Can work be a place of healing?

Certain workplaces are traumatizing in themselves.

But at its best, work is an ennobling experience. It confirms our sense of agency. It helps us gain confidence. It confers meaning on our time.

When work is like this, it can even serve as a place of healing for past wounds—particularly the wound of learned helplessness.

By God’s grace, work is often where we discover how much we really are capable of. 

Sources: Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)

Psalm 118:6 (ESV)

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV)

Shanna B. Tiayon, “Four Ways We Can Be Sensitive to Trauma at Work,” Greater Good Magazine, October 12, 2021.

Mary D. Salter Ainsworth, Mary C. Blehar, Everett Waters, Sally N. Wall, Patterns of Attachment: A Psychological Study of the Strange Situation, Classic Edition (New York: Psychology Press, 2015).

Toby Cushing, Sarah Robertson, Julia Mannes, Nicole Marshall, Mark James Carey, Robbie Duschinsky, and Richard Meiser-Stedman. “The Relationship between Attachment and Posttraumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analytic Review.” Development and Psychopathology 36, no. 3 (2024): 1055–69.

Martin E. Seligman & Steven F. Maier, “Failure to escape traumatic shock,” Journal of Experimental Psychology, 74(1) (1967): 1–9. 

#FindingGodAtWork #FaithAndWork #MentalHealth #TheologicalAnthropology #ChristianHolism #TheGospel #Body #Embodied #Heb13 #Attachment #LearnedHelplessness #WorkplaceTrauma #ShannaTiayon #MaryAinsworth #TobyCushing #MartySeligman #StevenMaier #Healing #ChristianHealing #CommonGrace #Sanctification #SpiritualGrowth #SelfAcceptance #Thoughts #Feelings #Heart #Will #SelfAwareness #Emotions #Body #Soul #Depression #Anxiety #Addiction #Recovery #Neurodiversity #Trauma #Healing #WholeHearted

According to the University of Toronto Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), trauma is “the lasting emotional response that often results from living through a distressing event.”

Sometimes we don’t even realize that our emotional responses to certain situations at work are rooted in our own trauma. Yesterday’s distressing event is today’s emotional workday overwhelm.

Trauma isn’t an explanation for every difficult work experience. Sometimes stressful situations at work are just . . .  stressful, not clues to some hidden distress in our earlier life.

But trauma *is* an explanation for some of our difficult work experiences. And we do well to pay attention to it.

As we get to know our own stories better, we see how they’re shaping our experiences each day on the job. And we can welcome the healing of Jesus into the painful moments we’re still carrying with us.

Sources: Psalm 23 (ESV)

“Trauma,” Mental Illness and Addiction Index, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

Katy Waldman, “The Rise of Therapy-Speak: How a Language Got Off the Couch and Into the World,” The New Yorker, March 26, 2021.

SuiXi3D, comment in “'How' (exactly) does child abuse or neglect affect grades?” r/TrueAskReddit, April 8, 2021.

#FindingGodAtWork #FaithAndWork #MentalHealth #TheologicalAnthropology #ChristianHolism #TheGospel #Body #Embodied #Psalm23 #Memories #TherapySpeak  #CAMH  #Healing #ChristianHealing #CommonGrace #Sanctification #SpiritualGrowth #SelfAcceptance #Thoughts #Feelings #Heart #Will #SelfAwareness #Emotions #Body #Soul #Depression #Anxiety #Addiction #Recovery #Neurodiversity #Trauma #Healing #WholeHearted

Every brain is different. That’s what “neurodiversity” means. Neuro = brain; diversity = different. Neurodiversity is a feature of human experience, not a bug. It’s an expression of God’s creativity.

What does that mean for us in the workplace?

It means that every team is a motley crew, made up of people with unique ways of thinking and navigating work and life.

We can follow Jesus’ example in including people of all kinds on our teams. Normalizing differences can be a form of Christlike love.

Self-advocacy is another dimension of that love. When we advocate for our own needs, whatever they are, we’re probably helping others, too. 

Sources: 1 Samuel 22:1-2 (ESV)

2 Samuel 23:8-39 (ESV)

Luke 8:1-3 (ESV)

Luke 6:13-16 (ESV)

Valerie E. Hess and Lane M. Arnold, The Life of the Body: Physical Well-Being and Spiritual Formation (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2012).

