Last year, I took a pretty bad fall down the stairs in my home. Thankfully, I didn’t break any bones, but my elbow took the brunt of the impact. The doctor’s visit revealed I ruptured the bursa sac surrounding my elbow. He informed me that though it would heal, the wound was significant, and I would need to give it appropriate attention and care.

Most recently, I took another fall. Not down my stairs, but off a hammock I had hung incorrectly. As it turned out, the same injured elbow broke my fall. This time, the fall itself wasn’t bad at all. Because the previous wound had made my elbow more vulnerable, this minor fall caused the pain to resonate again upon impact. I ended up reinjuring the exact same spot.

Just like my elbow, our hearts can carry hidden wounds—especially from places meant to be safe. When someone experiences church hurt or spiritual trauma, we may be invited to be thoughtful companions in their healing.

How can fellow believers support one another well through deep suffering? It starts by recognizing the extent of the burdens being carried within congregations and learning how to help people take those burdens to a loving God even in the midst of their suffering.

On any given Sunday within the walls of your church—amidst the smiles, hugs, Sunday outfits, and the exchange of cordial greetings—the seats are filled with a multitude of stories—some known, and others hidden—of individuals who have experienced deep, emotional trauma.

Regardless of how healthy your church may seem, there are countless people silently grappling with the aftermath of various kinds of trauma. Trauma has become more and more prevalent, requiring the church to become more sensitively attuned to helping those who are struggling.

Though many who go through emotionally traumatic events or circumstances will not develop PTSD, they may still experience distress when recalling what caused their trauma. Others, because of these events, may grapple with a spectrum of emotional and psychological challenges—for example, anxiety, intrusive memories, and difficulties with feeling safe.

There is no doubt that within our congregations a significant percentage of people have faced or are currently facing difficult situations such as abuse, loss, violence, or life-altering illnesses or accidents. While many may not become traumatized, they are indeed carrying heavy emotional burdens.

It is good for the church to learn what it might look like to have a sympathetic investment in understanding these struggles. The Bible calls us to be compassionate and supportive toward one another.

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

If we are to carry one another’s burdens, we must be willing to be open to learning about those burdens. When we do that, we create nurturing spaces where those who have experienced trauma are safe to share their pain and receive care. A trauma-aware church acknowledges the reality that trauma could be a part of people’s stories and seeks to know how to respond with empathy and understanding, and to point individuals to gospel hope and comfort. This is where the path to healing begins.

In addition to recognizing the pain within our pews, we must also reckon with the tragic reality that, in some cases, the church may have been the very cause of the trauma people have encountered.

The Religious Trauma Institute defines this kind of trauma as: “The physical, emotional, or psychological response to religious beliefs, practices, or structures that is experienced by an individual as overwhelming or disruptive and has lasting adverse effects on a person’s physical, mental, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.”

Many refer to this as “church hurt.” This problem is on the rise, and it is a major catalyst for people leaving the church and even the faith altogether. For the church to be a place of respite for the traumatized, we must be willing to acknowledge that church hurt is at times an unfortunate part of people’s story.

That’s why it’s so essential to cultivate a culture of empathy, restoration, and unwavering support that demonstrates humility and displays Christlike love in action.

Adapted from Trauma Aware: A Christian’s Guide to Providing Help and Care by Eliza Huie. Copyright © 2025 by Eliza Huie. Published by Harvest House Publishers. Used with permission.

For deeper reflection, listen to Galatians 6 today.