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When It's Trauma: A Biblical Guide to Understanding Trauma and Walking Faithfully with Sufferers
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 17, 2025
As a counselor, and as someone subjected to trauma growing up, this book brought light and life in so many areas of my life.
January 18, 2026
This book is not only a phenomenal primer on trauma and its effects, but provides an accessible, galvanizing foundation for the lay person seeking to walk faithfully and compassionately alongside sufferers.
January 26, 2026
Compassionate, Biblical, practical, and jam-packed full of additional resources and readings. I cannot recommend this book enough. Whether you are a counselor, pastor, friend to a trauma survivor or a survivor yourself, there is something in this book for you. As a clinician beginning to transition into faith-based counseling, the Biblical references and trauma-framing of interacting with the Word was deeply edifying and invaluable. Incredibly grateful for this book.
December 2, 2025
A sensitive and biblically faithful guide on walking wisely and compassionately with those who have experienced trauma.
February 3, 2026
The author of this book displayed Christlike compassion in dealing with the deep, profound issues of trauma. We are intertwined , body and soul, and this book spells out in depth what that means for us. When It’s Trauma is an equipping book for anyone looking to learn more on the harsh effects of trauma and how to help those who have survived it.
March 2, 2026
I loved this book. However, it was hard to read as a victim of trauma (as my son had trauma) and to see myself described in it and in need of so much help. I would love to have someone, besides my Christian counselor that I pay, to care about me in these ways…I think it is rare because people struggle to make time in their busy lives for other people. But I hope I can do this for others.
These quotes stood out…
“Healing is not about suppressing trauma, but about bringing it into the presence of a God who listens, remembers and redeems.”
“Our role as helpers is not to force premature hope or spiritual growth on people, but to walk patiently with them as they learn to trust again. As we walk alongside the broken, even as they wrestle, we can rest because we know God is at work. We can confidently believe that He is not just passively observing them, but actively leading redemption through their pain. This does not mean that suffering is good, nor does it minimize trauma. But it does mean that in God’s hands, suffering is never wasted.”
“Don’t push them to feel things they don’t. Instead, invite them to engage in quiet worship through Psalms of lament – not just praise Psalms. And encourage them to adopt practices of stillness that don’t ask them to “do” anything other than to be in God’s presence. Above all, remind them that a return of their joy is not something they must manufacture. It is something God restores…not all at once, but over time. And when they can’t believe that joy is possible, walk beside them in the meantime. Reassure them that God’s love is not waiting for them on the other side of their healing, it’s carrying them through it. One day they will worship with full hearts again. One day they will say with the Psalmist – You are my exceeding joy. Until that day, your faithful presence whispers this truth into their silence – this is not the end of your story.”
“Encourage them to talk about their faith and their perception of the Lord. Your questions should be non-judgmental and open-ended…creating opportunities for conversations about a victim’s relationship with the Lord. Introduce the following questions gradually…and resist the temptation to correct any incorrect beliefs right away. Going into “teacher mode” may cause them further guilt or shut them down…
1. How has your suffering impacted your ability to pray?
2. Have you felt the Lord’s presence as you have walked through this valley? If so, what has that been like for you?
3. Are you able to talk to the Lord about your anguish? What is that like?
4. Since the event, what has being in church been like for you?
5. How has your church community responded to your suffering?
6. Has your suffering caused you to question God’s care for you?
7. Where do you see yourself struggling?
8. How has suffering changed your relationship with God?
9. Have any passages of Scripture brought you comfort?
10. Do any of them feel harder to understand that they were before your suffering began?
11. Many sufferers wonder whether what happened to them was their fault, or if it was a punishment for something they’ve done. Have you experience any similar thoughts?
12. Do you find yourself being critical of your faith as you suffer? If so, in what ways?
13. Have you ever wondered whether you are worthy of God’s help or comfort?
14. In this season, where do you struggle to see the Lord’s faithfulness?
15. Is anyone caring for you well? Why do you feel this way?”
“Help a victim learn what their hypervigilance is about. They may already know they are being self-protective, but naming the specific fears and assumptions that drive their self-protection can help them see patterns. For example, do they assume most people will lie to them? That closeness will always end in betrayal? That conflict always means abandonment? These are the kinds of themes to look for.”
