Hiding the Word: Neuroplasticity, Trauma, and the Gospel of John

In the darkest years of my marriage, I played the Gospels on a loop on our family TV just to keep an anchor for my storm-engulfed psyche. It was there that I realized John 1 reads like the Bible's dust jacket plot summary—complete with spoilers. Trapped in a distorted environment where I feared my access to truth could be stripped away, I chose to memorize the entire chapter so it would be hidden where no one could touch it. What started as a raw survival tactic became a literal rewiring of my brain, moving me from trauma and PTSD into freedom, hope, and grace-filled strength.