Uncovery: The Power of Community to Heal TraumaSýnishorn

Countless people who have experienced physical, emotional, or psychological trauma find themselves in need of recovery. They didn’t ask for their current disorder, they didn’t want it, and, in many cases, they did nothing to contribute to it. They are operating as a product of it, not the cause of it. We, the church, have failed to recognize this, and we are causing our brothers and sisters to not only stumble but to also straight-up sin because we have more faith in their ability to sin than in God’s ability to heal. If we don’t begin to go deeper into the Uncovery, taking into consideration the whole-life experience, we will be setting up future generations to deal with the same problems we’re facing today.

The scientific community has done a fantastic job of identifying common pathways into addiction. For example, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study shows how childhood trauma plays a role in addiction, mental health problems, and suicide. Generational trauma exists because people have always been unable or unwilling to name what was wrong. Now we know better. The evidence is all around us. And yet, the Christian community stays painfully silent on what the rest of the world might call social justice issues.

We, the church, need to take responsibility for our youth, not only through practical checks and balances systems to keep them safe but also through fervent prayer and advocacy for the well-being of future generations. And when one little lamb goes missing, we mustn’t blame the lamb. We must go after him, risking everything to bring him home again—to a safer flock than the one he left.

Beyond loving and leading our little ones well, we, the church, must be willing to embrace trauma-informed ministry on a much deeper level. Getting free is only half the battle. Knowing what ensnared you in the first place empowers a promised-land life—not only for people who struggle but also for future generations that may never need to struggle if we act now. We won’t walk this out perfectly. But together, we can make a measurable difference in the lives of people currently in recovery and those who could be one day. Perhaps that will be you, your children, your children’s children, or your friend, neighbor, or loved one—each one a beloved child of God who deserves better than the lie of a label.