Walking With God Through Trauma

Life Can Be Heavy

Life can bring seasons of pain, loss, or trauma that leave us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck. These experiences shape how we see ourselves and the world. Trauma isn’t just an event; it’s how our mind, body, and spirit respond when life feels too heavy to bear.

God Invites Us to Walk With Him

But God doesn’t leave us to face our pain alone. He invites us to walk with Him toward healing and wholeness, and we can experience His care in practical ways. We feel His presence when we pause to pray, reflect on a comforting scripture, or simply sit quietly and notice His goodness around us. We receive guidance when we ask Him for wisdom, pay attention to gentle nudges in our circumstances, or take small steps in the direction He seems to lead. His comfort can be found when we share our struggles with a trusted friend who can pray with us, journal our feelings before Him, or take a deep breath and rest in His care.

This invitation doesn’t promise that the pain will disappear immediately, but it assures us that we don’t walk alone, and every small step matters.

Acknowledge Your Pain

Healing begins with honesty. Trauma leaves marks, but it doesn’t define who we are. Bringing our struggles to God might mean saying a simple prayer: “God, I don’t know how to move forward, but I bring this to You.” It might mean journaling feelings to see them clearly or talking with a trusted friend or mentor who can listen and pray with us. These actions invite God into our pain and help us take the first steps toward wholeness.

Faith Is a Lifeline

Faith is more than just believing in God; it is the lifeline we cling to when life feels overwhelming. Imagine being caught in rough waters: faith is the rope that keeps you from drifting away. Taking God’s invitation seriously means practicing faith daily, whether pausing to pray when fear rises, recalling a scripture promise when anxiety spikes, or choosing hope by taking one small step forward, even when circumstances feel uncertain.

Trust God in Your Struggles

Trusting God doesn’t erase pain, but it allows us to walk through it with hope. It means believing He is present and active, even when we cannot see the full path. Practically, this might look like surrendering your worries in prayer, asking Him for guidance before decisions, or choosing forgiveness when resentment feels heavy. Each small act of trust is a step forward in walking with God.

Heal the Whole Person

Healing touches every part of who we are; mind, body, and spirit. Trauma can affect our thoughts, emotions, body, and spirit. Walking with God toward wholeness means caring for all these areas: seeking support for our minds and emotions, moving or resting our bodies, and nurturing our spirits through prayer, meditation, or scripture reflection. Each small, intentional step brings us closer to restoration.

Take Practical Steps Toward Wholeness

Healing is a journey, not a single event. We celebrate small victories and extend grace to ourselves along the way. Pausing daily to pray, journal, or reflect on scripture; seeking support from a friend, mentor, or counselor; noticing moments of peace, gratitude, or hope—these small actions, taken with God, help us live out the healing He invites us into.

Closing Thought

Trauma and pain do not define your story. God actively invites you to walk with Him through every struggle. Faith is the rope that holds you, trust is the choice to keep moving forward, and practical steps help you live out healing in everyday life. Step by step, with God, you can experience restoration, hope, and wholeness.

If this blog encouraged you, consider joining my newsletter for reflections, practical guidance, and support on your journey toward wholeness.

Healing Through Presence: How Showing Up Can Transform Lives

Sometimes, the most powerful ministry is not found in words, solutions, or instructions. It is found in simply being there. I learned this deeply when I visited a young man who had been navigating dialysis since he was very young. His journey had been hard, made heavier by family absence and messages that made him question his worth and even God.

The Power of Simply Being There

When I entered his hospital room, I saw layers of fear, pain, and isolation in his eyes. But I did not come to explain, persuade, or fix. I came to be present. I sat quietly, giving him space to breathe and speak. Sometimes people simply need to voice what is on their mind. They do not need answers, advice, or guidance. They need someone to listen, witness their story, and be there with them. That quiet attention alone can be profoundly healing because we are created to be relational beings, wired to connect, to be seen, and to share our inner world with others. In that simple act of listening, both the mind and the soul find space to breathe and begin to heal.

