Dear listeners,

We are near the end of the Lent season. Next week begins Holy Week, and the last leg of our journey towards the Resurrection. On this Hunger for Righteousness podcast episode with my friend, writing buddy, and trauma-informed coach Nicole M. Roccas, we had an enlightening conversation on what it means to have experienced trauma and go through Holy Week. Nicole provides practical ideas for survivors, as well as advice for those of us who want to be supportive.

Here are some of her wise words:

If you're struggling with something during Holy Week, what do you do? ... Again, it comes back to, first and foremost, just holding space and giving yourself permission to feel how you feel, to experience distress as it comes up instead of doing the thing where we yell at ourselves, berate ourselves internally: “Get with the program. This isn't that. This is Holy Week. You should feel this. You should feel that. You should whatever.” When we start playing those games with ourselves, we add a whole bunch more distress to what our body is already experiencing. So holding space: “This is distressing. This is hard. I wasn't expecting to feel this way, but I do. What do I need at this point?” Kind of staying connected to yourself and the experience. And then from there, giving yourself options. “Do I stay? Do I maybe go to the back of the church? Do I go outside and take a, you know, get some fresh air?”

To hear and learn more from Nicole, subscribe to her Substack newsletter.

You can also learn more about her trauma-informed coaching practice by visiting Nicole’s website:

You can find out about all of Nicole’s books, including my favorite of hers, Time and Despondency: Regaining the Present in Faith and Life, below:

On our last episode, we heard from Manal Moussa, the executive director of Leaving the Jar. She just announced some great news! On March 12th, the Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors in Virginia voted YES to move forward with licensing the Leaving the Jar Home as a congregate living facility. This home will serve as a place for healing and rehabilitation for survivors of human trafficking. Praise God!

Last week, Dr. Saad Michael Saad interviewed me on Logos TV, talking about Hunger for Righteousness. You can watch the interview here:

May you enjoy a blessed Lent and Holy Week. This will be my last podcast episode before the Feast of the Resurrection, and I hope you have found this series edifying to you this Lenten season.

Thank you for listening, and I look forward to your thoughts and comments!

Phoebe Farag Mikhail

Get full access to Being in Community, Phoebe Farag Mikhail's Newsletter at phoebefaragmikhail.substack.com/subscribe