Healing Childhood Sexual Abuse | Childhood Trauma, Shame, Trust Issues, Anger, Abandonment, Fear

When Isolation Feels Safe: Grace for the Heavy Days After Childhood Sexual Abuse

In this episode, I share a journal entry I wrote at 56 and what it means to look back on it at 59. Some days I feel confident, messy, happy, sad, and mad all at once. Other days I can’t name what I’m feeling at all. If you’re healing from childhood sexual abuse, you may know that feeling too.

We talk about the pull toward isolation, the heaviness that makes it hard to move forward, and how fear can quietly show up as procrastination, self-doubt, stress, and scrolling. I also share what I call the dopamine trough, and why giving yourself grace is not the same as giving up.

You are not behind, and you are not alone.

Scripture in this episode: Philippians 4:13

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Learn more about Break Through Fear Coaching

Connect with Leslie:

https://lesliechermak.com/

Faith-based coaching is not a substitute for therapy or licensed mental health care.

Have you ever wondered what your life would look like if fear no longer controlled your decisions?

What if you could say no without feeling guilty? What if you could stop worrying so much about what other people think? What if you could make decisions with confidence instead of second-guessing yourself? What if you could experience more peace in your relationships and feel free to be the woman God created you to be?

If you've experienced childhood sexual abuse, you may have spent years trying to move forward while still struggling with the effects of what happened to you.

Your past may have shaped some of the patterns you experience today, but it doesn't have to determine your future.

If you're ready to work on the fear, people-pleasing, self-doubt, or difficulty setting boundaries that may be holding you back, I'd love to connect with you.

Book a Break Through Fear Coaching call with Leslie  Take your next step toward greater peace, confidence, and freedom.

You don't have to figure everything out today. Let's start with what's weighing on you right now.

🔗 Connect with Me:

👉 Break Through Fear Coaching: https://links.ivorey.io/widget/bookings/breakthroughcoaching

>>Grab a set of “My Identity In Christ” reflection cards. 

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>> Download my free 5 Steps to Becoming An Overcomer

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Are you constantly living in fight or flight mode?  Are you allowing fear to control you? You know the kind that yanks at your chest when the anxiety takes over your decisions?  When you start to feel uneasy about telling the truth about your past to you avoid it all together? The kind of fear that keeps you from new opportunities, starting new relationships or going deeper with your best girlfriend because you think her life is better than yours?

What if I told you you don’t have to live like that anymore? Because that IS the truth. In today's episode, Leslie is going to give you 6 promised results of Fearing the Lord that will help you overcome living with fear.

>>Grab a set of “My Identity In Christ” reflection cards. 

TEAL-  https://lesliechermak.myflodesk.com/teal

MAUVE:  https://lesliechermak.myflodesk.com/mauve

These Scripture-based reflection cards will help you:

Choose five cards each week and read them daily as you begin transforming the way you think about yourself.

>> Download my free 5 Steps to Becoming An Overcomer

>> Visit https://lesliechermak.com/workwithme/ for more support.

>> Join my Insider List! https://insider.lesliechermak.com

>> Join the FREE Faithfully Restored Community: https://members.lesliechermak.com

>> Visit Website: https://lesliechermak.com/

Do you hold back from opportunities or relationships because of fear or anxiety? 

Are you afraid to let people in for fear they might know how you feel?

Do you isolate?

Do you feel trapped?

Are you longing for relationships with women who get you?

When you encounter fear, your amygdala, the brain’s primary fear center, becomes activated.  That’s when your flight or fight response kicks in.  You want to protect yourself.  You had to learn this as a child. The good new is you can retrain that response. 

Learn what Neuroscience says and 3 ways to help you foster growth with people and give you courage:

Ask yourself: Who in my life deserves more of my presence, and who do I get to set healthier boundaries with?

Write 5 reflections of the truth of who you are in Christ.

🔗 Connect with Me:

👉 Schedule a

>>Grab a set of “My Identity In Christ” reflection cards. 

