Healing Childhood Sexual Abuse | Childhood Trauma, Shame, Trust Issues, Anger, Abandonment, Fear

Welcome back to Hope in the Fire, the podcast for Christian women healing from trauma and rebuilding their lives through spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, and nutritional wellness. In today’s episode, we’re talking about Christian stress management for women and how to experience true peace when life feels overwhelming. If last week we discussed courage overcoming fear, this week we’re addre...

In today’s episode Leslie talks about how courage involves acting upon your desire, despite the fear. The enemy would love for you to stay stuck in fear. Fear of what others will say. Fear that no one loves you. Fear that you are not good enough. How can we change this? By understanding that courage involves recognizing its connection to our brain’s response to fear. By understanding your journey,...

In today’s episode, Leslie explores: The difference between coping and true resilience Why resilience is not self-reliance How trauma, perfectionism, and dopamine keep women stuck Why interruptions often come right before growth How to return to rhythm after emotional, spiritual, or physical disruption In today’s episode of Hope in the Fire, Leslie opens her heart to share her personal adoption st...

In today’s episode of Hope in the Fire, Leslie opens her heart to share her personal adoption story and the profound spiritual truth of being adopted into the family of God through Jesus Christ. Drawing from Ephesians 1:4–5, Leslie explains how adoption isn’t just a legal process—it’s a divine act of love. For women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, questions of belonging, worth, and id...

In today's episode Leslie shares her real and raw story of her own experience with abortion.  Through the cross of Jesus and the forgiveness of sin, she has overcome the shame of the horrific events.  She encourages her listeners that God loves them no matter what.  Healing is possible.    Scriptures referenced:  Pslam 139:13-16 Luke 1   🔗 Connect with Me: >> https://lesliechermak.com/conta...

This time of year often stirs deep questions about purpose. As the holidays fade and a new year approaches, many women begin to wonder if there is more — more meaning, more clarity, more of who God created them to be. But these questions don’t only come at the end of the year. They surface when seasons change, when children grow up, when trauma lingers, or when God gently calls us forward. In this...

Following through on goals isn’t about willpower — it’s about courage, healing, and alignment. In this episode, we explore why following through feels so difficult for women who have experienced trauma, and how faith and neuroscience work together to help us move forward even when fear is present. You’ll learn how your nervous system impacts motivation, how God designed your body to support courag...

Waking up with purpose can feel impossible when trauma, stress, and old memories still live in the body. In this episode, we explore how God designed the body, brain, and spirit to work together for healing and resilience. You’ll learn how the gut–brain connection influences mood, anxiety, and stress response, why nourishment and hydration matter spiritually and neurologically, and how small morni...

This time of year always brings up emotions and feelings that either hold you back or move you forward.  Why not this be the year where you can truly dream?    In This Episode: ✓ Why the end of the year is the perfect time to dream with God ✓ How negative self-talk steals clarity ✓ The 5-step God-led goal-setting process you can start today ✓ Scriptures to anchor your mind ✓ How to prepare your he...

In this pre-Thanksgiving episode, Leslie offers a heartfelt message to women who find the holidays emotionally challenging—especially survivors of childhood trauma. She shares her own journey of learning to show up differently during family gatherings, how surrendering her own expectations helped her find peace, and how Jesus brought restoration and freedom from painful memories. You'll also learn...

In this heartfelt episode, Leslie opens up about her mother’s legacy of faith and the powerful lessons she discovered while reading through her journals and Bibles after her passing. Life’s trials can shake us to our core, but they can also become sacred training grounds for the future God has planned for us. Through personal reflection and her mother’s timeless wisdom, Leslie reminds us that: Adv...

So many women feel “stuck” in old habits, emotional reactions, or patterns they’ve tried to change a thousand times. But today I want to show you something powerful: You are not stuck. You are rewiring. On this episode, we talk about how small daily choices create big healing, how triggers form habits, and how God uses the renewing of our minds to help us overcome behaviors that no longer serve us...

In this episode of Hope in the Fire, Leslie invites you to reflect on one simple but life-changing question: Is your health worth investing in? Many of us pour our energy into others, but neglect our own well-being — emotionally, physically, or spiritually. Leslie shares how true healing comes through partnership with God and why investing in your health is an act of faithful stewardship, not self...

