Prayer for those who have experienced religious trauma
holy father,
Thank you for being with us despite the most difficult and painful situations. Lord, I lift up those who have experienced pain and trauma at the hands of others. For those who have fallen into these conditions while following false gods, I pray that You would bring them salvation through people, through the media, or in other ways. We ask that You heal them and bring them true salvation and an eternal relationship with You.
For my brothers and sisters in Christ who are being abused within the church or by other Christians, I ask that they may find forgiveness and peace. I pray that You would heal their wounds and make them whole again. We ask that you restore your faith to other Christians and do not let their sins turn them away from you. Lord, please help those who have experienced abuse and religious trauma. It’s something only you can do.
In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.
As brothers and sisters in the family of God, it is important that we always treat each other with the love of Jesus and strive to avoid hurting each other. When people inflict pain on each other, and will continue to do so, the church needs to be respectful and needs to be a place where people can heal. Patience and love are important. God wants to heal them and is reaching out His hand to do so.
“[The Lord] Heal the brokenhearted and heal their wounds.”Psalm 147:3).
source of information
Demuth, Mary. How can we, as a church, respond redemptively to the crisis of sexual abuse? Eugene: Harvest House Publishers, 2019.
Gingrich, Heather, Fred. Trauma treatment in Christian counseling. Westmont: InterVarsity Press, 2017.
Hambrick, Brad et al. Become a church that values those who have been abused. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2019.
Slade, Darren M., Adriana Smell, Elizabeth Wilson, and Rebecca Drumsta. “Percentage of U.S. Adults Suffering Religious Trauma: A Sociological Study.” A socio-historical review of religion and service 5, no. 1 (2023): 1–28.
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