Who Were You Before the Pain? Reconnecting with Your Original Self

Posted on February 23rd, 2024

Pain changes us. Trauma, betrayal, loss, rejection—these moments have a way of distorting how we see ourselves. We start to believe we are the sum of what happened to us. We forget the light that once filled our hearts. We lose sight of the original self God created.But here’s the beautiful truth:

Who you were before the pain is not lost.
That version of you—the joyful, hopeful, bold, creative, kind, trusting person—is still there, waiting to be seen again.Let’s talk about how to reconnect with that original self.

Remember Who God Says You Are
Before the pain, before the brokenness, before the world’s labels—God called you:
Loved — “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
Chosen — “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” (John 15:16)
Fearfully and wonderfully made — (Psalm 139:14)Your original self was formed in God’s image. Pain might have tried to cover that truth, but it didn’t erase it. The first step to reconnection is to reclaim God’s original words over your life.

Identify What Tried to Redefine You
Pain speaks, and its voice can be loud:
“You’re not enough.”
“You’re hard to love.”
“You’re too broken.”Ask yourself:
👉 What lies did I start believing because of my pain?
👉 When did I stop feeling safe to be my true self?
👉 What parts of me have I hidden to survive?Identifying these shifts helps you untangle who you became to protect yourself from who you really are.

Give Yourself Permission to Return
Healing is not about becoming someone new. It’s about returning to who you’ve always been under the layers of hurt.
That means:
Laughing freely again
Trusting again (slowly, wisely)
Dreaming again
Resting without guilt
Letting joy feel safe againIt’s okay to outgrow the coping strategies that no longer serve you. You are allowed to come home to yourself.

Take Small Steps Toward That Self
Think back:
💡 What lit you up before the pain?
💡 What did you love to do as a child?
💡 When did you feel most alive, most you?Start there. Maybe it’s:
Picking up a creative hobby again
Speaking kind words over yourself daily
Spending time with people who remind you of your worth
Praying the dangerous prayer: “God, help me see myself the way You see me.”Each small step is a way of speaking back to life.

Trust That God Restores What Was Stolen
Pain may have delayed your dreams or dimmed your light, but God is in the business of restoration.
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten.” (Joel 2:25)
“Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:5)Your original self isn’t gone—it’s being restored, renewed, and refined. And this version of you will be stronger, wiser, and even more radiant.

Try This: Reflection Exercise
Take a few minutes today and complete this:
“Before the pain, I was ___________. I want to rediscover that part of me by ___________.”Speak it. Write it. Pray over it. Let it guide your healing.🌿 Your Original Self is Waiting
You were never meant to live as a shadow of yourself. The real you—the whole you—is still there, ready to rise. So take courage. Reconnect. And speak back to life.Because who you were before the pain still matters. And God is calling you back to that beautiful, beloved self.👉 Let me know if you'd like this turned into a social post series, email devotional, or journaling guide!2/2Do you like this personality?