On this episode of This vs. That, we sit down with Darby Strickland, faculty member and counselor at CCEF, to discuss understanding trauma versus simplistic responses to trauma. We explore what trauma really is and how it impacts people—disrupting their sense of self, safety, and ability to connect with others and the Lord.

Darby helps us recognize common simplistic responses that can unintentionally harm trauma survivors, like suggesting time will heal the wound, questioning someone's faith when they continue to struggle, or doubting their story when details emerge in a fragmented way. We discuss why people respond to the same events differently and how the label of "trauma" matters less than the pain someone is experiencing and their need for healing.

We also talk about how to love friends who are suffering from trauma—emphasizing a ministry of presence over having the right words, not taking things personally, and being willing to remain with someone even when it's difficult. Throughout our conversation, Darby reminds us that God's care isn't measured by how we categorize our pain, and that He meets us in our subjective experiences just as the Psalms model for us.

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Hendrik Noten

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