April 04, 2023

Leigh Mackenzie | The Value of Trauma Therapy & Journeying with Jesus, 215

46 minutes

Leigh Mackenzie and Amber discuss discuss the hard and necessary healing work after traumatic childhood experiences. Leigh's book, She Seems So Normal: Shatter the Plastic Princess, Embrace Authentic Faith is a documentary narrative journey of uncovering long hidden sexual abuse and her journey of embracing authentic faith through the help of Jesus, mentors, prayer warriors, therapists, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Questions Discussed During The Value of Trauma Therapy in Your Journey with Jesus:

Take us back to your childhood and share a little about what family life was like for you.

You are a CSA survivor. Will you share a little of your story and how the abuse shaped the way you viewed yourself (and others) as a teen, young woman and beyond?

What role did Jesus play in your early childhood? When did you come to know him and how did the abuse impact what you believed about God?

At what point did you realize you needed to embark on a healing journey from the trauma you experienced and what has that journey looked like for you?

For someone who has PTSD from all that you have survived, You've said, "She Seems So Normal: Shatter the Plastic Princess, Embrace Authentic Faith is a documentary narrative of a journey to unearth long-hidden, heinous childhood sexual abuse. As a megachurch biblical researcher for preachers, I was the picture of “put together, Plastic Princess” on the outside, but inside I was dying, believing the enemy’s lies, and wondering what’s wrong with my faith. When I stepped away from the grave of fearful rule-following legalism and into the gardens to embrace authentic faith, I found avenues of recovery and restoration for anxiety, trauma, and shame with Jesus, mentors, prayer warriors, therapists, and the work of the Holy Spirit." What do you mean by "put together, Plastic Princess" in the context of the church?

Tell us a little more about what you found with Jesus, mentors, prayer warriors, therapists and the work of the Holy Spirit?

All too often, we believe that faith in Jesus alone is enough to conquer any of life's challenges, but I believe that that we minimize what "faith in Jesus" looks like lived out in day to day life. It is not "pull up your bootstraps, never complain and get on with your life because Jesus saved your soul" faith. It is "dig deep and let people into your mess, so you can see Jesus on earth as He is in Heaven" faith. It is a walking hand in hand through every high and low even when you want to run faith. Let's close with how you have found those statements to be true? How are you putting your faith in Christ alone, by going to therapy and doing the hard work of healing?

Show Notes cont.Resources Mentioned:

Book: She Seems So Normal: Shatter the Plastic Princess, Embrace Authentic Faith by Leigh Mackenzie

8 Books that Were Influential In Ways that Surprised Me

Related Episodes:

186: Dr. Diane Langberg | Redeeming Abuse & Trauma

109: Amy Watson | Abuse Survivor and Living with PTSD

179: Sonya Brunner | Abuse, Human Trafficking, & Redemption

94: Mary DeMuth | Hope After Sexual Abuse

193: Lisa Saruga | Sexual Violence Victim & Reform Advocate

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By Amber Cullum

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