“She had to talk back to her fear... Expect a trauma victim to make many interpretations regarding your relationship with them. Invite them to ask you questions about yourself. Was there anything we talked about last time or something I said that stuck out to you or that you had questions about? It elicits clarifying communication as I learn about how they have interpreted our conversations. Please remain humble during these exchanges. Victims of trauma do not need you to defend yourself to them. They need you to recognize how fearful they are.”
These quotes stood out…
“Healing is not about suppressing trauma, but about bringing it into the presence of a God who listens, remembers and redeems.”
“Our role as helpers is not to force premature hope or spiritual growth on people, but to walk patiently with them as they learn to trust again. As we walk alongside the broken, even as they wrestle, we can rest because we know God is at work. We can confidently believe that He is not just passively observing them, but actively leading redemption through their pain. This does not mean that suffering is good, nor does it minimize trauma. But it does mean that in God’s hands, suffering is never wasted.”
“Don’t push them to feel things they don’t. Instead, invite them to engage in quiet worship through Psalms of lament – not just praise Psalms. And encourage them to adopt practices of stillness that don’t ask them to “do” anything other than to be in God’s presence. Above all, remind them that a return of their joy is not something they must manufacture. It is something God restores…not all at once, but over time. And when they can’t believe that joy is possible, walk beside them in the meantime. Reassure them that God’s love is not waiting for them on the other side of their healing, it’s carrying them through it. One day they will worship with full hearts again. One day they will say with the Psalmist – You are my exceeding joy. Until that day, your faithful presence whispers this truth into their silence – this is not the end of your story.”
“Encourage them to talk about their faith and their perception of the Lord. Your questions should be non-judgmental and open-ended…creating opportunities for conversations about a victim’s relationship with the Lord. Introduce the following questions gradually…and resist the temptation to correct any incorrect beliefs right away. Going into “teacher mode” may cause them further guilt or shut them down…
1. How has your suffering impacted your ability to pray?
2. Have you felt the Lord’s presence as you have walked through this valley? If so, what has that been like for you?
3. Are you able to talk to the Lord about your anguish? What is that like?
4. Since the event, what has being in church been like for you?
5. How has your church community responded to your suffering?
6. Has your suffering caused you to question God’s care for you?
7. Where do you see yourself struggling?
8. How has suffering changed your relationship with God?
9. Have any passages of Scripture brought you comfort?
10. Do any of them feel harder to understand that they were before your suffering began?
11. Many sufferers wonder whether what happened to them was their fault, or if it was a punishment for something they’ve done. Have you experience any similar thoughts?
12. Do you find yourself being critical of your faith as you suffer? If so, in what ways?
13. Have you ever wondered whether you are worthy of God’s help or comfort?
14. In this season, where do you struggle to see the Lord’s faithfulness?
15. Is anyone caring for you well? Why do you feel this way?”
“Help a victim learn what their hypervigilance is about. They may already know they are being self-protective, but naming the specific fears and assumptions that drive their self-protection can help them see patterns. For example, do they assume most people will lie to them? That closeness will always end in betrayal? That conflict always means abandonment? These are the kinds of themes to look for.”
“She had to talk back to her fear... Expect a trauma victim to make many interpretations regarding your relationship with them. Invite them to ask you questions about yourself. Was there anything we talked about last time or something I said that stuck out to you or that you had questions about? It elicits clarifying communication as I learn about how they have interpreted our conversations. Please remain humble during these exchanges. Victims of trauma do not need you to defend yourself to them. They need you to recognize how fearful they are.”
January 1, 2026
This is an excellent and insightful book. Theologically perceptive while remaining utterly practical, Strickland provides invaluable guidance for those who have experienced deep pain and for those who want to help them in Jesus' name. Highly recommended.
February 14, 2026
It's difficult to review a book like this critically because, by its very nature, the circumstances and situations that get labelled "trauma" are some of the most vulnerable and painful in all human experience. My disagreements below do not represent an attempt to minimize pain, suffering, and evil wherever it is found. Furthermore, there are some good elements in the book. Strickland is an excellent writer and there are beautiful, touching passages of care for hurting people. Scripture is woven throughout (though not always faithfully; more on that below), but in many cases in helpful ways. I found the final chapter on union with Christ to be the strongest throughout.
