**Gatekeepers and Stumbling Blocks: Stop Limiting the Paths to Healing**

I was recently scrolling through Facebook when I came across an ad for a new product aimed at helping with PTSD. In the comment section, a fellow veteran had posted his testimony:

*”The Word of God is the path to true life-changing and permanent healing. As a veteran, my PTSD was as severe as it gets. I was taking the usual meds: Sertraline, Bupropion, Buspirone, Trazodone, and Prazosin for night terrors. Then I found Mighty Oaks, began healing through scripture, and came to Christ. Within six months, I was alcohol-free, nicotine-free, and off ALL meds. My life is changed, and Christ did it all. I have NEVER been happier nor have I ever experienced this much joy. I have seen Christ at work in other veterans as well…”

His testimony was heartfelt, and I don’t doubt that his faith brought him healing. But as I responded to him, I felt the need to make something clear:

*“Good for you. I know vets who have had similar results smoking weed. Here’s the thing—the Bible tells us not to become a stumbling block for others, which you just did. It’s not just you; others do the same thing. Those suffering from mental health issues see these posts and think they aren’t Christian enough since you did such a great job dealing with it. Keep your joy in Christ; don’t make it the only way to healing.”*

### **The Danger of Gatekeeping Healing**

We need to stop gatekeeping healing and causing stumbling blocks for those who may not get it right the first time—or may never find healing in the exact same way. It’s not just the church that does this. Other veterans do it. Some doctors do it. Spouses do it. Society does it. The list goes on.

I truly believe people mean well. They want to share what worked for them because it transformed their lives. But there’s a fine line between sharing and gatekeeping.

I remember when a well-known Christian figure made the claim that *”no Christian should have PTSD since they were all doing God’s work in the Middle East.”* That statement cut deep. I was there. I did God’s work. And I still came back with PTSD. So what does that mean for me? Was I not Christian enough? Did I not have enough faith? Was I broken beyond repair? That comment, meant as some kind of spiritual encouragement, became a stumbling block.

### **Healing Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All**

Healing—especially from something as deeply personal and complex as PTSD—doesn’t come in a one-size-fits-all package. Faith, therapy, medication, community, alternative treatments—each plays a role, and what works for one person may not work for another.

Gatekeeping healing is dangerous because it isolates people who are already struggling. If a veteran sees a post like that and thinks, *”I’ve prayed, I’ve read scripture, but I still wake up sweating from night terrors and feel numb all day—what’s wrong with me?”* then they’re left feeling like they failed, not just at healing but at faith itself. That’s a weight no one should have to carry.

I’ve heard similar things from vets who were told, *”You don’t need therapy, just a good mission.”* Or, *”Real warriors don’t need meds, just discipline.”* It’s the same pattern—people who found something that worked for them assuming it must work for everyone.

The reality is, even Christ didn’t heal everyone the same way. Sometimes he spoke a word, sometimes he made mud and rubbed it on their eyes, sometimes he told them to go wash in a pool. The message was clear: healing comes in different forms.

### **Don’t Be a Stumbling Block—Be a Light**

We need to be mindful of how we share our stories. Testimonies should uplift and inspire, not box people into feeling like failures if their path looks different. It’s okay to share what worked for you, but make space for others to find their own way.

Christ is the way to heaven, but he isn’t against the many ways of healing here on Earth. His words, *“Love your neighbor as yourself,”* should remind us to consider how our words might be received. Would we want to hear them if we were still deep in our struggle? Would they lift us up or make us feel like we weren’t enough?

Healing isn’t about being *enough*. It’s about finding what works and walking that path—wherever it leads. Let’s make sure we’re walking alongside each other, not standing in the way.