As he began to share his experience, I held judgment aside and acknowledged his feelings. I allowed the moment to belong fully to him, while showing through my posture, gaze, and attention that he was not alone. Slowly, subtly, I noticed a shift. There was a softening in his eyes, a small but meaningful signal that he felt seen. In that unhurried space, healing quietly began, not through advice, but through the act of being fully present.

What Presence Really Means

Presence is more than just being physically there. It is intentional, relational, and requires attentiveness, empathy, and humility. It means:

● Giving full attention

● Setting aside judgment

● Allowing the person to teach you about their world and experience

● Showing up consistently, even in small ways

● Offering a safe, steady space where someone can simply be themselves

Even without words, presence communicates care, dignity, and recognition. It can create a subtle but powerful healing space.

Practical Ways to Practice Presence

Here are a few ways to integrate presence into everyday life:

1. Active listening

Pay attention not only to words, but to tone, pauses, and emotions. Let the person speak without interruption, fully holding space for what they are expressing.

2. Resist the urge to fix

Often, people just need to be heard. They are not always looking for solutions. They need someone who can sit with them in their experience.

3. Be non-judgmental

Accept the person’s feelings and experiences as valid, even if they differ from your own perspective. Validation can be more healing than advice.

4. Practice cultural humility

Respect their background, beliefs, and identity. Approach differences with curiosity and allow them to educate you rather than imposing assumptions.

5. Be fully present

Reduce distractions, make appropriate eye contact, and communicate through your attention and body language that you are there with them. Small, consistent gestures over time can reinforce trust and care.

Reflections to Carry Forward

Presence is simple in concept, but profound in practice. Showing up without an agenda, acknowledging pain without judgment, and allowing someone to be fully seen can open the door to subtle healing, even when faith is fragile or life feels unfair.

Ask yourself: Who in your life might need you to simply show up today? How can you offer presence, not solutions?

At Ernest Living Ministries, we believe healing often flows most powerfully through human connection. When we show up, stay present, and listen with our hearts, we become instruments of care, compassion, and hope.

Healing the Whole Person: A Call to Body, Mind, and Soul

The Sacred Work of Restoration through God’s Design

There are moments in life when the ache of this world becomes too loud to ignore.

when anxiety won’t let up, when the body is burdened, when the soul feels numb.

And in those moments, many whisper a desperate question:

“God, is there healing for me?”

And the answer from Heaven has never changed: Yes.

But healing, real healing, the kind that frees, restores, and transforms.

is not surface-level. It’s whole.

It’s body. It’s mind. It’s soul.

God’s Design Was Always Wholeness

In Genesis, before the fall, humanity was whole.

Walking with God in perfect communion

Caring for the earth and receiving nourishment

At peace within themselves, unashamed, unburdened

But sin fractured what God made whole.

And ever since, humanity has been trying to heal with only part of the equation.

We medicate the body but neglect the soul.

We quote scripture but suppress trauma.

We hustle for success but ignore the silent cries of our spirit.

But the Healer we follow, Jesus, He restored people in fullness.

Jesus Healed the Whole Person

He didn’t just touch lepers’ skin, He restored their dignity.

He didn’t just cast out demons, He clothed people in peace.

He didn’t just say, “Your faith has healed you”, He also said,

“Go and sin no more,”

“Be made whole,”

“Daughter, your faith has saved you.”

Jesus was never in the business of symptom relief.

He came for transformation.

And that’s the call today, for every believer, every servant, and yes, every healer:

To stop treating people in pieces and start restoring them in wholeness.

The Call to Heal is Still Alive

Maybe you’ve felt it too, that pull in your spirit.

Not just to speak or serve, but to heal.

