By Lisa S. Tarno

I came by some liberating information today that finally made sense to me. Let me begin with admitting that I have had trust issues certainly with people and for good cause, but I admit with God as well. I have had well meaning Christian friends say to me, “You just need to trust God more.” I’m going to be honest… that didn’t help me. If anything it made me feel shame that I had a trust issue with God at all! Maybe others had an easier time trusting in general and their life’s circumstances lent to a firmer trust? “What was my problem?”, I often mused. 

I came across a psychologist’s take on the internet that helped unlock it for me. She was writing about stuff that I had previously unpacked with a counselor but took it a step further that was liberating and I said “Aha!”, to myself. The facts are when the brain feels unsafe from a chronic state of fight or flight situations, trust feels unsafe too. I call it “Brace for impact” kind of living, which a lot of my life has been upon reflection. I have learned that chronic stress keeps the brain’s warning system on high alert. This author pointed me toward how this not only impacts relationships with trusting people in general but also God!

She said that “stress changes more than your energy. Chronic stress doesn’t just exhaust your body. It quietly rewires how you relate to both people and God. The brain shifts into survival mode [and when it does] the amygdala, your brains alarm system, becomes overactive, constantly scanning for threat.” (@Dr. Michelle Bengtson) “When this happens the pre-frontal cortex, the part responsible for reasoning, discernment and trust becomes less effective.”

Evidence of this looks like 1. Wondering what people’s intentions are 2. Bracing for impact or disappointment or 3. Wrestling with being able to trust even safe relationships. Then this psychologist wrote the most liberating thing I have read so far, “It can affect your relationship with God. You may struggle to believe that God is truly good, present, or for you, especially when life feels hard. This is not just a FAITH issue. It’s a brain and body issue. [It’s a protective lie. Chronic stress tells our nervous system]: ‘It’s not safe to rely on anyone.’ That belief doesn’t just stay in human relationships. It often spills into our relationship with God. You may still believe Him. You may still love Him. But trusting Him can feel much harder.”

This may be elementary for everyone else, but for me it was a light bulb moment to stop beating myself up that I had trust issues with God…like there was something really wrong with me…how could I not trust God? Right? I finally made the connection of why I struggled with this. It wasn’t an excuse to stay in that frame of mind but it gave clarity to why I was there to begin with. It made sense. 

There is a way out of that with techniques to heal our nervous systems (look up online) which I find incredibly helpful but also there’s hope. God designed our brains to have the ability to change. Romans 12:2 says, “…Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (or changing the way you think).” Neuroscience calls it neuroplasticity. It is basically retraining our brains toward safety, connection and trust. We can do practical everyday things to reframe, recalibrate and train our thoughts to be productive rather than detrimental. I have noticed that psychological help is all over scripture and many of its principles are founded on kingdom truths.

 Look at the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13 and another brain specialist’s take on it: 

“The Lord’s Prayer- is a blueprint for a healthier and more resilient brain! 

Our Father who art in heaven– activates the attachment system shifting our brain from threat to safety

Hallowed be thy name– gets us outside of ourselves and quiets rumination and self criticism

Your kingdom come– lights up the dopamine network helping our brain imagine a better future

Your will be done– calms the amygdala and reduces stress by releasing the burden of control

Give us our daily bread– anchors attention in the present reducing catastrophic thinking in our amygdala

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those trespass against us– activates the empathy network in our brains and decreases cortisol by releasing resentment

Lead us not into temptation– strengthens the prefrontal inhibitory circuits that help you resist triggers before they hit 

And deliver us from evil– boosts courage by activating and reminding our brains that we are not alone

The Lord’s Prayer is not just spiritual but also a neurological transformation one intentional line at a time.” 

~ Daniel G. Amen, M.D. Psychiatrist 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart…” Proverbs 3:5

Cast all your cares- 1 Peter 5:7

I am with You- Isaiah 41:10

The Lord is my shepherd- Psalm 23

Come to Him all who are weary- Matthew 11:28

Set your mind on things above- Colossians 3:2

Take every thought captive- 2 Cor 10:5

Be still and know that I am God- Psalm 46:10

Think on whatever is true- Phil 4:8

The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace- Romans 8:6

Spending time with God in quiet reflection and prayer is the antidote for life’s chronic stresses. Getting in the habit of spending time in His presence through worship, reading scripture, prayer helps reset our physical nervous system as well as our spiritual growth. I know God has heard my earnest prayers of needing His help to believe and to trust at times when I didn’t. I know He wasn’t shaming me. The revelation of the brain/body connection was very illuminating for me. It helped it make sense and it was like the missing puzzle piece. It wasn’t a faith issue…it is a brain/body issue that has a remedy! God’s Word is the blueprint for living our best lives and the antidote to the perils that plague us!