53. When the Church Hurts You: Finding Healing and Hope in God

Send us your thoughts through Fan Mail Have you been hurt by a church, pastor, or Christian leader — and now find yourself struggling to trust again? In this episode of Healthy & Redeemed, we talk honestly and compassionately about church hurt, spiritual abuse, and religious trauma — and how these experiences can quietly shape your faith, identity, and emotional health. Drawing from Scripture and research, you’ll be reminded that while human shepherds may fail, our Good Shepherd never does. God sees your pain, cares deeply about your healing, and promises to bind up the broken and strengthen the weak. Whether your hurt is fresh or long past, this episode is for every heart that still longs for God — even after being wounded by His people. NOTE: Depending on the impact of the trauma in your life and current coping skills, it can be wise to have a trained therapist walk with you through your healing. Oftentimes, our identity can also get wrapped up in the trauma, and to get that untangled, it is best to have someone who is licensed and qualified to help with that. If you need help finding someone in your area, please don't hesitate to contact me through my website. Spiritual Abuse Example: The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Podcast Previous Episodes: Healthy Thoughts: Episodes 14, 15, and 16 Forgiveness: Episode 19 Healthy Coping Skills: Episodes 6, 7, 8, 9 and 39-47 Research cited in Episode: Spiritual Abuse Religious/Church Trauma Church Hurt Support the show ______________________________ Learn more about becoming a Christian: How to Know Jesus: An Invitation into God's Story (Podcast Episode) How to Be Saved (Resources on my Website) ________________________________ Get Healey's Books: Changing Your Feelings - A Workbook for Anxiety and Worry The Red Ball, A Story of Friendship and Forgiveness The Companion Activity Book for The Red Ball The Worried Little Goat _______________________________ For free Mental Health Resources: Create an account on my website for unlimited resource access! *This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. I approach scripture through the lens of a Christian licensed counselor, combining biblical insight with clinical understanding of emotional health. It does not constitute professional advice or is intended to diagnose/treat any disorders and does not constitute a client-therapist relationship. *Any links to specific resources or content (outside of my own) are not an endorsement of the entire websi...