Notes on Healing & Relationships

"Yet" provides context, makes room for meaning, and normalizes learning and struggle.

If you have teenagers, you probably know this feeling well: You ask a simple, well-meaning question like, "How was your day?" and you’re met with a grunt, a shrug, or the back of a hoodie as they disappear into their room looking at their phone.

The Quiet House: Finding Yourself in the Empty Nest. Whether you’ve been counting down the days or dreading the departure, the transition is an all-encompassing identity shift. Here is how to navigate the quiet and turn it into your next great chapter.

Have you ever noticed how the story we tell ourselves about an event can completely change how we feel? The meaning we assign to what happens, to the circumstances, to other people, even to God's actions, directly shapes our emotional world. Our self-talk, that constant inner narrative, isn't just background noise; it's a powerful tool for emotion regulation. As believers, we're called to be intentional about our thoughts. But we need practical filters to guide our self-talk.

And in the middle of nights when sleep wouldn’t come, when the enemy whispered that others would turn away because I now carried that label - “divorced.” I was a statistic. And then, some did turn away… the Lord kept bringing me back to one stubborn question: How do I honor God right here, in this broken and sin-soaked place? Not how do I win the courtroom, not how do I make him hurt the way I hurt, not even how do I rebuild my life in the fastest way possible. Just—how do I

When someone we care about is gripped by cognitive dissonance, their words and perceptions may seem like a fogged mirror, reflecting not reality but a revised version crafted to ease their inner conflict. Remember, this is often a subconscious shield against the pain of sin or unmet ideals. Our role isn't to shatter that shield with force, for as Proverbs 15:1 reminds us, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Instead, approach with Christlike hu

Trauma doesn't announce itself politely. It crashes in, rearranges everything you thought you knew about safety, about yourself, and about God sometimes. The shame that clings, the hypervigilance that never quite turns off, the way a seemingly small trigger can send your nervous system right back to survival mode. If you're in that season where hope feels distant, where the past keeps showing up uninvited, where you're tired of white-knuckling through triggers, Called2Rise ca

Practical Strategies for Living with a Narcissist. What happens when the basics aren't enough? When the gray rock technique feels like a temporary shield, and you need deeper tools to not just survive, but truly thrive? That's what we're diving into today. Building on those foundational strategies, fortify your emotional, spiritual, and mental defenses. Remember, this isn't about fixing the narcissist. Heart change is God's territory. It's about equipping you to rise above th

Faith-centered coaching strategies are not just about setting goals or making plans. They are about connecting your journey with God’s purpose for your life. Called2Rise's Christian mental health coaching strategically blends practical coaching and empirically proven therapeutic techniques with spiritual wisdom, creating a safe space where healing and growth can flourish.

Spiritual healing techniques are more than just rituals or prayers (Matt. 6:6-8). They are intentional ways to connect with God’s love and grace, allowing His healing presence to mend what feels broken inside (Ps. 147:3). These techniques invite you to slow down, listen deeply, and open your heart to the God of all comfort (II Cor. 1:3-4). Practical Spiritual Healing Techniques Some practical spiritual healing techniques include: Prayer and Meditation : Setting aside quiet mo

Living with a narcissist is painful, but you don’t have to lose your peace. Find strength in Christ and learn practical, faith-based steps to protect your heart and mind.

Discover how to navigate toxic relationships with biblical wisdom. Understand when to set boundaries and when no contact may honor God’s design for peace.

Learn how to deal with narcissists God’s way—using Scripture, prayer, and discernment to set boundaries, stay humble, and protect your peace.

Having established what biblical narcissism looks like in Satan – The Original Narcissist , Let’s look at a few notable men who fell into step with Satan’s narcissism. King Saul Traits Displayed : Pride, jealousy, obsession with status, and lack of accountability. Examples/Explanation : Saul’s insecurity and envy toward David reveal narcissistic tendencies. When David gained popularity after defeating Goliath, Saul became consumed with jealousy, fearing David would overshad

Parental alienation, where one parent manipulates a child to reject the other, is a devastating and dividing force in families. While much attention is given to the targeted parent and the alienated child, siblings—those not directly targeted by the manipulation—also suffer profoundly. Caught in the crossfire of family conflict, siblings face unique emotional, psychological, and spiritual challenges. Let’s look at the impact of parental alienation on siblings, an often-overlo

Following Archangel Michael’s example, it is with as much humility as I can muster that I write this post. “But when [even] the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, judicially argued (disputed) about the body of Moses, he dared not [presume to] bring an abusive condemnation against him, but [simply] said, The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 9, AMPC) So, rather than airing my opinions, I will stick to the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria as cited by Zimmerman & Kahn (2023) and th

Parental alienation, where one parent manipulates a child to reject the other, is a devastating form of emotional abuse. While the targeted parent suffers, the child is the unintended victim, caught in a web of loyalty conflicts and misinformation. Let’s scratch the surface of the emotional, psychological, and spiritual impacts of parental alienation on children. The long-term consequences are devastating. Early intervention is critical. Emotional Cost to the Child Children e

Parental alienation is a heart-wrenching phenomenon where one parent manipulates a child to reject the other, often during high-conflict divorces or custody disputes, though it also happens in dysfunctional marriages. While the child is caught in the middle, the targeted parent—the one pushed away—faces profound emotional, psychological, and even spiritual consequences. This blog explores how parental alienation affects the targeted parent, shedding light on a pain often endu

In the opening chapter of Genesis, the Bible illustrates the profound creative power of words: “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3, New Living Translation). With each divine utterance, the universe took shape—waters parted, land emerged, vegetation sprouted, and living creatures filled the earth and skies (Genesis 1:6-7, 9, 11, 14-15, 20, 24). Ultimately, God declared, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us” (Genesis 1:26). As bei

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