Discovering Divine Identity: How Knowing You're a Son of God Empowers Healing from Addiction and Trauma

On the journey of overcoming addiction and healing from trauma, understanding one's divine identity as a son of God is a transformative realization. This profound truth offers hope, purpose, and a pathway to recovery.

The Power of Divine Identity

Every individual is a literal spirit child of Heavenly Parents. This foundational belief instills a sense your worth and potential. President Russell M. Nelson emphasized this in a General Conference address:

"We are children of God. Our potential is unlimited. Our inheritance is sacred.” (We are Children of God, 1998)

Recognizing yourself as a son of God provides a stable identity, countering the shame and self-doubt often associated with addiction and trauma.

Addiction: A Battle of Identity

Addiction—whether from substance use, pornography, or any other compulsion—does more than affect behavior. It distorts the way individuals see themselves. Over time, repeated relapses and secret struggles can chip away at self-worth, leading many to believe they are beyond help or that they are fundamentally broken. This mindset can spiral into shame, which is more than guilt over actions—it is the false belief that one’s very identity is flawed or unworthy of love.

Satan whispers the lies: "You’re too far gone." "You’ll never change." "If others knew the real you, they’d walk away." These beliefs cause isolation not only from loved ones, but also from God and our truest selves. We begin to wear masks, hide in silence, and detach from our divine potential.

However, the gospel of Jesus Christ offers a radically different message. At the core of our doctrine is the truth that we are sons and daughters of God, created in His image, with divine potential and infinite worth. Our mistakes, no matter how serious or persistent, do not erase that identity.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland offered this healing reminder:

“However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made… I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love.”
(“Like a Broken Vessel,” October 2013)

This is the counter-narrative to shame: that we are not defined by our sins, our struggles, or our past, but by our relationship to God. He knows our full story—every hurt, every habit, every failure—and yet His invitation to return is never withdrawn. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we are offered more than forgiveness—we are offered transformation and renewal.

When individuals begin to internalize this divine truth, shame begins to lose its grip. They begin to see themselves not as addicts, but as beloved children of Heavenly Parents—capable of change, worthy of connection, and destined for more.

Healing often begins with this simple, profound shift in perception: "I am not the sum of my worst choices. I am someone God still believes in." The Savior stands ready not only to cleanse us from sin but to restore our true identity and help us rediscover the peace and purpose we were always meant to have.

Healing from Trauma through Divine Connection

Trauma, whether the result of abuse, neglect, betrayal, or painful life experiences, can leave deep and lasting emotional scars. Its effects often go far beyond the original event—impacting one’s sense of safety, identity, relationships, and even connection with God. Many who have experienced trauma struggle with persistent feelings of fear, anxiety, shame, or emotional numbness. These wounds can feel invisible to the world, yet they shape how a person sees themselves and others, sometimes leading to isolation and despair.

But trauma, though real and painful, does not have to define the rest of one's life.

Understanding that God views our suffering with infinite compassion and tenderness opens the door to healing. He does not blame or abandon us in our pain. Rather, He weeps with us, walks with us, and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, offers the power to mend what feels irreparably broken.

Elder Richard G. Scott testified of this truth when he said:

“The Savior has the power to heal you from the suffering you have experienced as a result of abuse. That healing can begin with your own acceptance of His invitation to let Him share your burden.”
(“To Heal the Shattering Consequences of Abuse,” April 2008)

This healing is not always immediate or complete overnight. It often comes through a process—one that may include prayer, priesthood blessings, professional counseling, support from loved ones, and daily effort. But Christ is the constant. He is the anchor in the storm, the One who sees every invisible wound and says, “I can make you whole.”

The Role of the Atonement in Recovery

Central to our recovery journey is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. His infinite sacrifice not only makes forgiveness possible, but offers power to overcome deeply rooted habits, emotional wounds, and the shame that often keeps us bound.

President Boyd K. Packer once taught with profound reassurance:

"The Atonement leaves no tracks, no traces. What it fixes is fixed. It just heals, and what it heals stays healed."
(General Auxiliary Training, 1995)

This statement holds a beautiful promise: that healing through Christ is not superficial or temporary—it is lasting and complete. While addiction often creates a cycle of guilt, relapse, and discouragement, the Savior offers a different pattern—one of renewal, hope, and enduring transformation.

Through sincere repentance, consistent spiritual habits, and support from others, individuals can experience real change. The Atonement does not merely cover our sins; it empowers us to become new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Mosiah 27:25). This means that no matter how many times we may have stumbled, or how long we've struggled, the path to healing is always open.

Recovery is not easy, and the road may be long. But we are never alone in it. Jesus Christ walks with us—offering strength when we are weak, grace when we fall short, and healing when we are broken. He does not see us as problems to be fixed, but as precious souls to be restored.

By holding onto that truth, and by taking even small steps in faith each day, we open the door to miracles—sometimes quiet and gradual, sometimes immediate—but always real.

Practical Steps to Embrace Divine Identity