As we grow, it’s important to identify our adversaries: the people who hurt us when we were children, people who may be hindering our growth now, and the greater invisible enemies such as fear, shame, guilt, and feelings of inadequacy or insecurity.

Please don’t beat yourself up when you experience things like that. You’re human and you’ve shown strength and resilience just by coming this far. Now, acknowledge the emotion that is holding you back; remind yourself that there are reasons why you feel this; then give it to the Lord, over and over, as often as you need to, and praise God from gradually delivering you from this particular enemy.

We often have trauma responses to triggers, reminders of what we experienced as children. This is not unusual and it’s helpful to recognize them. As we grow, though, we also learn that usually the people around us now are not the people who hurt us as children. So let’s ask God for help to remember that most people are not enemies. We don’t want to hurt others in any way; we want to walk in grace and mercy and wisdom, knowing whom to trust and whom to keep at arm’s length, but seeking to do no harm.

Photo by Christopher Stites on Unsplash