#370 - Traumatizers: Overcoming Evil with Good | Mark E. Shaw#370 - Traumatizers: Overcoming Evil with Good | Mark E. Shaw
The Addiction Connection Podcast
Dr Mark E. Shaw talks about responding to trauma, abuse and addiction-related hurt through biblical teaching on sin, forgiveness and God’s vengeance. He stresses the sufficiency of Jesus Christ and the gospel to overcome evil with good and bring reconciliation with God.
24:03•13 Jul 2026
Trauma, Sin and Overcoming Evil with Good
Episode Overview
- Revenge belongs to God; Christians are called to leave vengeance to him and respond to enemies with practical kindness.
- Experiences often labelled as trauma can be framed biblically as sin committed against someone, which Scripture directly addresses.
- Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and God’s word are presented as fully sufficient to deal with deep hurt and addiction.
- A heart of forgiveness and prayer for those who never apologise helps prevent bitterness and being overcome by evil.
- The gospel offers justification, reconciliation with God and freedom from his wrath to anyone who turns to Christ in faith.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This episode of The Addiction Connection Podcast follows Dr Mark E. Shaw as he wrestles with that question through a firmly biblical lens, especially for those who carry deep hurt and addiction-related trauma.
You’ll hear him unpack Romans 12 and Romans 5, focusing on the command, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." He talks about what it means when the "enemy" is a spouse, a pastor or someone from church, and how Christians are called to feed, bless and forgive those who have wounded them rather than seek revenge.
His point is clear: "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord," and trying to take that job from God only harms the heart. Mark challenges common psychological language around trauma, arguing that many experiences labelled as "trauma" are better understood as sin committed against someone. He stresses that this doesn’t minimise the pain but keeps it within biblical categories so it can be addressed by God’s word and Spirit. "Jesus Christ is sufficient.
His word is sufficient to deal with trauma," he says, pushing back against theories that promise more than they deliver. For those wondering whether a pastor or biblical counsellor can really "handle" childhood trauma or abuse, Mark answers plainly that God’s word, the Holy Spirit and a skilled, compassionate biblical counsellor can help.
He shares his own experiences of being mistreated, emphasising a heart posture of forgiveness, praying for those who have never apologised, and refusing to let evil win by driving you to bitterness or quitting. The episode keeps circling back to one core message: the gospel offers real hope, reconciliation with God, and freedom from the wrath of God through Christ’s sacrifice.
If you’re wrestling with addiction, hurt or betrayal, this conversation may prompt you to ask: what would it look like to answer evil in your life with good, one small step at a time?
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