To care for the whole person:

To learn the herbs God placed in the earth as medicine

To pray with authority over anxiety and trauma

To teach rest, stillness, and self-awareness

To offer coaching, care, counsel, and compassion

To create sacred space for others to become whole again

If that stirring is in you, it’s not random.

It’s a mantle.

Healing Ministry is Not Just a Role, It’s a Response

Healing ministry is not for the elite. It’s not for those with perfect faith or polished resumes.

It’s for those who’ve tasted brokenness.

and still believe God restores.

It’s for those who know how it feels to cry alone,

and now want to walk with someone else through their night.

It’s for those who see beyond symptoms,

who know that spiritual oppression can wear the face of depression,

that chronic fatigue can come from emotional trauma,

and that sometimes what someone needs isn’t a sermon, it’s touch, presence, truth, and a cup of healing tea.

Body. Mind. Soul.

This is the ministry God is raising in this hour.

And it will not fit neatly into one box.

Because His Spirit is not confined.

Some will lay hands.

Some will counsel.

Some will distill oils and herbs.

Some will coach.

Some will sit and cry with the wounded.

Some will teach others how to rest, breathe, detox, journal, or pray.

All will heal.

Are You One of Them?

If this stirs you… maybe it’s because you are one of them.

A healer in the hands of the Healer.

A voice of restoration. A vessel of oil. A prophet of peace.

This is the vision behind Ernest Healing Ministry, a sacred branch of Ernest Living Co.

It is not a brand. It is an altar.

A place where wholeness is pursued, and healing is made accessible.

Not just for those who believe.

But for those who don’t even know what healing feels like anymore.

💬 Final Thought:

You don’t need to have all the answers. You don’t need a certificate to start walking in your calling. But if you feel the pull, start moving. Study. Pray. Ask questions. Build the altar. Prepare the oil. Learn the herbs. Make space.

The world is groaning for healing.

And you carry the answer, not just in your words, but in your life.

What I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Healing Journey

Because healing isn’t instant, and you’re not alone.

There’s something no one tells you when you’re desperate for healing:

It’s not just about feeling better.

It’s about becoming.

When I first started my healing journey, I thought it would be more like flipping a switch, pray, cry, rest, and move on. But healing doesn’t work like that. If you’re in the thick of it, wondering why it’s taking so long or why it still hurts, I want to share with you a few things I wish someone had told me.

1. Healing is not linear.

Some days you’ll feel like you’re finally free, and then something triggers you, and you’re back in the tears, the questions, the doubt. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human. Healing often looks like spirals, not straight lines. Progress happens in the small steps you take to show up for yourself every day.

2. You can’t do it alone.

I used to think I had to pray harder, be stronger, or “get over it.” But God didn’t create us to heal in isolation. I needed safe spaces, mentors, community, counseling, and eventually coaching. Healing flourishes in relationship. You don’t have to carry it all. You’re not weak for needing help. You’re wise.

3. Your story matters, even the messy parts.

There are parts of my life I once felt ashamed of, seasons I wanted to hide. But I’ve learned that those very chapters are the ones God uses most to bring healing to others. Your story isn’t just something you survive. It’s something God can redeem. Every tear, every scar, has purpose.

4. Healing takes intention, not just time.

Time alone doesn’t heal wounds. What you do with the time matters. I had to learn how to process pain, challenge lies I believed, unlearn survival patterns, and invite God into the hard places. That’s when real healing began.

5. There is hope, even here.

If you’re in a place where it still hurts, please don’t give up. Healing is possible. There’s more ahead of you than what’s behind. And the best part? You don’t have to walk this road alone.

💬 Final Thought:

If this resonates with you, maybe it’s time to stop walking in circles and start walking in purpose. Coaching changed how I saw myself, my story, and my next steps. It might be your next step too.

When You Feel Stuck: 5 Signs It’s Time for Coaching

Author: Peggy L. Ernest | Ernest Living Coaching

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right, yet going nowhere?

