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Encourage Someone Else By Sharing!

I’m going to be honest. I was not sure that this was a topic that I wanted to tackle.  It’s much easier to talk about faith and a love for Jesus.  Those topics tend to feel good.  

Topics like how to deal with Childhood Trauma are hard.  They are the ones that get swept under the rug, even though numerous people experience it in one form or another.  

There are countless persons that, while they were still children before they experienced anything in this life, they experienced childhood trauma.  Trauma that affected their outlook of people, stole their innocence, and contaminated trust in those that were supposed to protect them.    

This includes abuse physically, mentally, and even sexually.  I was also a victim of childhood trauma.  While I thought, “It’s fine, I’m over it,” looking back, I can also see how childhood trauma affected me straight into adulthood.  

I am not an expert on how to deal with childhood trauma. Still there are a few things that I sincerely want you to know.

It Was Not Your Fault

It is so tempting to feel like somehow there was something you could have done differently. Thoughts like:

  • If I had spoken up sooner. 
  • Maybe If I were a little quieter.
  • If I did not go to that particular place.  

When I experienced my own personal trauma, I blamed myself for years. Self-blame is common in victims of childhood trauma. 

As an adult, I confided in a family member about my trauma. As usual, I began my self-blame rant. The response was stern.  He said, “You were a CHILD!  Do you understand that?”  

You see, I was reliving that experience from the perspective of an adult. I was not looking through the lens of the child that I was. 

I don’t know when your trauma occurred.  Three years old, five years old, or eight years old.  Whenever it occurred, I want you to think of another person that is the same age. 

 If you heard about your story happening to them, would you blame them? 

 Of course not.  Release yourself from condemnation now.  Do not carry this burden one more day.  

It was not your fault.  You were just a CHILD!

God is the Ultimate Judge

I did not get justice.  Nothing came out of the situation.  No one went to jail.  It happened to me, and that was it.  

There are so many like myself that never see justice.  As a matter of fact, in some cases, it is completely covered up.  Some victims have to live and be around those that inflicted the trauma.  

I had to learn that there situation in life that we have to just leave in the hands of God.  You may not have seen justice in the way that you wanted, but that does not change the fact that God is the Ultimate Judge.  

Being the Ultimate Judge means that no one will get away from God, and one day, that person will face judgment for what was done in this life. In other words, God will have the final say.

You are not Broken Beyond Repair

The residue of abuse frequently leads to brokenness in many areas.  Trouble forgiving, Trouble trusting, Cycles of dysfunction, are just a few.  The longer you find yourself in these cycles, the easier it is to feel like you are irreparable. 

I want you to know that this is a lie designed to keep you from truly healing.  You are not broken beyond repair.  God can and is readily waiting to heal you.  

Think of it this way.  God created you from absolutely nothing. He can certainly take you and make you brand new again.  I’m not saying that this healing is overnight, but over time God can definitely restore you.

Some practical steps you can take to initiate this healing is

  • Accepting God into your life as your Savior
  • Getting closer to God in conversation & prayer
  • Asking God to give you His perspective
  • Talking to a trained professional like a counselor/therapist.

While this blog is not one that I would typically post, I felt like someone needed help with how to deal with childhood trauma. Know this!   

You are loved totally by God.

I am sending you lots and lots of virtual hugs.

As always,

Be Strong, Be Courageous, Serve God Wholeheartedly.

Gilberta Thompson