What Is Trauma?

Trauma is not limited to war zones or major life disasters. It often takes subtler, more personal forms—forms that affect our identity, relationships, and even how we see God. To walk the path of healing, we must first recognize the kinds of trauma we may carry.

Trauma

A-Trauma: The Absence of What Was Needed

A-trauma involves the absence of necessary, life-giving experiences that you were created to receive. This kind of trauma often manifests when something good—like love, safety, or affirmation—is missing, even if you didn’t realize it at the time.

You might feel this when you witness something good in someone else's life and it triggers unexpected sadness or pain. For instance, watching a father play catch with his son may stir grief or longing if your own father was emotionally or physically absent. Or you might feel overwhelming pressure to create the perfect family holiday—not because the holiday itself is life-or-death, but because the absence of nurturing in your past created an inner void you're trying to fill.

This absence can distort your emotional world and damage your relationships. Many people don’t connect these deep emotional responses with early deprivation. Instead, they blame themselves, others, or even God.

The Hope: Recovery from A-trauma involves experiencing God’s love in real relationships—being surrounded by people who offer enduring love and support. Through these connections and spiritual healing, God rebuilds what was missing.

“Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” —Psalm 27:10
“God sets the lonely in families...” —Psalm 68:6a

B-Trauma: The Presence of What Should Never Have Happened

B-trauma refers to the more familiar idea of trauma: harmful, painful events that leave emotional or psychological scars. Abuse, betrayal, neglect, or sudden loss can all be examples. These events fracture our sense of safety and identity and often prevent us from living in the joy and purpose for which we were created.

Some B-traumas are vividly remembered. Others, especially those from early childhood, may be buried deep within us—yet they continue to influence how we think, feel, and act.

Often, people caught in the pain of B-trauma face two paths: becoming stuck in the hurt or trying to escape it by chasing joy in unhealthy places—like addiction, escapism, or broken relationships.

The Hope: Healing from B-trauma isn’t something we achieve on our own. It’s a journey with God. He alone can walk with us through the pain, bind up the broken places, and lead us back to life and light.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me... He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” —Isaiah 61:1
“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28

Wounds That Trauma Leaves Behind

Beyond A and B trauma, trauma also inflicts more subtle, persistent wounds that shape how we see ourselves and the world around us. These include:

Wounds of Comparison

These wounds are quiet and deceptive. They stem from voices around us—family, culture, friends, even spiritual influences—that make us feel inferior or inadequate. You may find yourself constantly striving for validation, yet never feeling like you measure up.

The Hope: Healing comes when we encounter God and see ourselves through His eyes. You are not measured by human standards, but by the identity and worth He lovingly speaks over you.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” —Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
“The Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” —1 Samuel 16:7b

Wounds of Perception

Sometimes the greatest damage comes from false beliefs—about ourselves, others, or God. These distorted perceptions can keep us from embracing truth, being honest with ourselves, or receiving God’s grace. They can erode our relationships and cripple our spiritual growth.

The Hope: True healing begins when we learn to see life through God's lens. By engaging with Him in honest conversation—through prayer, Scripture, and spiritual counsel—we learn to recognize lies and replace them with His truth.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” —Romans 12:2
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” —John 8:32

There Is a Way Forward

Trauma is real, but so is hope. Whether your wounds come from what was absent, what was inflicted, or what you’ve come to believe, healing is possible through a relationship with the God who sees, understands, and restores.

At Foxfire Ministries we walk with you through that healing process—not just with tools and strategies, but with the transforming presence of Jesus Christ and the power of biblical truth.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain...” —Revelation 21:4

[Content has been adapted from the research and teaching of Dr. Jim Wilder of Life Model Works and Dr. Marcus Warner of Deeper Walk International.]