Have you ever been driving along, minding your own business, when suddenly the dreaded “check engine” light pops on your dashboard? It’s an unwelcome sight, but it’s also an essential signal—your car’s way of saying, “Hey, something isn’t quite right under the hood. Let’s pause and check this out.” Our emotional triggers function similarly. They can feel uncomfortable, inconvenient, and even alarming, but they serve a vital purpose. They are our internal “check engine” lights, alerting us to deeper wounds that need healing.
In his groundbreaking book, The Body Keeps the Score, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk reveals how trauma, whether big or small, lodges itself in our nervous system, muscles, and even in our cells. Our body remembers, even when our conscious mind may have forgotten. These memories often show up as emotional or physical triggers, pointing to unresolved experiences.
It’s important to understand there are two types of trauma—Big T and little t. Big T traumas are significant, life-altering events like abuse, serious accidents, or natural disasters. Little t traumas, though seemingly smaller, can still profoundly impact our development. These might include moments of feeling unheard, misunderstood, or emotionally neglected. The interesting part? Our brains and bodies don’t discriminate much between the two when it comes to safety and survival.
As children, we were extraordinary interpreters but often inaccurate observers. Without a fully developed prefrontal cortex—the part of our brain responsible for rational thinking and understanding context—we interpreted situations from a limited viewpoint. A parent’s distractedness might have been read as rejection; a heated conversation between parents could feel life-threatening, even when it wasn’t. These interpretations wired our nervous systems to react as if the environment was unsafe, embedding survival responses deep within our neurobiology.
These survival responses were adaptations, not signs of being broken. Your body brilliantly adapted to keep you safe at the moment, even if those adaptations aren’t serving you today. Now, as adults, when our triggers get activated, it’s because a part of us still believes we’re in danger—even if logically, we know we aren’t. This activation isn’t a malfunction; it’s an invitation. It’s the check engine light blinking insistently, urging us to slow down and explore what’s beneath the surface.
Praise God, we are designed with remarkable neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to reorganize and heal itself by forming new neural connections. Just as our brains adapted to survive unsafe conditions, we have the God-given ability to rewire them back toward safety and peace. Romans 12:2 beautifully illustrates this promise: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” We are not stuck; we are being invited into transformation.
I speak from personal experience. God has guided me on my own healing marathon, taking me from a place of disorganized attachment—where relationships felt unpredictable and unsafe—to secure attachment, marked by consistency, peace, and trust. I’ve walked the path from anxiety to peace, rewiring my nervous system, transforming my reactions, and ultimately my entire life experience.
My journey didn’t start alone—it began in the therapy room with a compassionate therapist who integrated EMDR therapy with faith, inviting Jesus into my healing process. EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a powerful therapeutic tool that helps the brain process and heal from traumatic experiences. With the presence of Jesus in the room, the healing was not only emotional and physical but profoundly spiritual.
As I progressed, I learned to view triggers not as inconveniences or setbacks, but as gentle nudges from the Holy Spirit. Each trigger was an opportunity to invite Jesus into another hidden wound. Each moment of discomfort became an invitation to deeper healing and transformation.
If you find yourself frequently triggered, feeling overwhelmed, or stuck in patterns of anxiety, anger, or fear—take heart. Your triggers are not indicators that you’re broken; rather, they’re signs of a body and mind wisely adapted to past situations that no longer serve your present or your future.
God’s promise remains: He can and will renew your mind and restore your peace. Psalm 147:3 reminds us, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Healing is not just possible—it is promised. My journey is evidence of that promise, and I confidently assure you: if God can rewire and restore me, He can and will do the same for you.
The next time your internal check engine light flickers on, pause. Invite curiosity and compassion. Ask yourself gently, “What deeper wound is this pointing to? What part of me needs healing?” Then, invite Jesus into that space. He who began a good work in you will see it through to completion (Philippians 1:6).
#HealingJourney #TriggersAreTeachers #FaithBasedHealing #MentalHealthAwareness #TheBodyKeepsScore #CommunityHealing #EmotionalWellness #TransformYourMind
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