TEAL-  https://lesliechermak.myflodesk.com/teal

MAUVE:  https://lesliechermak.myflodesk.com/mauve

These Scripture-based reflection cards will help you:

Choose five cards each week and read them daily as you begin transforming the way you think about yourself.

>> Download my free 5 Steps to Becoming An Overcomer

>> Visit https://lesliechermak.com/workwithme/ for more support.

>> Join my Insider List! https://insider.lesliechermak.com

>> Join the FREE Faithfully Restored Community: https://members.lesliechermak.com

>> Visit Website: https://lesliechermak.com/

Have you ever believed “I’m not worthy of love,” “It was my fault,” or “I’ll never be whole” because of something that happened in your past?

Childhood trauma and abuse can leave deep wounds that affect our self-worth, relationships, confidence, and identity. But those painful thoughts don't have to define you.

In this episode, Leslie shares her personal journey from childhood sexual abuse, shame, self-loathing, and destructive choices to finding freedom and identity in Christ.

She shares 3 practical steps to replace the lies with God's truth:

Remember: What happened to you does not determine your worth. Your identity is not found in your past—it is found in Christ.

Psalm 34:18 • Romans 5:8 • Proverbs 3:5–6 • 2 Corinthians 5:17 • Romans 12:2 • Psalm 139:13 • 1 Peter 2:9 • Jeremiah 29:11

If you're a woman healing from childhood sexual abuse, trauma, shame, or rejection, you are invited to join Leslie's free community for encouragement, prayer, Scripture, and faith-based support.

Join the Faithfully Restored Community:

You are loved. You are chosen. You are not your past. You can walk in freedom.

Scripture from todays episode:

John 8:44, John 14:16, Psalm 34:18, Romans 5:8, Proverbs 3:5-6, 2 Corinthians 5:17,   

1 John 1:2, Romans 12:2

Affirming scripture:

>>Grab a set of “My Identity In Christ” reflection cards. 

TEAL-  https://lesliechermak.myflodesk.com/teal

MAUVE:  https://lesliechermak.myflodesk.com/mauve

These Scripture-based reflection cards will help you:

Choose five cards each week and read them daily as you begin transforming the way you think about yourself.

>> Download my free 5 Steps to Becoming An Overcomer

>> Visit https://lesliechermak.com/workwithme/ for more support.

>> Join my Insider List! https://insider.lesliechermak.com

>> Join the FREE Faithfully Restored Community: https://members.lesliechermak.com

>> Visit Website: https://lesliechermak.com/

Music score: Kevin Manthei Music

Have you ever wondered, “Does my life even matter anymore?”

After experiencing childhood sexual abuse, it can be difficult to trust—to trust people, trust yourself, and sometimes even trust God.

When your boundaries were violated, your innocence was taken, and shame became part of your story, you may find yourself asking:

How can I trust God with my life when I don’t understand why He allowed these things to happen?

In today’s episode, we’re talking about how to begin discovering God’s will when your past has left you feeling stuck, unworthy, angry, afraid, or disconnected from your purpose.

I want you to hear this clearly:

What happened to you was never God’s will. But what happened to you does not have to be the end of your story.

God can bring healing, restoration, purpose, and redemption from even the most painful places in our lives.

In This Episode, We’ll Talk About:

Four Ways to Begin Discovering God’s Will

1. Study Scripture.

God’s Word helps us replace the lies we have believed with His truth.

2. Pray and meditate on God’s Word.

You don't have to have a perfect quiet time every day. Start where you are and keep turning your heart toward God.

3. Find a Bible-believing church community.

You were never meant to walk through life completely alone.

4. Find a mentor.

Having someone who can encourage you, pray with you, and point you back to God’s truth can be incredibly valuable.

Scriptures Mentioned

Proverbs 3:5-6 — Trust the Lord with all your heart and don't lean on your own understanding.

Joshua 1:9 — Be strong and courageous.

Psalm 139:14 — You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

John 8:32 — The truth sets you free.

Romans 12:2 — Be transformed by the renewing of your mind and learn what God's will is.

