Redeemed: Discovering Identity After Trauma

by Rebecca Kolenda

You don’t have to carry the weight of your past forever.

Do you feel trapped by past trauma, perfectionism, or constant anxiety? Have you wondered if the pain you've experienced has stripped you of your purpose? It’s time to break free from these burdens and reclaim your true identity—rooted in grace, not fear.

In Redeemed, Rebecca Kolenda shares her personal journey of healing from trauma, letting go of perfectionism, and finding peace amidst anxiety. Through practical insights and biblical wisdom, Rebecca reveals her strategy to break free from the lies that held her back and discover who she truly is in Christ.

Follow Rebecca’s journey as she learns Heal from trauma: Release the emotional weight of the past and move forward with hope.Let go of perfectionism: Find peace in imperfection and embrace God’s unconditional love.Overcome anxiety and fear: Surrender to God and cultivate lasting peace through faith.Restore broken relationships: Navigate family conflicts with grace, set healthy boundaries, and allow forgiveness to lead to healing.Reclaim self-worth: Break free from the need for external validation and embrace true value as defined by God’s love.You are more than your past, more than your mistakes, and more than the perfection you’ve sought. Let Redeemed inspire you toward living lighter, freer, and more fully in the identity you were always meant to walk in.

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 19, 2024

Reviews

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Redeemed by Rebecca Kolenda

Redeemed is a beautifully written memoir that tells the story of Rebecca, and her journey of self discovery. Throughout the memoir, excerpts from
her diary are used which helps us live through many of her emotions and how they shaped her self view through the years.

Rebecca shares her childhood with us and how some of that trauma continued to affect her even into adulthood , yet shows us how she worked through it and kept her faith strong.

This is a story of faith , love, and perseverance and showed me what is possible when you remain true to yourself.

This is a must read! Through Rebecca’s courage and journey of reflection and growth I learned that we are all worthy of lifting the heavy burden of chronic anxiety and always striving for perfectionism. Her story gave me hope and inspired me to strive to be free from the burden of other people’s expectations.

I also found the portion that touched on the pandemic interesting as it’s something we all lived through but haven’t necessarily seen other people’s perspective.

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids growing up in Christian homes often feel out of place when creating a testimony...even the most imperfect and difficult parts of our lives seem inconsequential compared to some of the transformations we see in other Christians lives. Rebecca's story in Redeemed will give your heart permission to grieve the bumps in your own road even if they don't exactly match up with hers. It will give you hope for your own inner transformation, and encourage you not to settle for whatever disconnect between you and God you have gotten used to/considered safe within Christian circles. All this because of the reminder that God never stops pursuing us and wants to redeem every hurt we have ever had and turn it into glory.

Jesus doesn't expect us to give up our fears and doubts when we are with him...He expects us to sit down with Him and work through them with the lense of His Love.

[Leanne Pribble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fell into the right hands

Found this browsing book titles. When I selected it, I didn’t know how close to home this was to my own story and healing process. Glad Rebecca put her heart out there to be honest in her reflection of her life. Very functional people can let the trauma they face affect them mentally and physically, and this can be confusing to those on the outside. They don’t understand why you seem like you can do it all, then fall apart when under stress. Rebecca points people to the One who knows and can bring healing. I am sure others will find their story is similar as well.

[Ashley Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her memoir, Rebecca lays out her raw emotion and bares her soul, even including exact excerpts from past journal entries and details about the trauma she’s experienced in life. Even though I haven’t experienced the exact same trauma she has, I was able to relate to so much of her story. And my favorite part- it’s full of redemption and God’s goodness even in the midst of the pain! Also- she’s a great writer! Her life story was very intriguing and written beautifully!

[Sarah Vickers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing! Everyone goes through some type of trauma in their life and to experience others through writing is so validating to your own personal struggles and growth.

[Cynthia Bixby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautifully written memoir. Her journey was so relatable, and it was wonderful to see God's hand on her life through it all.

[Rich O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for sharing your story Rebecca!
It is a blessing to hear that a young thirty-something has come to appreciate her In-Christ Identity!

[Tiffany Stroud · Rating 4 out of 5]

To me, this book is about searching for your identity. It’s about having everything you attach yourself to striped away. Rebecca did a great job sharing her vulnerabilities through her story from her childhood to her career choices. There were so many fantastic quotes about forgiveness. The last two chapters were my favorite. I could really feel how lost she was, and I resonated with her when she was at her lowest. I love the way she shared how God revealed that her identity is not in her family or career or volunteer choices but in the God who created her. Redeemed reminds us that we can wrap ourselves up in all the wrong things, even if they are good things. Because if we aren’t wrapped up in God, we will still find ourselves lost and empty.

[Stephen Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Redeemed is relatable, witty, and authentic - a beautiful melting pot of the triumphs and scars of Rebecca's life. Practical application of God's Word retrospectively highlights her clear (but windy) path to finding core identity. This book is highly recommended for anyone who has struggled to fight through anxiety or perfectionism and find meaning in a life peppered with trauma (of any kind).

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca’s story is relatable for anyone who has struggled with anxiety, perfectionism, family dysfunction, or finding identify. I found myself relating to her story and reflecting on my own life’s story as I read. Through her thoughtfully-written memoir, she unpacks the highs and lows of her life and how the trauma of her childhood impacted who she became as an adult. Her words are beautiful and engaging, peppered with scripture and her own journals to substantiate her thoughts. This memoir is a testimony of God’s faithfulness through trials and what it looks like to find rest in Him.