Lately, in my counseling studies, we’ve been learning about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)—how childhood trauma can impact a person’s mental, emotional, and even physical health for life.
The research is clear: ACEs don’t just affect emotions—they physically rewire the brain, change how the body handles stress, and even alter the way DNA is expressed. Trauma doesn’t just live in memory; it embeds itself in the body.
As I’ve been processing this, I started thinking through stories in Scripture, looking at Joseph, Daniel, and the three Hebrew children through this lens. These were people who endured major trauma as young men, but Scripture doesn’t really tell us how it affected them internally.
We’re not privy (for various reasons) to the internal dialogue that played out in their minds.
❓ Did Joseph have nightmares about his brothers throwing him into a pit?
❓ Did Daniel ever break down, grieving the home and family he’d never see again?
❓ Did the three young men feel panic rise in their throats as they stood before the fiery furnace?
Scripture doesn’t say. But does that mean they never struggled?
Do people of faith handle trauma by just pushing it down and ignoring it? Or does their story become more incredible because they were impacted in HUGE ways, yet God used them in spite of their struggles?
WHEN THE CHURCH MISUNDERSTANDS ADVERSITY
Because the Bible is often silent about their emotional pain, many assume they didn’t struggle—that their faith shielded them from fear, trauma, or doubt.
This assumption leads to harmful messages like:
🚫 “You just have to trust God like Joseph did!”
🚫 “If Daniel could thrive in Babylon, why can’t you?”
🚫 “Look at how strong Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were—why are you still struggling?”
But here’s the truth:
FAITH IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF STRUGGLE.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are real.
Trauma doesn’t vanish because we believe. The body remembers. The heart aches. The mind wrestles.
The church must stop using the silence of Scripture to silence survivors.
- Just because Joseph’s tears aren’t recorded doesn’t mean he never wept.
- Just because Daniel’s anxiety isn’t mentioned doesn’t mean he never felt it.
A BETTER RESPONSE FROM THE CHURCH
The good news is that we can do better.
💬 Instead of saying, “Just have more faith,”
👉 Say, “Your pain is real, and God meets you in it.”
💬 Instead of saying, “Joseph turned out fine!”
👉 Say, “Let’s talk about how suffering shapes us—and how healing is a journey.”
💬 Instead of implying, “You should be like Daniel,”
👉 Affirm, “You are not alone in your struggle, and God does not expect you to heal overnight.”
GOD WALKS WITH US IN OUR PAIN
Scripture’s silence doesn’t mean suffering wasn’t felt.
And if Jesus Himself wept, sweat blood, and cried out in agony, then surely our struggles matter too.
TO MY FRIENDS WHO FEEL LIKE THEIR PAIN IS MINIMIZED BY PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH:
💛 God does not rush your healing.
💛 You don’t have to “be okay” to be faithful.
💛 You are seen, known, and loved—right where you are.
WANT TO GO DEEPER?
If this post resonated with you, consider:
🔹 Reflecting on how faith and trauma intersect in your life.
🔹 Sharing this with someone who needs to hear it.
🔹 Encouraging conversations in your church about mental health and faith.
Let’s create a church that acknowledges pain rather than dismisses it.
📢 Share your thoughts in the comments! Have you ever felt minimized by the church when dealing with trauma? Let’s talk.
#FaithAndTrauma #HealingTakesTime #BiblicalTrauma #ACEs #ChurchAndMentalHealth #YouAreNotAlone
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