Trial Trauma: Healthy Spirituality for Empowered Living

By Dr. Sharon Mancha

Trial Trauma is a book that centers hope in coming to understand the root of all heart hurt and stagnation of the self can be resolved through practical steps that lead to relationship with God, who is able to give strength for overcoming the trauma drama of disappointment in life. It is a book that provides simple practical principles and steps for your life success.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781728328355

Dr. Sharon Mancha

Dr. Mancha is a whole life spiritual growth guru. She has given her life to helping others establish and maintain an intimate relationship with God as our life resourse for overcoming past trauma and accepting the healing possible in relationship with God. She is a co-pastor, prophetess and Christian educator who has herself survived and overcam trials and found safety in the heart of God.

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© 2019 Sharon Mancha. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 09/20/2019

ISBN: 978-1-7283-2836-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-2835-5 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Contents

Dedication

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1 What are Trials?

Chapter 2 Trauma Drama

Chapter 3 Trial Intelligence

Chapter 4 The Drama of Spiritual Warfare

Chapter 5 Overcoming My Drama

Chapter 6 Forgiving Yourself and Moving Forward

Chapter 7 Bearing Fruit in the Midst of Trial

Chapter 8 Healing and Restoration

Chapter 9 Spiritual Wealth

Chapter 10 The Wine Press of Faith

Chapter 11 Growing Your Spiritual Intelligence

Conclusion

Dedication

T his book is dedicated to Christians and God seekers who are desperate for healthy spiritual composure after suffering loss during difficult life experiences. I speak to those who desire spiritual actualization in Christ. I thank my husband who sacrificed time and encouraged me to risk transparency and to share my heart with the masses. To my mom who is always so eager to encourage and motivate me in accomplishing my dreams and imparting to those in need.

A special thanks to Bishop Joe Ealy, Jurisdicitional Prelate of Southern California One, COGIC for his support, prayers, and for taking the time out of his tremendous schedule to do a byword. And to my supervisor Dr. Barbara McCoo-Lewis who is a jewel in the Body of Christ and is wise beyond words in her dedication to the Church and to the growth and development of women all over the world. Thanks to Bishop Ealy, Dr. McCoo-Lewis, and to my loving husband for your unwavering support. I am blessed to have your prayers and covering over my life and ministry.

Foreword

T RIAL TRAUMA discloses Dr. Mancha as an astute writer who presents her material from a well-informed biblical perspective. Not only does she dig deeply into the Word of God, but her research in human vulnerabilities is based upon empirical evidence.

Ultimately sin has devastated the world and disfigured our once perfect relationships. Can you believe that in the beginning, there was no pain, no trials, no understanding of heartache nor sickness and disease? We are pained by the tendencies of human flesh, but the pain is far from the anguish Jesus experienced on the Cross to reconcile us to Himself. It is a relief to know that the sting of death has been removed for the saints; praise God! Trials are then honorable, because it means we have been counted worthy to suffer with Him.

So often suffering individuals slip pass us without us sharing the transforming power of God’s love. How wonderful it would be if our neighbors knew the depth of Jesus’ love—the breadth of his understanding and longing to abide with them. It would reduce their turmoil and give them courage to face their own pain. Your trials and suffering can evolve into the woes of a wounded healer and yet when you walk in the authority of His word……His strength infuses you and is made perfect in your weakness. Praise His Holy Name!

The transparency of this godly woman who chooses to share her personal testimony is refreshing and will reap immeasurable rewards on her journey. Her call to the readers is for those who yearn to mature in their faith and be spiritually healthy. You will find yourself somewhere throughout these pages. Open your heart and be strengthened by the writer’s insight into human suffering. You will be inspired that you can be healthy in your mind, spirit, and soul and never return to your old way of thinking because He whom the Son has set free is free indeed (John 8:36) (NIV)

Dr. Barbara McCoo Lewis- Jurisdictional Supervisor

Dept. of Women Southern California One Church of God in Christ Author of The Christian Woman’s Guide to Church Protocol and Saintly Decorum

Introduction

I have observed many Christians over the years lose their firs t love , which the Bible speaks of in the book of Revelations, as a hot love for God. This love is fueled by gratitude and an excitement for salvation. However, if life’s difficulties are not effectively survived they can turn that enthusiastic and electric passion for God into a lukewarm or cold lethargic impotence. Some Christians survive trial, but are weakened in their faith and their confidence in God is sifted. In some cases, people come into the kingdom of God expecting salvation to relieve them of all challenging experiences in their lives. This misconception may be an ill informed desire to escape from life. Life consists of awesome and yet difficult and even hurtful experiences. Salvation does not prevent the life events that allow growth within our emotional, mental, and spiritual development.

The Bible offers the opportunity of wholeness for the seeking believer and the privilege of achieving spiritual maturity, which leads to reaching one’s full potential and the wholeness of the self. This spiritual acquisition is demanding and requires a determination to win at all cost. Deciding to be all that you can be in Christ is a tenacious and disciplined process. Only the diligent and desperate achieve it. Not because it is not achievable, but because of a lack of discipline and faith to move beyond status quo. Your mind must be made up to serve and love God.