Matthew 16:25 — When we surrender our lives to Christ, we find true life.

You Are Not Your Past

If childhood sexual abuse has left you feeling like you don't belong, you're not worthy, or you don't have a purpose, I want you to know that those feelings don't get the final word.

God does.

And God's Word tells us that you are His creation, deeply loved, and made with purpose.

Healing doesn't always happen overnight.

Sometimes surrender happens one day at a time.

Sometimes one hour at a time.

And sometimes one minute at a time.

But you don't have to figure out your entire future today.

Take the next step with God.

If you're ready for encouragement, Scripture, prayer, and a place where you can feel seen and heard, I'd love to invite you into my free Faithfully Restored Community.

This is a safe, faith-centered community for women who are ready to heal, grow, and discover what God has for them.

Join here: https://members.lesliechermak.com

You don't have to walk this journey alone.

God is not finished with your story.

>> Join Leslie's Insider List! https://insider.lesliechermak.com

>> Visit https://lesliechermak.com/workwithme/ for more support.

>> Visit Website: https://lesliechermak.com/

Have you ever wondered why you can be surrounded by people and still feel completely alone in what you’re carrying?

Maybe you’ve spent years trying to move forward from childhood sexual abuse or childhood trauma. You’ve prayed, worked on yourself, sought help, and tried to put the past behind you.

But sometimes the shame, self-doubt, relationship struggles, people-pleasing, or feelings of rejection still surface.

And you may find yourself wondering:

“Why am I still struggling with this?”

The truth is, healing doesn't mean pretending the past didn't happen. And you don't have to walk through your healing journey alone.

In this episode, Leslie talks about the importance of safe, faith-centered community for women healing from childhood sexual abuse and childhood trauma.

She shares why she created the Faithfully Restored Community and what she hopes women will experience there: connection, encouragement, prayer, biblical truth, reflection, and a safe place to grow.

In this episode, you'll discover:

A reminder for you

You don't have to have your whole story figured out before taking your next step.

You don't have to be completely healed.

You can simply come as you are.

God is not finished with you.

There is still hope. There is still purpose. And there is still a future.

Your next step

If you're ready to connect with other women on a faith-centered healing journey, I invite you to join the Faithfully Restored Community: https://members.lesliechermak.com

Come and learn. Come and listen. Come and pray. Come and take the next step.

You don't have to heal alone.

>> Visit Website: https://lesliechermak.com/

>>   Personal Coaching with Leslie

👉🏻  JOIN Faithfully Restored Community for Women: https://members.lesliechermak.com

Why am I still struggling when what happened was so long ago?

If you have ever asked yourself this question, you are not alone.

Maybe you've tried to move on. Maybe you've prayed, gone to counseling, read the books, or told yourself that you should be over what happened by now. But deep down, you still struggle with shame, self-worth, trusting others, difficult relationships, anger, or patterns you can't seem to break.

In this episode, I share part of my personal story as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and talk about something I wish I had understood earlier in my healing journey:

Coming to faith and beginning a relationship with Jesus was life-changing—but there were still wounds from my past that needed healing.

Healing can happen in stages.

Sometimes we don't realize how much our childhood experiences are still affecting us until something triggers an old memory, emotion, or pattern. And when that happens, we may wonder, “Why am I still struggling?”

In this episode, we're talking about one of the first steps toward healing: acknowledgment.

Acknowledgment doesn't mean living in the past or allowing your trauma to define you. It means giving yourself permission to honestly recognize what happened, how it affected you, and where you may still need healing.

You will learn:

Friend, what happened to you was not your fault.

You are not weak because you still struggle.

And you are not stuck forever.

God is not afraid of your story. He sees you, He loves you, and He can meet you in the places that still hurt.

This Week's Reflection

Take some quiet time and ask yourself:

“God, what areas of my life have I been avoiding because of my past?”

You don't have to have all the answers today. Simply be willing to take one honest step forward.