#FindingGodAtWork #FaithAndWork #MentalHealth #TheologicalAnthropology #ChristianHolism #TheGospel #Body #Embodied #MotleyCrew #Neurodivergent #Neurotypical #MightyMen #1Sam22 #2Sam23 #Luke8 #Luke6 #Joanna #ChristianHealing #CommonGrace #Sanctification #SpiritualGrowth #SelfAcceptance #Thoughts #Feelings #Heart #Will #SelfAwareness #Emotions #Body #Soul #Depression #Anxiety #Addiction #Recovery #Neurodiversity #Trauma #Healing #WholeHearted

The recovery mindset is, "I want to find out where life really is."

It's admitting the problem and committing to radical change.

It's saying, like David, "For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me" (Psalm 51:3 ESV).

When we come to God with "a broken spirit and a contrite heart" (Psalm 51:17 ESV), we discover not just how merciful he is, but also his power for real change.

Sources: Psalm 51 (ESV)

John 7:37-39 (ESV)

Ryan N., “It’s Never Too Late to Change,” Heroes in Recovery, March 28, 2017. 

Christian Healing Ministries 

#FindingGodAtWork #FaithAndWork #MentalHealth #TheologicalAnthropology #ChristianHolism #TheGospel #Body #Embodied #Psalm51 #John7 #ChristianHealing #CommonGrace #Sanctification #SpiritualGrowth #SelfAcceptance #Thoughts #Feelings #Heart #Will #SelfAwareness #Emotions #Body #Soul #Depression #Anxiety #Addiction #Recovery #Neurodiversity #Trauma #Healing #WholeHearted

“‘I'll quit tomorrow,’ I would say to myself—but tomorrow never came.”

That’s how Bob Poznanovich describes his experience of addiction.

Have you ever told yourself, “I’ll quit tomorrow”?

When addiction gets its teeth into us, it’s fierce. We can’t get out. We can’t quit. Why is that?

It’s because addiction hijacks our need for something to give us life. It’s a life source disorder.

That means there’s hope—when we turn to a better source of life, we find a way out. 

Sources: Psalm 16:7-11 (ESV)

Psalm 115:2-8 (ESV)

Bob Poznanovich, “A Personal Story of Addiction at Work,” HMP Global Learning Network, July 1, 2006. 

Bill Gaultiere, “Why Sin is So Attractive: Bill Gaultiere’s Notes from Dallas Willard’s Talk,” Soul Shepherding.

#FindingGodAtWork #FaithAndWork #MentalHealth #TheologicalAnthropology #ChristianHolism #TheGospel #Body #Embodied #Psalm16 #BobPoznanovich #DallasWillard #Desires #Sanctification #SpiritualGrowth #SelfAcceptance #Thoughts #Feelings #Heart #Will #SelfAwareness #Emotions #Body #Soul #Depression #Anxiety #Addiction #Recovery #Neurodiversity #Trauma #Healing #WholeHearted

Anxiety is part of human experience for everyone.

At the same time, some people experience more intense or persistent anxiety than others.

For most of us, anxiety is part of our work experience.

In Matthew 6, Jesus gives us a teaching on anxiety, which is helpful both for run-of-the-mill anxiety, and for anxiety disorders. It’s helpful for all of us at work.

In this teaching, Jesus primarily addresses our vision of God. When we see God more clearly, something shifts inside of us. We can meet his mercy in the midst of our anxiety.

This shift toward mercy affects our sense of work responsibility.

We come to the freedom of this conviction: There is nothing God expects us to do that he will not empower us by his grace to accomplish.

Sources: Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV)

“Anxiety disorders,” Mayo Clinic, May 4, 2018.

Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God (New York: HarperCollins, 1998).

#FindingGodAtWork #FaithAndWork #MentalHealth #TheologicalAnthropology #ChristianHolism #TheGospel #Body #Embodied #Matthew6 #AnxietyDisorder #DoNotWorry #BeNotAnxious #DallasWillard #DivineConspiracy #Sanctification #SpiritualGrowth #SelfAcceptance #Thoughts #Feelings #Heart #Will #SelfAwareness #Emotions #Body #Soul #Depression #Anxiety #Addiction #Recovery #Neurodiversity #Trauma #Healing #WholeHearted

Your soul is a relater, meant to connect with God and other people.

Your soul is a receiver, meant to take beauty in.

Your soul is an integrator, meant to put experiences together.

