Bounce Back with Resilience
Rebuilding Faith After Spiritual Hurt
Ryan McCollum, MDiv, LPN
What happens when the faith group you once trusted feels torn apart?
Faith is supposed to be a source of peace, connection, and strength. But what happens when the very foundation you relied on feels torn apart? When trust in your spiritual community is broken—whether through judgment, exclusion, manipulation, or betrayal—it can leave you feeling lost, questioning not only the institution but your own spiritual path.
If you’ve ever felt like your faith has been ripped apart, leaving you holding the pieces and wondering what to do next—you’re not alone.
The good news? Your faith is not defined by the institutions that failed you. Healing is possible. Rebuilding your spiritual confidence doesn’t mean returning to harmful spaces—it means discovering a path that strengthens and restores you.
Understanding Spiritual Hurt: More Than Just a Crisis of Belief
Losing trust in a faith community is about more than questioning doctrine. It often comes with deep emotional wounds—feeling rejected, manipulated, or spiritually unsafe. As a chaplain, I’ve witnessed how faith can sometimes be used as a tool for control rather than love.
When leaders prioritize image and power over genuine connection, the harm is profound. Many who experience this kind of betrayal struggle with guilt, self-doubt, or even the fear that they are failing in their spirituality. Struggling with this is not a sign of failure. It's a sign you might be ready to start growing into something healthier while meeting and protecting your own needs.
This is where Spiritual Resilience becomes essential. Spiritual resilience is the ability to bounce back by drawing strength from your understanding of the cosmos, the divine, or your personal faith, even in the face of adversity. It allows you to hold on to what is true and nourishing, even when institutions fail.
How to Rebuild Spiritual Confidence After Hurt
Healing from spiritual wounds isn’t about forcing yourself back into an environment that harmed you. It’s about reclaiming your spirituality on your terms and building resilience through it. Here’s how:
1. Start with a Strong Foundation: Find a Safe Spiritual Space
If you want real change, start by finding a space where you feel safe to ask questions and process your experience. Healing isn’t just about deconstructing what happened—it’s about rebuilding trust in yourself and your connection with the sacred.
This is why supportive, judgment-free spiritual communities matter. Focused Pathways, led by someone with training and experience in helping people with potentially morally injurious experiences (PMIE), offers a unique space for healing. With a strong foundation in spiritually-informed support, this space is designed to help individuals process their spiritual pain in a way that fosters resilience and renewal.
Through small discussion groups, interfaith reflections, and open dialogues, you can ease back into spiritual exploration without pressure or shame. If stepping into a faith community feels overwhelming, start small. Engage in conversations online, explore sacred texts at your own pace, or join a virtual discussion group. Additionally, I offer 1:1 private pastoral (faith-based) non-medical counseling for those seeking individualized support on their healing journey.
➡️ Journal Prompt: What would a “safe spiritual space” look like for you? Write down three qualities that would make you feel secure in exploring faith again.
2. Strengthen Your Spiritual Resilience: Shift Your Perspective
Faith is not just about belonging to a religious institution—it is about connecting with something greater than yourself. When faith communities fail, your spiritual resilience can help you navigate the hurt while holding onto what nourishes you.
Consider the wisdom from various sacred traditions that acknowledge the struggle of belief and trust. Many spiritual leaders and teachings emphasize that divine love is constant, even when human institutions fall short.
The quality of your spirituality is not defined by an institution—it is a personal journey toward deeper understanding and truth.
➡️ Reflection Exercise: Write down how your personal beliefs, outside of any institution, give you strength. What spiritual practices make you feel connected and whole?
3. Surround Yourself with a Supportive Spiritual Community: Take Action
Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. Having the right people around you makes all the difference. Whether it’s a small interfaith group, an online discussion forum, or a chaplain who truly listens, surrounding yourself with those who offer support (not shame) is key to rebuilding trust in your spiritual journey.
Remember, your faith should be a source of love, peace, and renewal—not fear or guilt.
➡️ Action Step: Identify one person or group that makes you feel spiritually supported. Reach out, even if it’s just to share how you’re feeling. You can check out our Faith Community Care page and even talk to Chaplain Ryan at Focused Pathways® to brainstorm ideas.

Bounce Back: Your Spiritual Journey Is Not Over
Your journey of faith isn’t over—it’s evolving. Healing from spiritual hurt is about rediscovering your spiritual path in a way that feels right for you. Spiritual resilience allows you to take what is true, let go of what is harmful, and find strength in your spirituality—even in difficult times.
You are seen. You are safe. And most importantly, you are not alone.
If this message resonates with you, we invite you to explore our supportive spiritual community, where you can heal, grow, and reconnect—without pressure or judgment.
Want to take the next step?
Download our free 5-Minute Spiritual Resilience Guide—a simple tool to help you process spiritual wounds and start rebuilding faith today.
➡️ Share this with someone who needs encouragement today.
➡️ BONUS: Save this article to revisit it whenever you need strength.
Featured Resources from the Adaptive Path™ Library
The 5-Minute Spiritual Resilience Guide
A step-by-step guide to help process spiritual pain, reclaim your faith, and build resilience. Reflective prompts and practical steps offer support for navigating and reshaping your spiritual path.
🌱 This Week’s Free Gift
We offer a new free resource every week to help you on your journey.
© 2025 by Focused Pathways® LLC.
All Rights Reserved.