"If therefore you shall offer the gift of you at the altar and there shall remember that the brother of you has something against you leave there the gift of you before the altar and go away first to be reconciled to brother of you and then having come offer the gift of you." (Matthew 5:23-24 Interlinear Bible)

This text is mostly preached about reconciliation between people. This book comes from the perspective that trauma has fragmented our personhood. The pain causes us to be fragmented and the part of us holding the pain is pushed to a secret place in an effort to protect ourselves. In the movement to protect ourselves, the part of us holding the pain has a grievance against us. It manifests in self-destructive behaviors, self-harm, guilt, shame—basically not loving ourselves. As we think about going back and being reconciled, the one we need to be reconciled to and make peace with is ourselves.

There is a place in God where pain and peace are co-located. Reconciliation happens when we allow the healing power of God to erase our reasons to stay stuck, which fuel our resistance to seeking help. Faith creates the space for healing release. A hurt that has not been dealt with has no timeframe for healing. Your healing journey begins today.