What Our Readers Are Saying

Praise For Beyond the Scar

"Beyond the Scar is a courageous and deeply personal offering from a veteran, chaplain, and faithful follower of Christ. With pastoral tenderness and lived vulnerability, Steve shares his journey through PTSD not as a story of easy resolution, but as a testament to God’s patient, redemptive work. He invites us to name our wounds and to pursue healing without shame. Through powerful storytelling and spiritual insight, he reminds us that we are not alone. In a world full of darkness, Steve’s book is a sacred companion for the road toward the Light."

— Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin, Author of Nailing It: Why successful leadership demands suffering and surrender.

"Beyond the Scar is a powerful, grace-filled journey into the heart of trauma and the hope of healing. With unflinching honesty and sacred compassion, this book names the wounds we carry, the questions we fear, and the God who meets us there. Every chapter is a lifeline for the hurting—and a gentle guide for those walking beside them. West threads the needle by tackling a subject we too often ignore."

— Philip E. Dearborn, Ed.D., President, Association of Biblical Higher Education

“Beyond the Scar echoes the inspiring words of an athletics coach that dominate my thoughts every time I lace up my running shoes: ‘You haven’t come this far to only get this far.’ In trauma, as in athletics, you decide if the agonizing pain you experience along the way is an excuse to quit or a catalyst to keep going. Whether the scar is on your body or on your soul, you can move past the events that caused your pain to a victory you could never have imagined. Having gone beyond his own scars while still acknowledging their lingering presence, Steve West in these pages shows you how to do the same.”

— Dondi E. Costin, PhD, President, Liberty University, Major General, U.S. Air Force (Retired)

“In this compassionate and deeply redemptive book, Chaplain Steve West holds out the hope of healing to those who suffer trauma’s many harms. Written by a man who has experienced the healing of his own hurts, Beyond the Scar will help both survivors and their caregivers understand the pains of trauma more comprehensively and receive the loving mercy of Jesus.”

— Dr. Philip Graham Ryken, President, Wheaton College

"Beyond the Scar is a powerful reminder that God can bring purpose from our pain. Dr. Steve West shares his journey through trauma with honesty and hope, showing how our scars can become tools to help others heal. This book is an encouragement to anyone facing hardship, offering faith, strength, and a renewed sense of direction."

— Valerie Dowling, Director, Women’s Democracy Network, International Republican Institute

"In our fast-paced, quick-fix, 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' culture, Beyond the Scar offers a much-needed invitation to slow down and truly heal. As a therapist who specializes in trauma for both civilian and responder communities — and as someone who has personally experienced its impact — I can say without hesitation that this book is a must-read. Dr. Steve West gives trauma a voice and offers a clear, compassionate path forward. His honest reflections, combined with an accessible explanation of how trauma affects the brain and body, create space for readers to feel, process, and ultimately heal. Through God, supportive relationships, and personal surrender, healing becomes not only possible, but within reach."

— Kelli Mosley, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

-Whether you are in the middle of your own healing journey or supporting someone through theirs, this book is a trustworthy guide. It reminds us that trauma may change our story, but it does not get to write the final chapter. There is hope after heartbreak. There is purpose after pain. And by God's grace, there is beauty beyond the scar.

— Brandon Doss, M.Div, Lead Team Pastor, Cultivate Church

“Steve West pulls back the curtain on the sometimes emotionally crippling effect of unresolved trauma returning under the surface for believers who are often conditioned to think it should be suppressed. As Steve reveals, there are different levels of mental/emotional trauma, but thank goodness he lays out the scripturally-based blueprint to help us navigate it for our growth.”

— Mike Dubberly Co-anchor of Good Day Alabama on WBRC TV 6 News