This year hasn’t gone the way I expected. I faced the loss of my mom, my dad, and just 2 years ago my sister — three heartbreaks that brought me to my knees. But through it all, I’ve learned something powerful: being an Overcomer isn’t about never falling — it’s about choosing to trust God even when you don’t understand. In this heartfelt episode, I open up about my own journey through grief and h...

Grief is something every one of us will face, yet so many myths surround it: “Strong Christians don’t grieve.” “You should be back to normal in a few months.” “Crying is weakness.” In this heartfelt episode of Hope in the Fire, I share the truth about grief, my own journey through the recent loss of my parents and sister, and how God meets us in our deepest pain. Whether you’re in a season of grie...

Bethany Thomson is a woman who has found purpose in her life, even after discovering a hidden secret that was stuck deep in her memories.   On today's episode, Bethany takes us on a healing journey of hope.  Through biblical restoration, she shares her wisdom and insight on how our identity after childhood trauma doesn't have to be identified from what we walk through, but what we are walking towa...

In this deeply personal and powerful episode of Hope in the Fire, we’re tackling a topic many women silently struggle with: sex in marriage after experiencing sexual abuse. Whether you’ve faced childhood abuse, trauma in adulthood, or carry shame from a promiscuous past, know this — you are not alone, and you are not beyond healing. Join me as I share my own story of restoration, how trauma affect...

This week, I wrestled with the very struggles I’ve been teaching about—negative self-talk, procrastination, toxic distractions, and emotional overwhelm. Honestly? I didn’t even want to record this episode. But I knew that someone out there—maybe you—needed to hear this. In today’s raw and real conversation, I’m sharing what it looked like to walk through spiritual resistance, how a beautiful anniv...

Hope In The Fire celebrates the 10th episode!  Today I thought I would share my raw story.  It's full of hope, forgiveness and redemption.  I hope you are blessed. Listen to the end for 4 simple steps to start your healing journey.   Leslie   *Scripture mentioned in the episode: Psalm 139:13-14, Psalm 34:18, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Joshua 1:5, Mark 10:29-30, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians chapters 1-3, Psal...

Ever wonder if you can have a life worth living after experiencing childhood trauma?  On today's episode I am talking with my friend Stephanie Weber on how her past doesn't define her. In part 2 of 2, she gives you insight on forgiveness, living past the pain, and living with joy.  I hope this episode blesses you!  Leslie    Stephanie Weber: email: pinkrevolutionmk@gmail.com Website: https://www.m...

Ever wonder if you can have a life worth living after experiencing childhood trauma?  On today's episode I am talking with my friend Stephanie Weber on how her past doesn't define her. In part 1 of 2, she gives you insight on what she struggles with, how she handles healing and where God fits in her life.   I hope this episode blesses you!  Leslie    Stephanie Weber: email: pinkrevolutionmk@gmail....

🎧 In this episode, we explore how living a lifestyle of total health can be a powerful part of healing from trauma and walking in your God-given purpose. Leslie shares personal stories, biblical wisdom, and 7 simple steps to help you nurture your body—God’s temple.   📖 Scriptures Referenced: Proverbs 3:8 Daniel 1:11–14 Exodus 15:26 🔗 Mentioned in this Episode: Free Guide: Checklist for Living i...

Are you stuck replaying the past? Do feelings of shame, fear, or emotional numbness keep you from stepping into the future God has for you? In this episode, we confront the prison of self-condemnation and explore how your past does not define you. You’ll discover: Why emotional responses are not the enemy—but how you respond to them matters How to recognize self-condemnation and surrender it at th...

In this powerful episode, we’re talking about one of the enemy’s biggest weapons: shame-fueled self-talk that keeps us isolated and stuck in silence. As survivors of childhood trauma, it can feel safer to hide—but the lies we repeat to ourselves in that isolation are not from God. Today, I’m breaking down the connection between isolation and identity, how the enemy uses secrecy to keep us bound, a...

In this episode of Hope in the Fire, we will walk through the five pillars of health essential to healing from childhood trauma: spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, and nutritional health. With spiritual health as the foundation, this honest and grace-filled conversation helps you understand why healing must happen from the inside out — and how you can begin today. I hope this blesses you!  Le...