You pray. You plan. You push. But still… something’s not moving.
Maybe you’re not broken, maybe you’re just stuck. And being stuck doesn’t mean you’re failing, it might mean it’s time for support.

As a faith-based coach, I’ve walked with women who were strong, spiritual, and successful on the outside, but silently stagnant within. Coaching isn’t about fixing you. It’s about partnering with you so you can break through, grow deeper, and move forward with clarity and purpose.

Here are 5 signs it may be time to invite coaching into your journey:

1. You feel like you're circling the same mountain.

No matter how much you pray or plan, you keep ending up in the same emotional or spiritual space. You know there’s more, but you can’t seem to access it.

Coaching helps you identify root causes, patterns, and limiting beliefs that keep you stuck in cycles.

2. You have clarity about your calling, but fear is louder than faith.

You sense what God is calling you to do, but doubts and insecurities whisper louder. You feel overwhelmed, unsure, and paralyzed by what could go wrong.

A coach walks beside you, helping you silence fear and step out in obedience and boldness.

3. You’re pouring into everyone else, but feel spiritually and emotionally empty.

You encourage others, serve faithfully, and carry a lot… but deep down, you're depleted. Your soul feels tired, and you long to be poured into too.

Coaching creates a sacred space where YOU can be seen, heard, supported, and spiritually nourished.

4. You know what you should do, but you're stuck in procrastination.

You have the vision. The passion. Maybe even the plan. But you're not executing. Something invisible is holding you back, and you don’t know how to break through.

Coaching helps you unlock momentum through accountability, mindset shifts, and purpose-driven action steps.

5. You sense God is doing something new, but you need help discerning the next step.

You feel the winds of change, but clarity hasn’t come. You're unsure whether it's time to wait, move, pivot, or release.

A coach helps you pause, pray, reflect, and move forward in alignment with God’s will, not just your willpower.

You don’t have to figure it all out alone.

Stuck seasons are sacred spaces where God invites us to lean in and get real. If any of these signs resonated with you, I want to personally invite you to consider coaching, not as a luxury, but as an investment in the purpose, peace, and power God has already placed inside you.

Let’s journey together.

👉🏽 Book a Discovery Session info@ernestliving.ca.
👉🏽 Learn More About Coaching with Peggy https://www.ernestliving.ca/coaching-courses

Becoming a Voice for Healing and Hope

By Peggy L. Ernest

Founder, Ernest Living Co.

There’s something stirring in me, something I can’t quite ignore anymore.

It’s the sense that healing, real healing, isn’t just something that happens privately in our rooms, in our journals, or at the altar. Healing also needs to happen in our communities, in our systems, and in our shared spaces.

I don’t have all the answers.

I’m not a politician or a public figure.

But I’m a woman of faith. I care. And I feel called to stand in the gap, to be a voice where silence has gone on too long.

Lately, I’ve been praying a lot about what it means to truly live with purpose. Not just to survive. Not just to go to church and go home. But to live earnestly, with intention, with courage, and with compassion.

That’s what Earnest Living is about for me.

It’s about using my story, my experiences, my faith, and even my pain to serve others.

It’s about bringing light to dark places.

It’s about speaking when it would be easier to stay quiet.

I’ve applied for a few roles where I can be part of that kind of work. roles where voices like mine can be heard and where people who are often overlooked can be seen. I’m still waiting to hear back. But whether I’m chosen or not, my heart remains the same.

I believe in showing up.

I believe in healing.

And I believe that faith has something powerful to say about justice, dignity, and community care.

Maybe you’re in a waiting season too.

Maybe you’re wondering if your voice matters.

Let me tell you: It does.

Even before you’re “official,” God can use you.

Even before doors open, you can prepare, pray, and position yourself to walk through them.

This blog is just the beginning. I don’t know what all is ahead, but I know who goes before me.

Thanks for walking this journey with me.

Let’s live it, earnestly.

Peggy L. Ernest

Founder, Ernest Living Co.