Support for Healing

A personal story of faith, confusion, and healing—how one moment had later impact, but how my Savior, Jesus Christ brought understanding and peace.

A personal story about navigating difficult experiences in faith settings with my Savior—while reclaiming agency and finding greater faith, belonging, and understanding.

A personal story about navigating difficult experiences in faith settings with my Savior—while reclaiming agency and experiencing greater faith, belonging, and understanding.

After decades of trying to understand my experiences with faith-based coercion—and later, the term spiritual abuse—I found a faith-affirming path to clarity and healing. Art by Sabrina Paredes I write from lived experience, more than twenty years of serving as a church youth leader, and ongoing learning about evidence-based safeguarding that names harm without undermining faith. I know many wrestle with this question: If painful experiences in faith-based relationships are re

A faith-affirming look at anxiety at church—what it might mean, what it doesn’t, and how healing with Jesus Christ can begin.

I thought I was taking my fears to God, but something was missing because I often felt more anxious after praying. If you’ve ever felt worse after praying, it doesn’t mean you lack faith. Many people quietly wrestle with that same question — especially when prayer is supposed to bring peace. Still, it can feel terrible to admit. Especially considering this verse: God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). If that

Conflict in faith-based relationships can feel especially awkward (or even painful). Reaching out to resolve a misunderstanding can bring healing, but without care, it can make things worse. Ideas for Resolution When a Faith-Centered Relationship Feels Strained Helpful: Ask ahead of time: “Can we talk? I have a concern.” Choose a calm time and place, and approach the conversation with steady words and open body language. Not helpful ↓ Springing an emotionally charged conversa