Unresolved Wounds: The Triggers We Can’t Ignore

    Have you ever been in a situation where something small just sets you off? 

The way someone looks at you, a word, or even a gesture that sends your emotions spiraling? You might find yourself reacting in ways that surprise even you, you may even be wondering, “Why is this bothering me so much?”

    It’s said that “triggers are the most powerful internal compasses we have.” When something bothers you....that is your first indication that something is unresolved or unhealed within you.

    Triggers don’t always seem like a gift.....do they? 

The reality is, when we face them, they are often the very thing that leads us toward deeper healing. 

    Think about it-----> when something triggers you, it’s as if your emotions and body are pointing out an area that has yet to be fully dealt with. 

It’s a signal...like a loud indicator that something inside you needs attention.

    ***Think of the engine light on the dashboard of your truck.  It's telling you that there's an issue!***  

    Triggers are not just random outbursts of emotion. They’re the emotional echoes of unresolved pain, past hurts, or unhealed wounds. They show us where we need healing. Where we need God to come in and restore and make whole. 

    When something is truly healed, it won’t trigger you anymore. It won’t rattle you. It won’t cause a flood of overwhelming emotions. 

You won’t dysregulate because the trigger no longer has the power to disrupt your peace.

    If I may be so bold to say that even refusing to acknowledge someone else’s pain or story can also be a trigger. ESPECIALLY if YOU are in their story! You might feel uncomfortable, defensive, or even dismissive, and in those moments, it’s not necessarily about the other person’s story. It’s your own unresolved hurts being stirred. 

    It may feel like you’re rejecting their pain, but the truth is.... it’s a reminder of what you've stuffed away .... those parts of you that you've hidden, avoided, or never given full permission to heal.

So, when you find yourself triggered, take a moment to pause. 

Instead of reacting, ask God to show you why it's affecting you.

It’s an invitation to dive deeper, to examine the hidden places of your heart. Is it a past wound? A hurt you’ve buried? An unresolved issue that’s now surfacing? 

Don’t ignore the trigger; treat it as an opportunity for healing.

    Healing isn’t about getting over something. It’s about being able to face what once caused pain without being overwhelmed by it. It’s about peace that passes ALL understanding. It's about learning how to live in the freedom Jesus Christ offers us.

God doesn’t shy away from our pain. 

He draws near to us when we hurt. 

He doesn’t condemn us for being triggered; He invites us into His healing presence. 

He is the Great Healer who can bring peace and restoration, no matter how deep the wound.

    The road to healing may involve confronting the triggers. Examine where they come from, digging deep, asking why they still have power, and asking God to bring His truth into those areas of our hearts.   

With time, patience, and God’s grace, healing will come.

    When healing happens, the thing that once triggered us becomes the very thing that reminds us of how far we’ve come. 

The anger, the hurt, the anxiety.....those intense reactions will no longer control us. We will be free. Free to walk in peace, free to love, and free to live without fear of being emotionally hijacked by the past.

So, the next time you find yourself triggered, remember: it’s not the end. It’s the beginning. It’s an invitation to move closer to healing. The more we allow God to bring wholeness to our wounded places, the less those triggers will control us. Healing is not about being perfect; it’s about being whole. And God has a way of making all things new, one trigger at a time.

All Things New by Big Daddy Weave

I've heard You can take what's broken

And make it whole again

Well, here's the pieces of my heart

What can You do with them?

'Cause I can't hold them all together anymore

So I let them fall surrendered to the floor

You make all things new

You make all things new

God of mercy and love

Do what only You can do

And make all things new

Only You can bring such beauty

From the depths of all my pain

Only You can take this shattered heart

And make it beat again

Oh, You hold us all together in Your hands

I surrender all I have and all I am

You make all things new

You make all things new

God of mercy and love

Do what only You can do

And make all things new

From the ashes, from the dust

I will rise up, rise up

Out of darkness into the light

I will rise up, rise up

From the ashes, from the dust

I will rise up, rise up

Out of darkness into the light

I will rise up, rise up

You make all things new

You make all things new

God of mercy and love

Do what only You can do

And make all things

All things

You make all things new