That said: I think there are systemic, fatal flaws to this book. Without ever using the term, it is in essence an integrationist model for counseling: insights from the secular trauma literature are "integrated" with biblical texts. There are a few places where Strickland speaks to the superiority of Scripture, but this doesn't function as the driving imperative of the book. The entirety of Part 2, "Wounds of Trauma" (physical anguish, shame, faith questions, relational hyper vigilance, reexperienced trauma, avoidance) is shaped by trauma literature. Her introduction to this section tries to root each of these in Job's experience, but it appears that she is reading the categories into the text rather than deriving them from Job. (As an illustration of the difference: yes, things like those categories show up in Job - but so too does a rebuke by God for Job's questioning of God's judgment and a massive biblical-theology of the role of Satan and spiritual evil in a sufferer's life. These are absent from Strickland's reading of Job and show up nowhere in the rest of the book. The lens of "trauma insight" masks certain features of the biblical text and reinterprets those that it "reveals.")
In the end, my fundamental problem with the book can be summarized by turning the title into a question: when is it trauma? The first chapter, and subsequent exposition, want to have trauma be both ubiquitous and a special case, something unique. At times, it is a matter of severity; but at other times, the presence of "trauma" can't be measured by how a person appears to be responding. In places, "suffering" and "trauma" are interchangeable terms - in others, trauma appears to be a specialized subset of suffering. But clarity of definition is never provided, and instead the reader is given emotional and subjective language about pain and wounds. Again: that is not to say that suffering and pain aren't real! But I would love to see a Christian book on trauma (or even a secular book, for that matter) begin with a clear statement: "here are all the things that are not trauma, even if someone wants to call themselves traumatized." The absence of such statements is telling. "Trauma" is now our lingua franca for all suffering or painful experiences, and as such it risks being completely self-defined. That's a slippery slope. The Bible, and counselors and Christians in love with its riches, have far more meaningful counsel to offer.
That said: I think there are systemic, fatal flaws to this book. Without ever using the term, it is in essence an integrationist model for counseling: insights from the secular trauma literature are "integrated" with biblical texts. There are a few places where Strickland speaks to the superiority of Scripture, but this doesn't function as the driving imperative of the book. The entirety of Part 2, "Wounds of Trauma" (physical anguish, shame, faith questions, relational hyper vigilance, reexperienced trauma, avoidance) is shaped by trauma literature. Her introduction to this section tries to root each of these in Job's experience, but it appears that she is reading the categories into the text rather than deriving them from Job. (As an illustration of the difference: yes, things like those categories show up in Job - but so too does a rebuke by God for Job's questioning of God's judgment and a massive biblical-theology of the role of Satan and spiritual evil in a sufferer's life. These are absent from Strickland's reading of Job and show up nowhere in the rest of the book. The lens of "trauma insight" masks certain features of the biblical text and reinterprets those that it "reveals.")
In the end, my fundamental problem with the book can be summarized by turning the title into a question: when is it trauma? The first chapter, and subsequent exposition, want to have trauma be both ubiquitous and a special case, something unique. At times, it is a matter of severity; but at other times, the presence of "trauma" can't be measured by how a person appears to be responding. In places, "suffering" and "trauma" are interchangeable terms - in others, trauma appears to be a specialized subset of suffering. But clarity of definition is never provided, and instead the reader is given emotional and subjective language about pain and wounds. Again: that is not to say that suffering and pain aren't real! But I would love to see a Christian book on trauma (or even a secular book, for that matter) begin with a clear statement: "here are all the things that are not trauma, even if someone wants to call themselves traumatized." The absence of such statements is telling. "Trauma" is now our lingua franca for all suffering or painful experiences, and as such it risks being completely self-defined. That's a slippery slope. The Bible, and counselors and Christians in love with its riches, have far more meaningful counsel to offer.
November 13, 2025
This book is an essential resource for anyone seeking to walk alongside trauma sufferers with compassion and understanding. It is one of the most accessible, comprehensive, and hopeful books on trauma I have read, offering a wonderful blend of scriptural insights and practical guidance.
