Redwood Trauma & Christian Counseling

10/27/2025

Strength is not demonstrated by the absence of feeling or struggling.

Many things can be hard, scare us, hurt us, and cause suffering. It can exhaust us, alarm us, cause temporary changes in our demeanor, function and feeling. Just because these things occur doesn't mean you're weak or not living up to our potential in Christ.

Remember that God is still in control, and our strength comes from abiding in him and in his truth. My bible footnotes state that Daniel, "has only enough strength to think about it". He was a great devoted man of God, not one to be considered weak given his history of courageous behaviors and boldness. He maintained self-control of his emotional reaction, held onto the truth given, let go of what he couldn't control, and only did his part.

So the next time you feel judged or shame yourself for feeling the struggle from this life, please remember this. Strength is the endurance to the end, not the absence of feeling the weight of the journey.

10/20/2025

The enemy says mockingly, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!"

It may feel like he hasn't or he doesn't or that he won't....because that is part of the lie. He is so trustworthy and faithful that his purpose WILL move you through your circumstances no matter how difficulty they may be or feel. Daniel, Esther, Joseph, Rachael, Sarah, Mary Magdalene, You and me.....Who else can you think of?

10/16/2025

Our physical health really impact how we are experiencing each day...if you're struggling with pain, migraines, fatigue, here's your reminder:

You matter enough to slow down and tend to your brain and body. This is all temporary, there's no rush to do it all, do it now, do it just right.

Take a few moments repeatedly and just step outside or stare out the window and breathe. 🥰

09/29/2025

The below statement rings with so much truth. We sometimes can’t explain ourselves enough to truly be understood on more than what the other person sees. And that hurts. But there is another truth that is even more meaningful that isn’t included here. When people can’t or refuse to see and hear, remember than the greatest one does —without fail—

"for the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (Samuel 16:7)

You don’t have to explain, justify, or defend, our Father sees the truth of your heart without you saying a single word. He will never misunderstand you.

09/12/2025

RTCC will be closed from 9/13/25 - 9/22/25
Family Time
May the Lord cover you and bless you with joy.

09/05/2025

We are often taught to be "nice". I believe that is a wrong teaching. Being nice over time, removes genuine desires of pleasantness and agreeableness out of a perceived sense of obligation that "I have to be nice" or "people won't like me", "people will be upset", "they'll get mad"....It stops you from being real with yourself and others about what matters to you, too. You never have to be subservient to another person.

08/20/2025

Read more: yungpueblo.substack.com

08/19/2025

We don't always know the Lord is present. His word says he is-always.

When we are caught up in suffering of this world, it can often feel like the Lord is not in the midst of our pain, abuse, persecution, etc. with us but apart. We can say, "we don't see him" and discredit that things in the unseen are happening. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they were called) stood for the Kingdom of God in the midst of oppression, of difficulty, of persecution, of struggle...and Christ was with them (scripture doesn't even indicate that they had even seen him!!!).

I love how they declared to King Nebuchadnezzar "our God, whom we serve, can save us from the white-hot furnace". They didn't say how God would save them, and we are wise to remember saving doesn't always look the way we expect.

Remember when you can't see the Lord, when you aren't sure if he is there with you, to have faith that he is always present. He did it for them, and He WILL do it for you, too!

08/13/2025

I love this. You learned it wasn't safe to share, but you don't have to hold the pain in anymore. What helped you survive the hurt is no longer helpful. You can be safe now to let it out.

08/10/2025

Great article to help understand how fear might be sub/unconsciously managing your thoughts, behaviors and relationships. Attachment styles based on fear/anxiety are not concrete; we can heal into security.

Read this article to understand how your attachment style may influence your fears, as well as how you respond to them.