How I developed a theology of trauma

Claire Bankole has spent most of her life in ministry working with survivors of trauma. As a survivor herself, she shares truths from God’s word that have become keys to freedom.

As I reflect on my journey of healing from trauma having walked with the Lord through the course of my life, I have realised how aspects of the Christianity that I experienced and was taught kept me braced and fearful before God. Healing has been slow and stunted as I have misunderstood the heart of God and his work of redemption.

Most of my life in ministry has been spent working with survivors of trauma, both young and old. In recent years I became profoundly aware that the Lord had entrusted these, his broken ones, to me. As I embraced the call to simply love them well, I embarked on a deeper journey into the heart of God for his broken ones and found that that included me.