There's More To The Story

Audiobook: Getting Past the Past Chapter Eight: Survival Triggers and Learning to Cope

God gave us survival mode for a reason. It is the place we need to be when everything is chaos, but we don't want to live there forever. Ideally, we get to a place of safety so our body can relax and function the way it is meant to. Triggers are the body's way of alerting us to something that hurt or scared us before, but we don't want to be triggered forever. The trick is to learn to cope, to give your body and mind what it needs to feel safe.

Audiobook: Getting Past the Past Chapter 7: Forgive and Learn

People say forgive and forget. That isn't possible. It's so much better to take the situations we've been through, forgive those who have hurt us, and learn to avoid similar situations in the future. Forgiving is not impossible. In fact, it's a key component of healing.

Audiobook: Getting Past the Past Chapter 6: Pull the Bitter From the Root

No one likes a sour attitude. It can poison the people around you. One of the best things you can do to make sure bitterness doesn't creep in is to pray for the people who persecuted you.  After all, you becoming bitter doesn't help anything. In fact, it makes the situation worse.

Audiobook: Getting Past the Past Chapter 5: Find the Friends that Can Carry Your Story and You

You weren't meant to go through the hurt alone. Our friends can get us through the worst. They can encourage and support us and pray for us. Their faith can bring prayers to the Father that we aren't strong enough to pray. If you don't have godly Christian friends, start praying God brings them into your life.

Audiobook: Getting Past the Past Chapter Four: Grieve But Don't Turn Back

It's normal and totally OK to grieve what you lost or the illusion of what you had. But you can't stay there. Once you've grieved, you have to look forward and appreciate what's ahead.