When licensed counselor, Kimberly Haar sat down on the Bridges set, I had no idea the story I was about to hear. It was a raw and compassionate conversation, where Kimberly pulled back the curtain on her own devastating journey as a domestic violence survivor. Assaulted and kidnapped by her ex-husband and seeing the man she loved shot 10 times; she offered a lifeline of hope to those wrestling with seemingly unrecoverable pain. Drawing from both personal and professional experience, she reveals how it is possible to navigate life’s darkest seasons with vulnerability, faith, and resilience so that you can ultimately embrace hope, find joy, and rediscover God’s deep and abiding love for you.
Here are some of the powerful truths that Kimberly Haar shared during our conversation.
Don’t Buy the Lie
Don’t buy the lie that healing from life’s deepest hurts isn’t possible. Give up the concept that your life is irreparably harmed. Believe God’s Word that says nothing is impossible for those who believe and His promise that He’s working all things out for your good. Certainly, our lives are affected by loss, grief, and trauma – but this doesn’t mean that all hope for healing is lost. Kimberly found that journaling God’s promises helped her dismiss the lies that the enemy and even well-meaning people may say.
Embrace the Essentials
Faith. Trust. Forgiveness. One day at a time. Hold on to your faith in God and His good plan and promises for your life. Trust that you can be completely honest with God about what you’re experiencing and how you are feeling. Trust that He sees your tears and cares about your pain. Believe that forgiving the person/s that have wronged you is not only possible but that in doing so you will be set free. Understand that all of this is a process. It’s one day at a time and sometimes it’s one step forward and two steps back. Kimberly found that her healing was not a straight line but rather a back and forth. As she accepted that healing was a process and not just a single prayer – she found resiliency and hope for her journey. However, as you hold on to God’s goodness over time He will bring healing to your life.
Seek Expert Help
Sharing your thoughts and feelings with a Christian therapist can be very helpful in rebuilding your life after trauma, loss, or grief. A Christian therapist offers you complete confidentiality and a safe space for you to share your unfiltered thoughts and feelings. A therapist is equipped to provide you with ways to navigate and process life’s deepest hurts and challenges. Kimberly found that therapy provided a safe space to share her deepest fears and rebuild hope one step at a time.
Kimberly Haar’s story is one of the most traumatic that I’ve ever heard. Yet her faith and tenacity bring hope and inspiration to all who suffer from grief, loss, and trauma.
Today’s Secret from the Studio: You can reclaim your life after trauma, loss, or grief by trusting God and allowing yourself to heal one day at a time.
Monica Schmelter is the host of Bridges aired on Christian Television Network in over 50 million homes weekly and also on ROKU and other streaming platforms. Monica also hosts the Hope for the Journey podcast which was named in the Top Ten Podcasts for Christian Women by LifeAudio.
