Daniel L. Sonnenberg

This series is titled, “Helping People Who Are Hurting: A 13-Part Series on Mental Health Care in the Church”

Many people in the church carry hidden pain: anxiety that keeps them awake, depression that makes every day feel heavy, or trauma that flares up in quiet moments. For some, that pain comes from abuse—physical, sexual, emotional, or spiritual—that happened in their family, in their community, or even in a church setting.

When someone has been traumatized, they may:

• Feel unsafe in their own body.
• Struggle with trust.
• Stumble over certain words, images, or situations.
• Feel like they must hide their pain because they fear judgment or being told to “just forgive and move on.”

This article is part of a series designed to help pastors, leaders, and members learn how to care well for people who are suffering—to think biblically, speak carefully, and act wisely. The aim is not to turn the church into a clinic, but to make our church a safer, wiser, and more compassionate place for people who are weary, anxious, or depressed, and for the people who love them.

Trauma Leaves Deep Wounds

Trauma and abuse leave deep wounds. They can affect how a person thinks, feels, remembers, and relates to others. Trauma can be:

• Physical (hitting, shaking, restraining)
• Sexual (any form of sexual violation or coercion)
• Emotional ( belittling, shaming, controlling)
• Spiritual (using God, Scripture, or church authority to harm or control)

These wounds do not disappear quickly. They need time, safety, and care.

People who have been traumatized often feel like they must perform faith perfectly. They may think:

• “If I prayed more, I’d be better.”
• “If I had more faith, I wouldn’t feel this way.”
• “If I’m not serving well, I’m not a real Christian.”

But their struggle is not a sign of weak faith. It is a sign that they have been hurt.

Pastoral Care for Trauma Includes Presence Over Performance

Pastoral care for trauma includes:

• Presence over performance.
  We do not ask them to “do better.” We stay with them.
• Patience over pressure.
  We do not rush them to “get better.” We walk with them over time.
• Listening over correcting.
  We do not correct them quickly. We listen first.
• Safety over speed.
  We do not push them to face things too quickly. We help them feel safe.

We do not rush them to forgive before they are ready. We do not tell them to “just trust God more.” We help them find safety, hope, and healing at their own pace.

The Church Should Be a Safe Place, Not a Dangerous One

For some people, the church has been a place of harm. They may have been:

• Judged for their pain.
• Shamed for their struggles.
• Told their abuse was “their fault.”
• Pressured to “forgive and forget” without safety.
• Used or controlled by someone in authority.

When the church has been a place of harm, it is not surprising that people feel unsafe coming back.

We need to make our church a safe place, not a dangerous one. We need to:

• Listen without judgment.
• Speak gently and honestly.
• Avoid quick fixes like “just trust God more.”
• Create space for people to share their pain without fear.
• Protect people from further harm.

If someone has been abused, the church should not be the place where they are told to stay unsafe. The church should be the place where they are protected, supported, and helped to find safety.

Professional Help Is Part of God’s Care

Trauma often needs more than pastoral support. It may need trauma therapy, counseling, medical care, or other forms of treatment. The church should not be embarrassed to encourage people to seek professional help.

Pastors and leaders should know when to refer people to mental health professionals and where to refer them when the need arises. That is not a sign that the church has failed. It is a sign that we understand our limits and want people to receive the kind of care that truly helps.

Professional care is not a failure of faith. It is part of God’s care.

A Closing Invitation

We invite our church to learn how to carry each other’s burdens, especially the heavy ones that don’t go away quickly.

As you read this, think not just about trauma and abuse as concepts, but about the people in our church. Who has been hurt? Who feels unsafe? Who needs someone to stay present, listen gently, and help them find safety?

We invite you to:

• Listen without judgment.
• Speak gently and honestly.
• Avoid quick fixes like “just trust God more.”
• Create space for people to share their pain without fear.
• Protect people from further harm.
• Encourage professional help when needed.

When we do this, we show people that they are not alone, that their struggle is not a moral failure, and that they belong in the church.

All Articles in “Helping People Who Are Hurting: A 13-Part Series on Mental Health Care in the Church”

• Part 1. When People Feel Ashamed About Their Mental Struggles: Creating a Safe Place in the Church
• Part 2. When Faith and Struggle Meet: How Christian Faith Can Help People Who Are Suffering Inside
• Part 3. Why Hidden Pain Matters in the Church: Learning to Care for People Bearing Heavy Burdens
• Part 4. Caring Well: The Difference Between Pastoral Care and Clinical Care
• Part 5. When a Church Faces a Mental Health Crisis: Staying Calm, Staying Present, and Helping the Person Who Is in Danger
• Part 6. When Someone Talks About Suicide, We Must Respond with Care, Not Judgment 
• Part 7. Responding to Psychosis with Clarity and Compassion: Staying Present When Someone Is in Crisis
• Part 8. Responding to Trauma and Abuse with Presence and Care
• Part 9. When Addiction and Mental Struggle Meet: Helping Our Church Care for the Person, Not Just the Problem
• Part 10. A Church Policy That Makes Compassion Easier to Practice
• Part 11. Supporting Family Caregivers: Caring for the Ones Who Hold Everything Together
• Part 12. Neurodivergence in the Church: Welcoming People Who Are Wired Differently
• Part 13. Strength for the Weary: How the Word and Prayer Help Us Carry the Load

Further reading on this topic

• Trauma-Informed Approaches and Programs – SAMHSA
• Interagency Task Force on Trauma-Informed Care – SAMHSA
• Coping With Traumatic Events – NIMH
• Traumatic Events and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – NIMH
• How to Talk to Community and Faith Leaders About Mental Health – SAMHSA

Categories: Articles, Mental Health in the Church

Tags: Mental health, Mental Health in the Church