Podcast Summary

Podcast: City Light Church Las Vegas | Jabin Chavez
Episode: From Trauma To Testimony | Jabin Chavez
Date: October 26, 2025
Host: Pastor Jabin Chavez

Overview

This episode, "From Trauma To Testimony," is part of the "Built to Last" series at City Light Church. Pastor Jabin Chavez unpacks the story of the woman with the issue of blood from Mark 5, using it as a lens to discuss how trauma affects us and how encountering Jesus brings healing—not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually. The message is focused on moving from being defined by trauma to sharing a testimony of freedom, with a strong call for listeners to invite God into every part of their healing journey.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Reality and Impact of Trauma

• Scriptural Foundation: Mark 5:25 — The story of the woman suffering for 12 years is used as a metaphor for long-term trauma.

  "All unresolved trauma will manifest. ... It is directly affecting every relationship in our life." (Lead Pastor, 00:00)

• Beyond the Physical: The woman's pain was not just physical, but emotional, relational, and spiritual due to cultural and religious isolation.
  • Under Jewish law, her condition rendered her "unclean," excluding her from community and temple life.
  • Common belief wrongly linked sickness to personal sin and shame.

2. Jesus' Healing is Holistic

• Jesus doesn’t merely heal the woman physically; He affirms her identity, calling her “daughter,” and offers spiritual and emotional restoration.

  “Daughter, that’s inclusive family language. That’s salvation language. That’s covenant language.” (Lead Pastor, 00:57) “Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (Lead Pastor, 01:13)

• The encounter signifies complete transformation—not just momentary relief.

3. Understanding and Responding to Trauma

• Definition: Trauma is an overwhelming emotional response to distressing events, often with lasting effects that can cause unrelated triggers if unresolved.

  “…all kinds of other things can start triggering you that aren’t even connected to the initial point of pain. That is why it is so important to get healed.” (Lead Pastor, 05:44)

• Denial and Misidentification:
  • Some minimize their trauma, seeing it as simply their 'personality' or strength.

    “We’ve learned how to function with our trauma for so long that it’s actually become an accessory.” (Lead Pastor, 08:04)

  • Others feel their trauma is too great to bring to God, believing He is angry or they are beyond help.
• Universal Relevance: Everyone has a past; the key is whether it’s a testimony or still a trauma.

  “Every saint has a past. Every sinner has a future.” (Lead Pastor, 11:03)

4. Moving from Trauma to Testimony

Pastor Jabin gives three practical steps:

a. Change Your Conversation (Hearing and Speaking)

• The woman “heard about Jesus,” shifting what she was listening to after years of negative self-talk and external condemnation.

  "She began to hear good news. Don’t underestimate the power of good news.” (Assistant Pastor, 13:27)

• Our faith is built not by trying harder, but by repeatedly hearing good news and the gospel message.

  “Faith comes by hearing and hearing and hearing and hearing...” (Lead Pastor, 14:56)

• What we focus on and listen to shapes our words, beliefs, and ultimately, our lives.

  “If you don’t like your words, change what you’re listening to.” (Lead Pastor, 18:04)

b. Change Your Source (Where You Seek Healing)

• Human help (doctors, counselors, friends) is good but not sufficient; only God can heal completely.

  “In all of your healing… don’t ignore the Holy Spirit’s role.” (Lead Pastor, 19:56)

• Invite God first, rather than as a last resort.

  "Make God your first response, not your last resort." (Lead Pastor, 20:55)

• God desires to heal us entirely—spirit, soul, and body (referencing 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

c. Change Your Position (Reaching Out Again)

• Trauma can make us closed off, self-protective, and reluctant to reach towards God.

  “When you’re carrying trauma, it’s hard to reach.” (Lead Pastor, 25:31)

• Practical encouragement to literally and figuratively “reach out” to God again, even after disappointment or long estrangement.

  “I’m asking some of you… reach out again.” (Lead Pastor, 25:44)
  “She reached out. And when she reached out, she got healed.” (Lead Pastor, 28:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jesus' Response:

  “He could have just let power go out from him... But instead, he decided to teach something that could set all of us free.” (Lead Pastor, 04:43)

• On Faith and Hearing:

  “Faith is not produced in trying. Faith is birthed in hearing.” (Lead Pastor, 16:20) “Reading your Bible does not change God's view of you. ... This changes your view of God.” (Lead Pastor, 16:54)

• On Community and Testimony:

  “Most people never go from trauma to testimony because they never give this to God and they believe the lie of the devil, that you have to carry this forever.” (Lead Pastor, 11:24)

• On the Power of Grace:

  “Under this new covenant called grace, the clean is stronger than the unclean.” (Assistant Pastor, 28:55) “The very fact that you are bleeding is the very reason you need him. This is Grace. This is good news.” (Lead Pastor, 32:09)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00: Setting up the theme, Mark 5 reading, and discussion of the woman’s trauma
• 06:28: Inclusive blessing: “Daughter, your faith has made you well.”
• 10:41: “This is too big for you, but it’s not too big for God…”
• 11:03: Past vs. testimony—“Every saint has a past…”
• 13:27: The power of hearing good news
• 14:56: Faith comes by hearing; the role of regular church community
• 19:56: Change your source—Holy Spirit’s role in healing
• 20:55: God as first response, not last resort
• 25:31: Change your position—reach out again
• 28:55: Grace makes the unclean clean
• 32:09: The message of grace; everyone is welcome, no matter their story

Conclusion

In a message filled with hope and practical steps, Pastor Jabin Chavez emphasizes that trauma—regardless of how big or small, recent or longstanding—does not have to define our lives. By changing what we hear, where we turn, and finding the courage to reach out again, we can experience the transforming power of Jesus and move from trauma to testimony. The central theme is grace: There’s no wound too deep, shame too great, or history too broken for Jesus to redeem.

For Further Information:
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