fear—not just fear of rejection, but fear of punishment, emotional manipulation, or even physical harm. Perhaps in the past, choosing to set a boundary led to an outburst from someone you loved, or silence that lasted for days. Maybe standing your ground once brought consequences that left lasting emotional scars. The trauma wasn’t always dramatic or obvious—but it was real.

Trauma can disguise itself as people-pleasing, over-apologizing, or complete emotional shutdown. These behaviors are attempts to stay safe, to avoid the pain we’ve known before. But God has not called us to live in fear. As 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Recognizing this fear is the first step. Feeling it and tracing it back to its source is where healing begins. Christian trauma therapy helps us do just that—gently, safely, and prayerfully. In the presence of Christ, we are invited to bring our wounds into the light, not to be shamed or minimized, but to be healed.

Through skilled Christian counseling, individuals can begin to understand how past wounds are affecting current relationships and decisions. They can learn to listen to their bodies, honor their emotions, and find their voice again. They can begin to believe that God desires healing for the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.

If you find yourself stuck in patterns of fear or distress, especially when trying to do what’s right and set healthy boundaries, know that you are not alone. And you are not broken beyond repair. With God’s help and the support of trauma-informed Christian therapy, you can begin the journey toward freedom. You can rewrite the story—not by erasing the past, but by letting God redeem it.

You were made for peace, for wholeness, for love without fear. And healing is possible.

Practical Tools for Recognizing and Healing from Trauma

1. Body Check-Ins

Set a timer once or twice a day to pause and ask:

• What am I feeling physically right now?

• Where do I feel tension or tightness?

• What emotion might be connected to this physical sensation?

2. Boundary Reflection Journal

After a difficult conversation or situation, journal these questions:

• Did I feel free to speak truthfully?

• What was I afraid would happen if I didn’t comply?

• Have I felt this fear before? When?

3. Safe Space Visualization

In prayer, imagine a safe place with Jesus in it. Picture Him looking at you with compassion. Ask Him:

• “Lord, what do You want me to know about this fear?”

• “Where were You in my past pain?”

Let your spirit rest in His presence.

4. Affirmations Rooted in Truth

Write down and repeat affirmations like:

• “I am not alone. God is with me.” (Isaiah 41:10)

• “My voice matters. I am loved, even when I set boundaries.”

• “I am safe to heal. Christ is my refuge.” (Psalm 46:1)

5. Christian Counseling

Seek a trauma-informed Christian therapist who understands the deep integration of faith and emotional healing. You don’t have to navigate this journey alone.

⸻

Scripture-Based Reflection Prompts

Use these verses in your quiet time to guide healing and prayer:

• Psalm 34:18

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

→ Lord, where do I feel brokenhearted today? How can I invite You into that space?

• Isaiah 43:2

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…”

→ Jesus, what waters have I been passing through? Help me feel Your nearness.

• Romans 12:2

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

→ Lord, what patterns am I stuck in that You want to renew? Show me the truth.

• John 10:10

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

→ God, what does fullness of life look like for me as I heal?

⸻

You are not alone, and you are deeply loved. The God who sees every wound also holds the power to heal. In Him, there is safety. In Him, there is rest. In Him, there is transformation.

Blessings, Crystal Ridlon, LPC