By Amb. Elisha | The Elisha Show | June 2026
Introduction
Life does not always unfold according to our expectations. For many people, pain arrives early, leaves deep wounds, and shapes the way they view themselves, others, and even God. Yet some stories remind us that brokenness does not have to be the final chapter.
In my conversation with Steve Rotermund, I encountered a man whose life has been marked by profound hardship, but also by remarkable transformation. Through childhood trauma, family struggles, ministry challenges, and personal healing, Steve’s story offers hope to anyone wrestling with shame, addiction, codependency, or a distorted view of their identity.
When Trauma Shapes Identity
Steve’s early years were filled with experiences that no child should have to endure. His mother abandoned him at a young age, he experienced sexual abuse, and he grew up with an alcoholic father.
These painful experiences quietly shaped the way he saw himself.
“I grew into shame. I grew into condemnation. I grew into ‘I’m not good enough.’ I grew into that thought process.”
Although he later came to faith and entered ministry, those deep wounds remained beneath the surface. Outwardly he served God, but internally he still carried a broken understanding of who he was and how God viewed him.
The Hidden Struggle Behind Ministry
After becoming a pastor, Steve found himself facing another painful challenge when his wife developed a serious addiction to prescription medication.
As the addiction worsened, he desperately prayed for God to intervene. Yet despite his prayers, the situation continued to deteriorate.
The pressure became overwhelming.
“I was praying, ‘God, why aren’t You fixing this? I’m working for You now. Why aren’t You fixing her?’”
Like many people facing difficult circumstances, Steve focused all his attention on changing someone else while remaining unaware of the healing he personally needed.
Eventually, exhaustion and disappointment led him to walk away from ministry and, for a season, away from God.
The Discovery That Changed Everything
A turning point came when a counselor challenged Steve with a truth he did not want to hear.
Instead of focusing on his wife’s addiction, the counselor pointed out that Steve himself needed healing.
That revelation introduced him to the concept of codependency and began a journey that would transform his life.
As he reflected:
“You need to find your identity in Christ.”
Though he had spent years studying Scripture and serving in ministry, Steve realized he had never fully understood his identity as a son of God.
This realization became the foundation of a twelve-year healing journey in which God slowly dismantled layers of shame, fear, and insecurity.
Understanding Healthy Boundaries
One of the most valuable lessons Steve learned was the importance of healthy boundaries.
Many people view boundaries as walls designed to punish others, but Steve offers a different perspective.
According to him, biblical boundaries begin with understanding who you are and refusing to be controlled by unhealthy behaviors, lies, or destructive patterns.
“I know who I am. I’m not going to believe any lie that comes against me that doesn’t speak truth into me.”
Rather than trying to rescue, control, or fix another person, healthy boundaries allow individuals to protect their emotional and spiritual well-being while still walking in love.
For Steve, this shift helped him stop being consumed by his wife’s addiction and start focusing on the healing God wanted to accomplish in his own life.
Building a Community for Healing
After years of personal transformation, Steve felt called to help others facing similar struggles.
This led to the creation of the Work Right Community, a place designed for spouses and partners of individuals battling addiction or unhealthy habits.
The community focuses on healing, identity, support, and spiritual growth.
Rather than centering everything around one leader, Steve intentionally built a space where people can encourage one another and grow together.
“It’s a place for healing, hope, and transformation.”
His vision reflects the biblical principle that healing often happens within authentic community.
God’s Imperfect Plan
Steve’s journey also inspired him to write his book, God’s Imperfect Plan.
The title itself challenges a common misunderstanding within Christian circles.
Many people are taught that God has a perfect plan and therefore life should unfold smoothly. But what happens when trauma, abuse, loss, or suffering enters the picture?
Steve wrestled deeply with that question.
Looking back at his own life, he saw experiences he never would have chosen. Yet through them all, he discovered something powerful: God’s redemption is greater than life’s brokenness.
“Jesus died on that cross, rectified all that, and all that’s gone. We don’t have to live in that anymore.”
His book is ultimately a story of restoration, showing how God can redeem even the deepest wounds and use them for healing and transformation.
A Message of Hope
Perhaps the most powerful takeaway from my conversation with Steve is that freedom is possible.
No matter how long someone has battled shame, addiction, trauma, fear, or unhealthy relationships, transformation remains available.
Steve’s life stands as evidence that healing is not reserved for a select few. It is available to anyone willing to embrace truth, confront the lies they have believed, and allow God to reshape their identity.
My Recommendation
After speaking with Steve Rotermund, I wholeheartedly recommend his work to anyone navigating addiction recovery, codependency, emotional wounds, or identity struggles. What impressed me most was not simply his knowledge, but his transparency. Steve speaks from lived experience, not theory. His willingness to share his failures, struggles, and healing journey gives credibility to every lesson he teaches. Through his book, community, and ministry, he offers practical hope for people who feel trapped by circumstances they cannot control. If you are seeking freedom, healing, and a deeper understanding of your identity in Christ, Steve Rotermund’s message is both timely and deeply impactful.
Final Message
Steve Rotermund’s story reminds us that transformation begins when we stop defining ourselves by our wounds and start seeing ourselves through the lens of God’s truth. Trauma may shape part of our story, but it does not have to determine our future.
Freedom is found not in controlling others, fixing every problem, or pretending pain does not exist. It is found in healing, surrender, and embracing the identity God has already given us.
As Steve wisely shared, there is victory on the other side of addiction, codependency, and shame. The journey may take time, but healing is possible, and hope is never out of reach.
Reach Steve here