Stretched thin

Sister, your heart has been carrying a lot — and it’s starting to show.

You may feel emotionally exhausted, easily triggered, or like forgiveness has been complicated and heavy. Sometimes it’s not even the memory that hurts most… it’s the fact that you’ve had to stay strong for too long, explain too much, or survive things that were never meant to be normalized.

This category isn’t a diagnosis — it’s a gentle reminder that your soul needs care, not criticism.

God sees the weight you’ve been holding, and He’s not disappointed in you for still needing healing. You don’t have to rush your recovery or force yourself to “be okay.” With the right support and truth, what feels overwhelming right now can become lighter.

How trauma affects you

When wounds come from close relationships—especially repeatedly—your heart and nervous system learn to stay alert just to survive.

Emotional abuse and narcissistic injuries and make forgiveness feel complicated, unsafe, or even impossible at times.

This is not a failure of faith. That's a protective response.

It’s the result of having to protect yourself for a long time and often affects your ability to forgive. 

You might find yourself thinking: 

• “I want to forgive, but something inside me resists.”
• “I’ve forgiven before, but the pain keeps resurfacing.”
• “Forgiveness feels like it might cost me my safety.”
• “I feel guilty for still feeling angry or guarded.”

What Doesn’t Help When trust and safety are deeply disrupted:

• Forcing forgiveness before safety is restored
• Being spiritually pressured to “move on”
• Minimizing or reframing what happened too quickly
• Confusing forgiveness with reconciliation or continued access

God never asks you to sacrifice truth or safety to prove forgiveness.

What Does Help:

• Understanding forgiveness as a process, not a one-time decision
• Separating forgiveness from trust and reconciliation
• Learning boundaries that protect healing
• Receiving biblical teaching that restores dignity instead of guilt

My friend, betrayal, abuse, addiction and neglect are never in God’s plan for you and I believe that you found me on YouVersion for a reason that goes beyond the 7-days we've spend together through the plan. 

I have so much more I’d love to share with you—insights that can help you strengthen your soul health and experience healthier relationships.

For over a decade, I’ve walked my own journey of healing after deep relational trauma. For a long time, bitterness and grief stole my joy and left me emotionally stuck—doing my best to survive, but not truly free.

Everything began to change when I realized something important:

I couldn’t change what had happened to me—but I could change how I responded to it.

In some of my darkest moments, God met me with hope. Not through denial. Not through pressure. But through a deeper understanding of forgiveness—what it is, and what it is not.

What once felt like a curse slowly became part of my calling.

Through my own healing, I came to see this truth clearly—and I want you to know it too:

Healing a soul wound isn’t about fixing yourself.It’s about learning new patterns in safe community, grounded in biblical truth and supported by practical tools.

If you’d like support as you heal, I would truly love to walk with you.

Best U is my monthly community for women healing from toxic and controlling relationships—where we talk honestly about boundaries, forgiveness, soul wounds, and rebuilding confidence with biblical wisdom and compassion.

I want to see your heart set free. That's why I'm extending a very special offer for you to join.

$7 your first month — cancel anytime

Best U is all about freedom

Your Best U membership includes:

• monthly coaching calls
• over 125 on demand videos
• self-paced curriculum
• a community of women who care and understand
  
  

When you embrace freedom, the past loses its power!