I have interviewed and observed people’s misunderstanding about salvation and its integration with life events. They want a pie in the sky kind of relationship with God. Meaning, some may want to part the red sea, stretch out their rod and make miracles happen without any preparation for such awe inspiring and faith dependent events. Walking with God is an adventure filled with opportunities to exercise faith and to be strengthened for defeating everything that confronts your faith in God. Confidence in God is necessary for provision, protection, and fulfillment of the call of God to abundant living in Christ. Development of spiritual character is most important in growing mature faith.

This book speaks of the necessity for learning skills that ensure successful passage through life’s difficulties. It will provide revelation regarding the pitfalls and possible snares impacting the emotional and mental health of Christians. I wrote this book to share revealed spiritual truths about the trauma that can occur if believers do not understand how to effectively participate and attentively be led by the Holy Spirit through each trial. You can lose your faith in God, if you have not packed appropriately for this spiritually enriching journey. The rigors of trial require spiritual tenacity, determination, and total dependence on God. Some Christians are wounded during trial, because they were ill prepared for the fiery darts the enemy threw at them and they ended up spiritually dysfunctional.

I learned some very deep things about the importance of learning how to skillfully fight to keep the faith. The fight of faith demands diligence and commitment to spiritual integrity, never surrendering your confidence in God. Winning this fight require an unwavering confidence in the God of the Bible, who anchors the soul against the windy storms and fiery trials of the human experience called life. Some Christians die during trial; some partially prepared Christians limp their way through them, while others pass safely through gaining the spoils of war, praising, and magnifying God for His provision and protection. What causes one to be victorious, while others suffer trauma or woundedness? This question will be answered in this book. Practical biblical truths will be provided for understanding how to achieve successful spiritual passage in and out of trying times. If you do not learn these truths, you can become dysfunctional and live beneath your God given biblically grounded inheritance for you individually and for the church bodily.

There are Christians bleeding in the pews and wounded leaders in the pulpit. No one may see their pain because they have mastered a façade to continue their membership in the Super Christian club. Don’t pretend! The mask of religion is short of spiritual integrity and cheapens the rich opportunities for safe passage through trials. Pretending is unhealthy spiritual living and hinders building spiritually healthy believers and churches. Healthy Christians and churches are built through people who are hungry for truth and desperate for a lifestyle actualized by biblical faith.

God’s love and your confidence in God is a secret weapon. This is why it is important to bare your wounds before God and a few trusted ones who will pray and encourage you in the Lord. These types of folk live out their faith in their daily experiences. Faith is precious and is at the core of wisdom for overcoming spiritual obstacles. After all, it is not God’s will that leaders or laity sacrifice themselves at the altar of pretense to maintain the image of super Christian. There are no Super Christians! There are simply born-again believers who trust God to equip and guide them in their journey of faith. Both believers and non-believers are challenged with life’s difficulties. Some learn sooner than others that it is impossible to live an empowered and victorious life without relationship with Christ, while others spend their lives never experiencing the overcoming power available in Christ. To live life absent of the Spirit of God is a tragedy, but to live in eternity without Him is most catastrophic.

Some Christians do not learn how to grow their faith for passage into the rest promised in scripture, but live in fear and the consequences of deficit faith. Raggedy faith produces raggedy lives. There are more people than we like to admit that live in broken spiritual conditions whom are sitting in the pews every Sunday discouraged and wounded. They failed their life tests, but refused to reveal their wounds to someone. Woundedness can manifest itself thorough acts of bitterness, unforgiveness, and being offended.

This book reveals the truth of practical Christian living and shares the integrity of sanctified living as the standard for overcoming trial. Religiousness without practical application of God’s Word only leads to churches filled with pretenders and members who have not experienced full conversion. So people pretend to be happy, whole, and healthy, but in actuality they are screaming inside for healing from the pain and the doubt that rose in their hearts during trials. The wounded need answers to the hard questions that surfaced during trial. To admit doubt for some would be an act of treason or religious suicide. We, as clergy leaders must give people permission to tell us they are bleeding in the pews. This means, there is the continued need for loving, understanding, and wise pastors and leaders who can lead the battle weary through their season of healing and restoration. This is hard work, but a much needed work. This book advocates healing, restoration, and reconciliation. In the book, Healing the Wounded Spirit (John and Paula Sandford, 1985), John and Paula wrote,

Many Christians are trying their best to walk as children of light. As they fail to produce the fruit of that light, they too often fall into striving, disillusionment, and condemnation because they are blind-sided and driven from deep within by that of which they have been unaware. They have rightly celebrated salvation as a free gift (Eph. 2:4, 5, Eh 2:8, Rom. 6:23) but have not understood that they are to grow up to it (I Pet. 2:2, Eph. 3:14-19). p.xix

Mature believers know and understand the audious process of restoration after difficult trial. I wrote this book for the hurting ones in the Body of Christ. Be encouraged. Jesus cares!

Chapter One

What are Trials?

T rials are life tests (Merriam Webster’s, 2004). They are seasons of testing that reveal the character and integrity of the mind, soul, and spirit, revealing the inner person. Trials are seasons when intense circumstances intrude into our lives, demanding our attention