When Avoidance Becomes Protection—and a Prison Denial is a psychological defense mechanism in which a person avoids confronting a painful reality by refusing to acknowledge its existence. While denial can temporarily protect us from overwhelming emotions, it often keeps us stuck, disconnected, and unable to grow. One of the most common and subtle forms of denial is the denial of our need for others . When safe, nurturing relationships were unavailable or unsafe early in life,

Love often presents itself gently—through connection, care, and availability. But instead of responding to it, some people instinctively devalue  it. What was once good is suddenly minimized, criticized, or dismissed as unimportant or unsafe. Devaluation is a defense mechanism  in which a person reduces the value of something that feels emotionally threatening. Rather than risk vulnerability, they unconsciously turn something positive into something negative. This is not beca

Facing the Truth Is the First Step Toward Healing Before we can take the first step in recovery, we must first face and admit our denial. God makes it clear that we cannot heal a wound by pretending it doesn’t exist : “They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious.” — Jeremiah 6:14 Denial keeps us stuck. It delays healing and deepens pain. The acrostic DENIAL  helps us understand what happens when we refuse to face the truth. D — Disables Our Feelings When w

Projection is a psychological defense mechanism in which we attribute our own thoughts, feelings, or unmet needs to someone else. Instead of acknowledging what is happening inside of us, we “project” it outward onto others. For example: A person who feels inadequate may accuse others of judging them. A caretaker may meet their own needs vicariously by projecting them onto others, rather than honestly owning their desires or limitations. Projection is subtle, and most of the t

✨ CHOICE 4: Openly Examine and Confess My Faults “Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.” A pure heart is a free heart—a heart no longer weighed down by guilt, shame, or the secrets we’ve tried to hide. Purity isn’t perfection. It’s honesty. It’s courage. It’s the willingness to stop running from our past and finally bring everything into the light. Choice 4 is where true freedom begins. ⭐ What Guilt Does to Us Guilt slowly destroys us

The Road to Recovery is a Christ-centered pathway toward healing and freedom.Each principle is rooted in Jesus’ Beatitudes  (Matthew 5), showing us that true recovery begins not in self-reliance, but in surrender to God. These eight principles outline a journey from brokenness to blessing—through honesty, humility, hope, and heart transformation. 1. Realize I’m not God. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  — Matthew 5:3 I admit that I am pow

A Biblical and Evidence-Based Pathway to Healing Hurts, Hang-ups, and Habits The Human Need for Recovery The Bible clearly states that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). It is our nature to sin—yours and mine. None of us is exempt. Because of sin, we’ve all hurt ourselves, we’ve hurt others, and others have hurt us. That means each of us needs repentance and recovery to live the way God intended. We often hear the phrase, “time heals all wound