Depression affects your capacity to relate, your capacity to receive, and your capacity to integrate. That means depression affects your soul. Mild depression is like getting a spiritual cold. Severe depression is like getting a spiritual auto-immune disorder.

That doesn’t mean depression is sinful. It just means depression leaves its mark on all aspects of our experience, including our spiritual experiences.

Sources: Lamentations 3:1-18 (ESV)

Jeremiah 20:7-9 (ESV)

Lamentations 3:22-24 (ESV)

u/benp242, “depression is just struggling with you,” r/wholesomememes, June 25, 2023.

#FindingGodAtWork #FaithAndWork #MentalHealth #TheologicalAnthropology #ChristianHolism #TheGospel #Body #Embodied #Lamentations3 #Jeremiah20 #Jeremiah #WeepingProphet #Healing #Testimony #Sanctification #SpiritualGrowth #SelfAcceptance #Thoughts #Feelings #Heart #Will #SelfAwareness #Emotions #Body #Soul #Depression #Anxiety #Addiction #Recovery #Neurodiversity #Trauma #Healing #WholeHearted

When you’re depressed, it affects all aspects of your life and personality, including your will.

Depression can make it harder to choose, to make decisions.

But our will can still help us when we’re depressed. Willingness leads to healing, while willfulness does not.

When we’re willing to be led by God’s mercy, we find it. But when we have to have our own way, we often miss out on what God is doing.

Sources: 2 Kings 5:9-14 (NIV) #FindingGodAtWork #FaithAndWork #MentalHealth #TheologicalAnthropology #ChristianHolism #TheGospel #Body #Embodied #2Kings5 #Naaman #Healing #Multifactorial #Sanctification #SpiritualGrowth #SelfAcceptance #Thoughts #Feelings #Heart #Will #SelfAwareness #Emotions #Body #Soul #Depression #Anxiety #Addiction #Recovery #Neurodiversity #Trauma #Healing #WholeHearted

According to a 2023 Gallup survey, one in three U.S. adults have been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lifetimes.

I’m one of those adults. Periodic episodes of depression have hit me all throughout my adult life.

When I’m depressed, I feel weak. I hate to admit to weakness. I hate to admit I’m depressed.

But the Apostle Paul shows us in 2 Corinthians 12 that we can “boast” in our weaknesses. We can name and accept exactly what we’re facing.

We can find God’s grace right there, exactly when and where we need it.

Sources: 2 Corinthians 12:6-10 (NIV)

Dan Witters, “Depression Rates Reach New Highs,” Gallup, May 17, 2023. 

“Depression (major depressive disorder),” Mayo Clinic, October 14, 2022.

#FindingGodAtWork #FaithAndWork #MentalHealth #TheologicalAnthropology #ChristianHolism #TheGospel #Body #Embodied #Beauty #Receive #TasteAndSee #2Cor12 #Weakness #Strength #Paul #ThornInTheFlesh #Sanctification #SpiritualGrowth #SelfAcceptance #Thoughts #Feelings #Heart #Will #SelfAwareness #Emotions #Body #Soul #Depression #Anxiety #Addiction #Recovery #Neurodiversity #Trauma #Healing #WholeHearted

“Beauty points the way home.”

That’s scholar Gregory E. Ganssle’s way of putting it. When we stop to pay attention, we notice that “there’s something there” for us in the world.

This experience of encountering beauty suggests that we’re meant to be *here,* but also that there’s something more we’re meant for.

In the Christian story, we’re meant for God. We’re meant to receive life from him.

It’s ultimately the beauty of God that brings us home.

Sources: Psalm 34:1-10 (ESV)

Cormac McCarthy, The Road (New York: Vintage Books, 2006).

Gregory E. Ganssle, Our Deepest Desires: How the Christian Story Fulfills Human Aspirations (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2017).

#FindingGodAtWork #FaithAndWork #MentalHealth #TheologicalAnthropology #ChristianHolism #TheGospel #Body #Embodied #Beauty #Receive #TasteAndSee #Psalm34 #CormacMcCarthy #TheRoad #GregGannssle #OurDeepestDesires #Sanctification #SpiritualGrowth #SelfAcceptance #Thoughts #Feelings #Heart #Will #SelfAwareness #Emotions #Body #Soul #Depression #Anxiety #Addiction #Recovery #Neurodiversity #Trauma #Healing #WholeHearted