God wants us to love Him with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength. (Mk 12:30) However we know that early childhood trauma damages the brain.  It causes people to see things differently from the way God desires.  These strongholds prevent many Christians from loving God with all their mind.

         Gabor Mate, in his ground breaking book “In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts” tells us that early childhood trauma jams up the brain.  The brain’s connection actually becomes cross wired and the mechanism for proper brain function breaks down.  This person then has trouble all throughout life.  The way he sees things is like looking through a red lens; all he sees is red.  He cannot see and enjoy normal situations and encounters because his cross wired brain controls how he views situations. 

         Someone trying to help is looked upon as someone trying to cause harm.  Their paradigm is damaged and they do not see things the way they are.

         I have friend whose daughter was molested when she was very young, and he tells me as she grew older, she couldn’t stand boys/men touching her.  In fact, even when he accidentally brushed up against her hands or arms, she would have to go and wash her hands or arms.  The way she looked at normal events were altered through the filter of her damaged mind.

         I have a another friend whose mother was mad at him because he didn’t come home when he was supposed to.  When he called her to come pick him up, she was so angry at him that she tore into him when she arrived.  He resolved never to ask her for help, ever, again.  He never did.  He was 12 when this happened.  That event (probably many more when he was growing up) scarred him for life.  He eventually got divorced and one of his sons got caught up in drugs.  His childhood trauma was passed on to the next generation.  

         Strict parental control is not fertile ground for Godly faith to be nurtured and to grow.