You Can Love God and Still Be Done With Church (For Now)

If worship music makes your chest tight, if opening your Bible brings more dread than comfort, if you still believe in God but can't bring yourself to darken the door of a church — this episode is for you.Church hurt is real, and it runs deep. It's not a crisis of faith. It's a wound — and like any wound, it makes sense that your body and soul have learned to protect themselves.In this episode, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook walks through what's actually happening when church, Scripture, or spiritual practices feel threatening, and offers gentle, trauma-informed tools for the long road back to God — on your terms, at your pace.You'll hear about:Why pulling away from church after being hurt isn't spiritual failure — it's your nervous system doing its jobHow to untangle God from the institution that harmed youWhat healthy grief and anger actually look like in the spiritual lifePractical re-entry points for Scripture when your Bible feels loaded (including a surprisingly powerful tool: a children's Bible)How to know when — and how — to consider trusting a church community againWhether you were spiritually manipulated, quietly burned out, or had theology used as a weapon against you, Tabitha brings both clinical expertise and personal experience to this conversation. No toxic positivity, no pressure to "just forgive and move on." Just honest, compassionate tools for healing."He is not mad at you because you're struggling with this. He looks at you with love."Resources mentioned:The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones - https://amzn.to/4nLUPTVThe Promises of God Bible by Jennifer Lyell - https://amzn.to/4fAroC7The Message (Bible translation) - https://amzn.to/4dEeeBsRestored Group Interest List — https://link.therasaas.com/widget/form/plMw2lwgpYZuDX5TXSpsTransformational Topics Community — https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/upcoming-events-groups/trauma-healing-support-online/Is My Church a Safe or High-Control Space? (Church Health Quiz) — https://tabitha.wispform.com/75ac488dWanna say hi? Send a text!  This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information!📖 Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive ControlWanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi📩 Connect with Tabitha & The Journey and The Process:💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.comSubscribe to our YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.Need to know how to find a great therapist? Read this blog post here.