Tim Ross, who pastors the Embassy City Church, and Michelle Williams from Destiny’s Child get extremely vulnerable with us and talk about their own personal challenges with Mental Health, abuse, insecurity, identity, and the pressure of having demanding lifestyles.

Peace of Mind Introduction

Get to know our guides and what you can expect to encounter as you navigate through this course on mental health.

Daniel 1:6-7
6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

When the record company asked Tenitra to go by her middle name, Michelle, instead of her given name, she wondered if there was something wrong with her name.
 
Afraid to ruffle any feathers for this opportunity, she was willing to create this stage persona "Michelle." However, this change came with the sacrifice of being away from my family and creating questions surrounding her true identity.

Michelle unpacks a similar example in the Bible where the characters were forced to change their names and asks the question, "What would have happened if they did not accept the change of their name?"

Tenitra considers, "maybe someone put a name on you by a past mistake. Even when others can't see the work you have put in to be well and stay well, God sees you as perfect."

"You are who God says you are."

What's Your Name?

Get to Know Tenitra "Michelle" Williams

Michelle recalls her story of becoming "Michelle" which isn't her original name. She struggled with the fact that people around her didn't want to accept her true name.

**THIS VIDEO CONTAINS SENSITIVE CONTENT. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.**

Psalm 94:17
17 Unless the Lord had helped me,
    I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave.

Tim shows us in Psalm 94:17 that silence doesn’t acknowledge negatives.

Silence not only binds you from talking about the bad stuff but it can also keep you from talking about the good.

Psalm 39:1-3
1 I said to myself, “I will watch what I do
    and not sin in what I say.
I will hold my tongue
    when the ungodly are around me.”
2 But as I stood there in silence—
    not even speaking of good things—
    the turmoil within me grew worse.
3 The more I thought about it,
    the hotter I got,
    igniting a fire of words:

Tim also teaches how the Bible speaks in Psalm 39:1-3 that bottling up our thoughts produces turmoil in our minds.
 
He encourages you to be the first one in your circle to break the silence and put your thoughts and emotions into words.
 
Tim's challenge for this course is to understand that what doesn’t come up and out in words will come up and out through your body in your actions.

Silence Isn't Golden

Tim Ross discusses the root causes of mental health not only from theory but through his recovery from personal trauma. He starts off by proving that the saying "Silence is Golden" may not be good advice after all.

Psalm 39:2
2 But as I stood there in silence—
    not even speaking of good things—
    the turmoil within me grew worse.
		
From one extreme we say that everything is going great in our life and nothing is bad and on the other, we say that everything is bad and that there is nothing that is good.

When you do not tell the truth about the season you are in your body keeps the score.
 
We are created to hold the tension of both the good and the bad.

He shares the darkest moment of his life when his brother was killed and how he held onto the tension between the two realities of both good and bad.

Holding the Good and the Bad in Tension

Tim gives a practical application of how to hold the tension between good and bad by simply replacing every time we use the word "but" with the word "and.”

Psalm 39:3
3 The more I thought about it,
    the hotter I got,
    igniting a fire of words:
		
Compartmentalization: To mentally separate or set aside (one's incompatible or negative emotions, beliefs, or behaviors)
 
Tim and Michelle discuss how titles can be used to separate themselves from their true identity. You are who you are, not what you do.
 
Tim talks about how his role as a pastor is not over people, but leading in front.

Integration of your full-self is when we understand that we are one wheel that has many spokes, but it is one wheel.



Why You Shouldn't Compartmentalize

Tim and Michelle sit down together to talk about how compartmentalization leads to living a false identity.

Psalm 39:3
3 The more I thought about it,
    the hotter I got,
    igniting a fire of words:
		
Many problems with mental health come out of our attempts to suppress our thoughts, but in our attempts, they only become louder.

In this segment, Tim gives three applications for depressurizing the thoughts in your mind.
1. Journaling
2. Talk to Yourself - Out loud
3. Talk to God - Out Loud

Depressurizing the Silence

Tim talks about what it means to depressurize the silence and provides ways for you to do it yourself.

Exodus 2:11-15
11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” 14 He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.

Exodus 3:11-14
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

Michelle starts this episode with what she learned about trying to hide from her mistakes and how Moses made the same harmful choice.

Michelle shares about having a breakdown the day after recording a TV show. It led to her hospitalization and though she wasn't ready to share her struggle with the world, she wished to encourage others to seek help if they need it, too.

After leaving the hospital, Michelle received encouraging messages from the public. However, some comments were critical of her for being a Christian with depression.

She eludes to Psalms reflecting many emotions of life, including misery. That emboldens her to share her story with others so that they can have the vocabulary and understanding to address their mental health.

Do Not Hide

Michelle Williams shares how she first announced that she sought treatment for depression and what to do when you feel disqualified because of your mistakes.

1 John 1:5-10
5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

Confession isn’t just admission, it’s acknowledgement.

Vertical confession begins with an acknowledgment that God is right.
Vertical confession is powerful as it cleanses us from the inside out.

Tim challenges us with reciting some of the antonyms to the word confession:
* Denial: the action of declaring something to be untrue
* Refusal: indicate or show that one is not willing to do something
* Repudiate:  refuse to accept or be associated with
* Secret:  not known or seen or not meant to be known or seen by others
* Silence:  absence of mention
* Cover:  to hide from sight or knowledge
* Disavowal:  to refuse to acknowledge or accept

Confession gives us permission to agree with God.
As believers, we start our confessions with God first.
Confession is to admit that the way we have been living our lives is not the way God intends for us.

Confession Is Golden

Tim pivots on the familiar saying that "Silence is Golden" and supplants it with the saying "Confession is Golden" - Vertical Confession between us and God.

2 Corinthians 12:8-9
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

The Bible articulates our weaknesses without compartmentalizing our lives.
* Noah's drunkenness - Genesis 9:18-23
* Abraham's lied about his wife - Genesis 20:1-16
* Paul's thorn in his flesh - 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

When we make weakness normal in the church, we will have a great time.
We need to be known for our weaknesses, not our strengths.
Articulate your weakness like scripture articulates your weakness.
 
Refusing to articulate your weaknesses will make you sit on your gifts - while you are trying to be perfect.
Don't let your weakness be the excuse keeping you from stepping into your assignment or calling.

Articulate Your Weakness

Tim and Michelle talk about her book "Checking In."

Psalm 139:7-12 ESV
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

Michelle asks the question, "Is Anxiety or Depression going to be the thorn in my side?"
When her Dad passed instead of choosing to become depressed, she began to rejoice rather than making this loss all about herself.

Stages of Grief:
1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

There are bad things that happen, but it is about how you respond. She adds, "Forgive yourself, forgive others but also forgive yourself."

Philippians 1:6
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

The Lord will keep you!

The Thorn of Depression

Michelle faced the loss of her father and pushed back against depression spiraling out of control.

**THIS VIDEO CONTAINS SENSITIVE CONTENT. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.**

Joshua 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Michelle tells us how she tries to get out into community once a week because it will bring healing.

She implores you to “Reveal how you feel to heal.”
She used to keep her feelings bottled up and it made it worse.
The enemy tries to isolate you.

John 10:10
10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

"Depression is a thief! It did not come from God."

Michelle talks about attempting to take her life, but felt as though God said she had more to live for. Michelle challenges you to not play "Let's make a deal" with God because Jesus died so that we can live.

You Are Not Alone

Michelle talks about her fear of going out in public and having to put on a "fake smile" to appear like everything is alright.  Negative types of isolation led Michelle to realize that we are not created to do life alone.

1 John 1:6-7
6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Confession brings stuff into the light, and it can't hide.
Tim gives an example that will cause you to never look at switching on the lights the same way.

Tim states, "The brighter things are, the more visible things are."

Romans 8:1
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

In God's light, you don't have to be afraid of what you see. You will be given a revelation on what God wants you to see. You will have the right information to make the right decision.

Live in the Light

Tim talks about how vertical confession turns on the lights of our soul, life and relationships.

1 John 1:8
8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.

Tim describes an NBA game where the player calls their own foul.

Genesis 3:9
9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

Tim describes God’s first question to humanity is a question of self-awareness.
"Are you aware of where you are right now?"

Tim shares a personal story of how he became self-aware while healing from his trauma.
Challenges us to think about preventative maintenance for your mental health and not crisis management. Think about having a counselor to walk you through the seasons of life like seeing a dentist on a regular schedule.

Call Your Own Foul

Confession is more about you telling you about yourself. Tim teaches you an essential skill to prevent you from fooling yourself.

1 John 1:9
9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Confession is good for the soul.
"A relationship with Jesus is miraculously messy."

Tim teaches us how confession isn’t just admission, it’s acknowledgment.
 
Tim tells the story of street basketball players as an illustration of how their skill and reputation are confined to the playground because they are not about to submit to the system of team play in the NBA.
God has set up for us to seek cleansing through confession. Will you submit to his system?

Tim says, "if you can confess it, God can bless it."

Cleansing Through Confession

Tim Ross discusses a solution alleviates mental and emotional challenges that come from forgiveness. The vertical confession to God is the best shower to cleanse us from the dirt of our sins. Whether they are sins of commission or omission.

1 Peter 5:7
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Michelle describes how Anxiety racks her body from head to toe and her decision making is affected by her anxiety.

Reminiscing about fishing as a child with her beloved uncle reminds her how casting the correct direction makes all the difference.

Oxford Dictionary Definition of the word "Cast"
- to throw something forcefully in a specific direction.

John 21:1-7
1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.

Why are we shocked when we do something God tells us to do and it works out?
Michelle gives an anecdote about a time when she did not trust God, and it reminds her of a Richard Smallwood song.

"Remember your track record with God.
He ain’t never lost."

Bring Your Anxiety to God

Michelle remembers a childhood story about fishing with her uncle. She shares an anecdote about how she has learned to cast her cares onto God.

James 5:16
16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

The moment you become vulnerable with others is the moment healing begins.

Tim talks about the fallacy of “Global Judgements.”
 
He also makes a statement “That Revelations are Risky and Relationships are Risky.”

Healing comes in community. When we confess to each other we find healing.

Healing in Revealing

Tim Ross states that "you can not heal what you don’t reveal".  He takes the concept of confession from a vertical prayer to God to a personal horizontal confession with another person.

Michelle shares how to articulate your feelings and not try to fix yourself.
 
Definition of Therapize:
- Verb; subject to psychological therapy. "you don't need to therapize or fix each other"

Tim talks about the role of counselors not to put words in your mouth about how you feel, but rather to give you context about what you are feeling.

John 11:43-44
43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Lazarus was raised from the dead, and still needed others to unwrap him from the grave clothes.
Tim concludes, "Jesus will do the supernatural. For everything else, He puts you in community."


Reveal How You Feel, So You Can Heal

Tim and Michelle sit down together to talk about the importance on how they articulate their feelings.

James 1:13-15a
13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions.

Tim makes a statement that “ Self inspection or Self Reflection is different from Self Protection.”

You gotta "Be honest about yourself with yourself."

Relational equity is so important. When you have to look at someone in the face and tell them that you blew it, you will get sick of it and stop doing it.
 
When you speak with others about your struggles and temptations you can be kept safe, but if you don't, "the temptations and desires will literally drag you away."

The More People Know the Less Sin Grows

Sharing real issues with specifics stunts the growth of sin within you. 

James 5:16b
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

Tim makes a statement “You want to be a great “pray-er” find someone who is a great “say-er.”

Tim gives the example of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane asking for his disciples to pray with him.

Matthew 26:36-38
36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

The More I Say the Better You Can Pray

Tim shares a real-time situation that he is currently going through as a real-life example of how the more detail that is shared, the more specific and powerful your prayer can be.

1 Samuel 16:7
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

Michelle talks about the struggles people have with their appearance and the labels that people place on us.

God does not look at the outward appearance but is more concerned about the posture of our hearts.

As the heart is an important part of the circulatory system it is also the place where you really are.
 
"We need to work on getting our hearts right!"

God Looks at the Heart

Recovery 101

Michelle teaches about the importance of how you see yourself, how God looks on you and how your heart is really who you are.

Phase 1 - Safety and Stabilization: Overcoming Dysregulation
As a first step, the client must first be taught to comprehend the effects of trauma: to recognize common symptoms and to understand the meaning of overwhelming body sensations, intrusive emotions, and distorted cognitive schemas.

The achievement of safety and stability rests on the following tasks:
* Establishment of bodily safety: e.g., abstinence from self-injury
* Establishment of a safe environment: e.g., a secure living situation, non-abusive relationships, a job and/or regular income, adequate supports
* Establishment of emotional stability: e.g., ability to calm the body, regulate impulses, self-soothe, manage post-traumatic symptoms triggered by mundane events

**The goal of this stage is to create a safe and stable "life in the here-and-now, allowing the client to safely remember the trauma, rather than continue to re-live it.**

Psalm 16:9
9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.
    My body rests in safety.
		
Proverb 14:30a
30 A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body;

Your body has to be safe in order to recover!

Safe Body

Sourced from Dr. Janina Fisher's field guide, "Stages of Trauma Recovery," Tim talks us through the first phase of recovery.

A good "Safe Zone" needs:
* Support systems of people who love, affirm and trust you
* Environments that are safe and where you can be at peace

Tim supplies scripture to post in your environment as a first step toward creating a "Safe Zone"
- Psalms 4:8
- Psalms 18:46-48
- Proverbs 2:11
- Proverbs 3:21-26
- Proverbs 18:10

Psalms 4:8
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
   for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

**Repeat this scripture**
 
Find a place that is safe enough to sleep. One that is away from distractions or bad habits.
 
Psalms 18:46-48
46 The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock!
    May the God of my salvation be exalted!
47 He is the God who pays back those who harm me;
    he subdues the nations under me
48     and rescues me from my enemies.
You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies;
    you save me from violent opponents.
 
This passage about creating safe boundaries.
Tim says “That a boundary is different than an ultimatum”
 
Proverbs 2:11
11 Wise choices will watch over you.
    Understanding will keep you safe.
 
When you make a wise choice, you will be safe.
 
Proverbs 3:21-26
21 My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.
    Hang on to them,
22 for they will refresh your soul.
    They are like jewels on a necklace.
23 They keep you safe on your way,
    and your feet will not stumble.
24 You can go to bed without fear;
    you will lie down and sleep soundly.
25 You need not be afraid of sudden disaster
    or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,
26 for the Lord is your security.
    He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
 
The rehearsal of scripture will spring up like a well and be an encouragement when your body is tense.

Safe Zone

We need environments where we can feel safe.

You need a safe mind. That may mean you stop exposing your mind to detrimental things.

Proverbs 4:23
23 Guard your heart above all else,
    for it determines the course of your life.
		
Proverbs 4:24-26
24 Avoid all perverse talk;
    stay away from corrupt speech.
25 Look straight ahead,
    and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
    stay on the safe path.
		
Tim shares a story from his youth when he had to premeditatedly mark out a straight path to navigate through the gang territory in his neighborhood.	
		
Philippians 4:6-9
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Tim gives an assignment to write 3-5 things that when you think of them make you happy.

Safe Mind

The next phase of Recovery 101 implores us to establish a safe mind.

Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Tim and Michelle talk about their introverted personalities.
Michelle shares how she has had to learn to balance her solitude and community and the negative desire to isolate herself.

Tim shares the example of an electric car that needs to recharge and how introverts need to recharge at home sometimes.

Recharge and Recover

Tim and Michelle sit down together about the importance of living in community, even as two introverts who need their private time to recharge.

Phase 2 - Coming to terms with traumatic memories:
At this stage, the client works to overcome the fear of traumatic memories so they can be integrated, allowing appreciation for the person he or she has become as a result of the trauma. In order to metabolize (not just verbalize) memories, clients may make use of EMDR, hypnotherapy, or mind body therapies.
Pacing ensures that the client does not become “stuck” in avoidance or overwhelmed by memories and flashbacks. Since remembering is not recovering, the goal is only to come to terms with the traumatic past.

2 Corinthians 11:17-33
17 Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool. 18 And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too. 19 After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools! 20 You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face. 21 I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that!
But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. 31 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying. 32 When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me. 33 I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.

Paul went through some trauma and was able to talk about it without reliving it. We heal from trauma when we fully embrace our narrative.

We can come to terms with our traumatic experiences without harming a lot of people.
 
Tim gives a special invitation to remember your trauma and prays for you.

Remembering Is Not Recovering

Recovery 202

Tim instructs us on how to remember your trauma without being triggered by the pain.  He cites Dr. Janina Fisher study on "Stages of Trauma Recovery."

Exodus 12:14
14 “This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord. This is a law for all time.

Numbers 11:4-5
4 Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed. 5 “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. 6 But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!”

The foreign rabble influenced Israel and how they recovered from their past bondage by the Egyptians. To the point that they began to remember the wrong things. That you could receive God's provision and begin to forget how He brought them out of slavery.

Tim encourages us to remember how God has provided for us. “Don't put yourself back into shackles mentally even though you are free physically. The children of Israel were out of Egypt, but Egypt was not out of the children of Israel.”

You have to make a decision about what to remember.

What Are You Remembering

Tim breaks down a couple of scriptures on how remembering helps with your recovery.

**THIS VIDEO CONTAINS SENSITIVE CONTENT. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.**

Psalm 111:1-4
1 Praise the Lord!
I will thank the Lord with all my heart
    as I meet with his godly people.
2 How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
    All who delight in him should ponder them.
3 Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
    His righteousness never fails.
4 He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
    How gracious and merciful is our Lord!
		
Tim starts off this session with a teaching on how God causes us to remember His wonderful works.

Tim shares the pain and disappointment of their three miscarriages before they finally had their two sons and remembers God's faithfulness through their loss and celebration of their sons.

It is your choice how to remember your trauma with the good that God has done. You will recover faster than others who do not celebrate God's faithfulness.

Tim exhorts us to “Get Up!” and recover.

Remembering Helps With Recovery

Tim teaches about Psalm 111:1-4 and how to remember the correct way that brings healing from trauma.

Phase 3: Integration and Moving On
The client can now begin to work on decreasing shame and alienation, developing a greater capacity for healthy attachment, and taking up personal and professional goals that reflect post-traumatic meaning-making.
Overcoming fears of normal life, healthy challenges and change, and intimacy become the focus of the work. As the survivor's life becomes reconsolidated around a healthy present and a healed self, the trauma feels farther away, part of an integrated understanding of self but no longer a daily focus.

Philippians 3:12
12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

The perfection that Paul encourages us to press towards is not a thing but a person.  We are striving to possess the perfect one.
 
Your biggest breakthroughs in mental health can't be found only in your prayer closets, but can only be found with others in community.

"Coach" Tim encourages you to press that weight off of you.

You've Gotta Press

Recovery 303

Tim cites "Stages of Trauma Recovery" written by Dr. Janina Fisher and focuses on this section on phase 3- Integration and Moving On.

Acts 2:42-47
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Tim shares how the pandemic gave his church the opportunity to reset, regroup, and release its ministry.
-	Reset for what is essential (2020 theme)
-	Regrouping how we come back together (2021 theme)
-	Release asks what we need to let go (2022 theme)

Reset: to depend on Jesus first and not others (like your pastor) for your devotion and source to God.

This is a time to reset your life.

Reset, Regroup, and Release

Tim and Michelle discussed resetting their lives after the pandemic of 2020.

Philippians 3:13
13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

The fullest meaning of forgetting in the Greek language of the New Testament is that in forgetting, we choose not to remember the past.

We can handcuff ourselves emotionally, spiritually, and relationally because we did something that we have already been forgiven for but continually punish ourselves over.

Tim makes a statement “If you live in the past, you abuse your future.”
You are telling me tomorrow that you have no opportunities to grow.

Don't let your past imprison you today.
Forgive Yourself! You have your own key to your prison bars. Let yourself out and live again!

You Have to Forget

Tim paints a picture about how before Paul became an apostle he was a participant in the stoning of Stephen.

Trauma recovery happens when you forget about the past and at the same time look forward to what lies ahead.

Philippians 3:13
13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

What does your tomorrow look like? Think about the future. Does it make you “ebullient” or zestfully enthusiastic? 
Your future is bright because Jesus Christ is in it.

Tim underlines this segment by saying that  “I have not pre-populated my future with the plans I have for myself.” 
 
Learn to love God's surprises.
Tim asks you to write down and say “I’m looking forward to this!”

You Have to Look Forward

Tim teaches about the two sides of a coin in trauma recovery.

Philippians 3:16
16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

Hold on to the progress you have made. Remember it, strive to continue it, be better for it and may God bless you on your journey toward "Peace of Mind."

**Books that Tim recommends and whose principles he may have mentioned during the course:**
*The Living Legacy of Trauma*
		by Janina Fisher
		
*How to Stop the Pain*
		by Dr. James B. Richards
		
*Boundaries*
		by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. Townsend
		
*It's Not Supposed to be this Way*
		by Lysa Terkeurst

You Have to Progress

Tim states, “relationship with God is not about perfection but about progression.” It's time to progress!

Peace of Mind

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It doesn&#39;t matter who you are - you need the tools to navigate your pain. 

We all experience trauma and challenges that have a lasting impact on who we become. Whether you pastor a church… or you&#39;re someone who performed at the Super Bowl halftime show, you’re a person carrying hurt inside —oftentimes for decades. 

It’s not easy to confront, but that hurt can either come out through your words… or it will come out through your body and your actions. Tim Ross, international speaker and host of The Basement Podcast, and Michelle Williams from Destiny’s Child get extremely vulnerable with us and talk about their own personal challenges with mental health, abuse, insecurity, identity, and the pressure of having demanding lifestyles. 

They&#39;ll unpack what the Bible reveals about our mental health, give us some of the clinical tools for addressing mental health challenges, and bring examples from their own lives.

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Tim Ross

International Speaker | Podcast Host

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Tenitra Michelle Williams

Singer | Songwriter | Actress | Author

Michelle Williams of Destiny&#39;s Child and Tim Ross share their own challenges with mental health and teach you the Biblical and Clinical steps to overcome the same challenges in your life. Learn the reasons behind your pain. Gain the tools to help you heal.

How to Vocalize Your Conditions and Trauma to Move Toward Healing

How Your Behavior Is Being Defined by Your Past Experiences

How to Navigate Past Experiences of Trauma

Your guide, Tim Ross

Your guide, Tenitra Michelle Williams