Join My Insider List

If this episode encouraged you, I would love to invite you to join my Insider List. You'll receive encouragement, podcast updates, and resources to support you on your healing journey. You'll also be the first to know when the doors open to my upcoming free community for women seeking healing, hope, and connection.

Join the Insider List: https://lesliechermak.myflodesk.com/newsletter

And if you found hope in today's episode, please follow the podcast and share this episode with another woman who may need to hear:

You are not alone, and healing is possible.

Scriptures Mentioned

John 8:32

>>Grab a set of “My Identity In Christ” reflection cards. 

TEAL-  https://lesliechermak.myflodesk.com/teal

MAUVE:  https://lesliechermak.myflodesk.com/mauve

These Scripture-based reflection cards will help you:

Choose five cards each week and read them daily as you begin transforming the way you think about yourself.

>> Download my free 5 Steps to Becoming An Overcomer

>> More support: https://lesliechermak.com/workwithme/ 

>> Join my Insider List! https://insider.lesliechermak.com

>> Join the FREE Faithfully Restored Community: https://members.lesliechermak.com

>> Visit Website: https://lesliechermak.com/

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “Why do I keep doing this?”

Maybe you keep falling into the same relationship patterns. Maybe you struggle with anger, people-pleasing, shutting down, negative self-talk, fear of rejection, or difficulty trusting others.

You know you want to change. You've prayed about it. Maybe you've been to therapy, read the books, listened to podcasts, and tried to use willpower to break the cycle.

And yet…you still find yourself repeating the same patterns.

What if you're not broken?

In this episode, we're talking about why childhood trauma can create patterns that follow us into adulthood—and why recognizing those patterns is not a reason to shame yourself. It's an opportunity to begin healing.

I'll share part of my own story and what I've learned about recognizing the difference between who I am and what I learned to do to survive.

You'll discover:

Scripture

Romans 12:2 — “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

>>Grab a set of “My Identity In Christ” reflection cards. 

TEAL-  https://lesliechermak.myflodesk.com/teal

MAUVE:  https://lesliechermak.myflodesk.com/mauve

These Scripture-based reflection cards will help you:

Choose five cards each week and read them daily as you begin transforming the way you think about yourself.

>> Download my free 5 Steps to Becoming An Overcomer

>> More support: https://lesliechermak.com/workwithme/ 

>> Join my Insider List! https://insider.lesliechermak.com

>> Join the FREE Faithfully Restored Community: https://members.lesliechermak.com

>> Visit Website: https://lesliechermak.com/

Why do we still struggle with shame even after we've accepted God's forgiveness?

For many women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, shame feels like a constant companion. It whispers lies that you're damaged, unworthy, and beyond repair. But those lies were never spoken by God.

In today's episode, Leslie shares part of her own healing journey and explores what Scripture says about shame, identity, and the transforming power of forgiveness. You'll discover why healing happens in stages, why forgiveness is about your freedom—not excusing what happened—and how Jesus carried both your sin and your shame on the cross.

If you've ever wondered whether true freedom is possible, this conversation will remind you that your past does not define your future. In Christ, healing, hope, and restoration are possible.

In This Episode You'll Learn

Scriptures Mentioned

Journal Prompts

Encouragement

Healing isn't a destination you reach overnight. It is a journey of continually turning your eyes back to Jesus. As you walk with Him, shame loses its grip, forgiveness becomes possible, and your identity is rooted in the One who calls you redeemed.

Remember:

Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. (Psalm 34:5)

🔗 Connect with Me:

>>Grab a set of “My Identity In Christ” reflection cards. 

TEAL-  https://lesliechermak.myflodesk.com/teal

MAUVE:  https://lesliechermak.myflodesk.com/mauve

These Scripture-based reflection cards will help you:

Choose five cards each week and read them daily as you begin transforming the way you think about yourself.

>> Download my free 5 Steps to Becoming An Overcomer

>> More support: https://lesliechermak.com/workwithme/ 

>> Join my Insider List! https://insider.lesliechermak.com

>> Join the FREE Faithfully Restored Community: https://members.lesliechermak.com

>> Visit Website: https://lesliechermak.com/