I loved the way Darby explores how trauma is portrayed throughout Scripture, providing readers with a biblical perspective that illuminates God's response to pain and suffering. This book offers practical strategies for caring for those impacted by trauma, whether you are a counselor, a church leader, or a friend of a sufferer.
With years of counseling experience, Darby acts as a wise and compassionate guide for readers to learn the importance of being present with those in pain, recognizing specific wounds caused by trauma, and offering ways to provide meaningful support. The book also emphasizes the hopeful message of restoration, beautifully reminding us of Jesus’ power to heal and draw near to the brokenhearted. 🤍
📚 Some of my favorite quotes:
“Healing springs forth most effectively in an atmosphere of presence, patience, and shared hope.”
“Lament is not just an emotional release—it is an act of trust that declares that even in the darkest places, God is still with us. Ultimately, it shows that healing is not about suppression of trauma but about bringing it into the presence of a God who listens, remembers, and redeems.”
“We need to understand that someone who is suffering from trauma will be most open to gospel truths if they experience them through our actions.”
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I loved the way Darby explores how trauma is portrayed throughout Scripture, providing readers with a biblical perspective that illuminates God's response to pain and suffering. This book offers practical strategies for caring for those impacted by trauma, whether you are a counselor, a church leader, or a friend of a sufferer.
With years of counseling experience, Darby acts as a wise and compassionate guide for readers to learn the importance of being present with those in pain, recognizing specific wounds caused by trauma, and offering ways to provide meaningful support. The book also emphasizes the hopeful message of restoration, beautifully reminding us of Jesus’ power to heal and draw near to the brokenhearted. 🤍
📚 Some of my favorite quotes:
“Healing springs forth most effectively in an atmosphere of presence, patience, and shared hope.”
“Lament is not just an emotional release—it is an act of trust that declares that even in the darkest places, God is still with us. Ultimately, it shows that healing is not about suppression of trauma but about bringing it into the presence of a God who listens, remembers, and redeems.”
“We need to understand that someone who is suffering from trauma will be most open to gospel truths if they experience them through our actions.”
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 17, 2026
A fantastic guide to trauma through a biblical lens. Darby Strickland does a beautiful job explaining trauma, lament, care, and restoration. The pages of this book are filled with Scripture, practical advice, encouragement for helpers, questions to ponder, and hope for healing. I highly recommend this to lay people and leaders in churches who want to shepherd hurting people in a way that reflects the heart of Christ.
This book does not spend a lot of time discussing the brain and trauma (though it does discuss physical symptoms), attachment theories, etc if those things are important to you. Parts of the book may feel redundant at times, but I think it reflects how much the author cares for those who are suffering as well as how much she wants to encourage those who are coming alongside sufferers to care well.
This book does not spend a lot of time discussing the brain and trauma (though it does discuss physical symptoms), attachment theories, etc if those things are important to you. Parts of the book may feel redundant at times, but I think it reflects how much the author cares for those who are suffering as well as how much she wants to encourage those who are coming alongside sufferers to care well.
December 9, 2025
I found this book quite helpful in my roles as a pastor, husband, father, and sometimes counselor. I think Strickland has good insights into trauma, its effects, and its treatment. I also wonder if some of the hermeneutic isn't a bit allegorical, approaching the Bible with a trauma lens? On a related note, I wonder about the overuse of trauma as a diagnosis - if everything is traumatic, the concept looses its meaning. Still, helpful concepts in this book.
March 5, 2026
The best book on trauma I have ever read. Richly practical, robust understanding on trauma's pervasive impact and wounds, and, with hope, pointing us to the Man of Sorrows. The conclusion had me tearful in the hope the gospel offers for those with deep suffering. Thankful for Darby's work and love for hurting people.
November 7, 2025
A useful, sensitive guide to comforting and walking with those who have experienced deep suffering. Strickland is a breath of fresh air.
May 2, 2026
I found this to be a helpful, balanced presentation on the topic of trauma. Well-grounded in biblical truth and practical wisdom.
January 25, 2026
Loved this book. Darby’s compassion towards sufferers and her ability to bridge the gap between Christian counselors and trauma victims is invaluable. Read this to better learn how to serve your hurting friends or counselees.
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