Holy Garments
“What message do you think that gives off?” I asked her.
“What do you mean?” she replied defensively.
I paused, quietly seeking His wisdom. “Let me share a personal experience with you, if I may.”
Back in my using days, my home away from home was the Ten Limited, a biker bar on Main Street in Watkins Glen — my old stomping grounds. I was a Harley chick back then. One day I walked into the bar, and to my surprise, the bartender immediately threw me out.
“Why?” she asked.
Because of my choice of clothing.
I turned back to my Narcotics Anonymous sponsee and said, “What we wear sends a message. Let me ask you this: What message do you want to send to others — especially to men? And why?
Do we choose short, tight clothing or low-cut tops to attract attention we never received from our earthly fathers? Is our inner brokenness manifesting in the way we dress?”
In the rooms of 12-step recovery, newcomers are told that if they want to stay clean and sober, they must change everything — people, places, and things.
- Distancing from those who still use drugs or alcohol
- Avoiding environments tied to addiction
- Leaving behind old hangouts and habits
- Even changing the music we listen to
I looked her in the eyes and spoke directly to her heart:
“You are no longer eye candy for men. You are the daughter of the King. Dress like it — and carry yourself like a princess.”
That day she chose modest, beautiful apparel.
She later became an incredible substance abuse counselor, carrying a message of hope and healing to others.
Tetzavah: Garments That Carry Identity
This week’s Torah portion, Tetzavah, continues the instructions Yah gave Moses for building the sanctuary — a dwelling place where He would live among His people. But alongside the sanctuary plans come detailed instructions for something deeply personal:
The holy garments of 
the priests.
Holy garments — because garments matter.
We are sons and daughters of the Most High, the King of Kings. Even today, many wear tzitzit as reminders of identity and covenant, opening doors for conversations about Torah and the calling of His people.
Putting On the New Self
Colossians 3:2–7 calls us to focus on things above, not earthly things:
“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Messiah in God… therefore put to death what is earthly in you — sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed… at one time you walked in these ways, but now you must set them all aside: anger, rage, malice, slander, and foul language.”
We have taken off the old self and put on the new — renewed in knowledge according to the image of our Creator.
Verse 12 reminds us:
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Garments and Trauma
I want to explore Colossians 3 through a trauma-informed lens.
Ask the Lord to reveal unresolved wounds you may still be coping with through unhealthy habits or addictions. Consider how this connects to the “garments” you wear in your life.
Garments speak in a quiet tongue. A hem, a color, a texture becomes a whisper of identity — our roots, boundaries, longings, and dignity.
Every layer we wear makes a declaration:
“This is how I move through the world.
This is the shape of my dignity.
This is the truth I choose to reveal — or protect.”
The Other “F” Words
I used to get kicked out of bars for my filthy language — I used the “F” word constantly.
Today, I use different F words:
Fight • Flight • Freeze • Fawn
These are the four core trauma responses — automatic survival strategies used when the nervous system senses danger.
- Fight: anger, defensiveness, or control to feel safe
- Flight: avoidance or constant busyness
- Freeze: shutting down or feeling stuck
- Fawn: people-pleasing to maintain safety
These responses are not weakness. They are protection shaped by experience.
Trauma and Generational Memory
Epigenetics shows us that trauma can influence how genes express themselves without changing DNA itself. Stress can leave chemical marks affecting emotional regulation, immunity, and stress responses — sometimes across generations.
But these marks are not permanent. Healing environments, safety, and spiritual restoration can reverse them.
Consider the Hebrews after slavery in Egypt. Generations of oppression likely shaped collective fear, scarcity thinking, and distrust of safety — patterns visible even after the Exodus.
Yet through community, worship, and covenant life, healing began.
The Garments of Recovery
Recovery means putting off the old self and putting on the new. It takes time, intention, and walking a defined path.
If you feel called to deeper healing, explore the resources available on my website designed to support your journey.
If you are reading this, perhaps He has called you out of darkness into His light — to remove the old garments and clothe yourself anew.
A Question for the Journey
So I ask you, sister or brother: What are you wearing?
To learn more about putting off the old garments and putting on the new, visit:
