Healing Moral Injury: Faith, Forgiveness & PTSD Recovery with Judy Isaacson Elias

There are wounds that go far deeper than the body—wounds that settle into the soul and refuse to heal with time alone. That truth became painfully clear in GoodVue Network’s Good News as host Dr. Lee Kanter sat down with Judy Isaacson Elias, founder of Heroes to Heroes, for a profound discussion on moral injury, faith, and the path to healing.

This episode was more than a conversation—it was a deep dive into the unseen struggles many veterans face when they return home. As we reflected on International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the discussion took on an even more significant weight, reminding us of the lasting effects of trauma, the importance of forgiveness, and the undeniable role of faith in restoring what has been lost.

What Is Moral Injury?

Judy began with a striking definition:

“Moral injury is the shame and guilt brought home from war.”

Unlike PTSD, which stems from the trauma of external events, moral injury is an injury to the soul. It comes from choices made—or not made—under the impossible pressure of war. A soldier hesitates to take a shot, and a friend is lost. Another follows orders, only to question later whether they did the right thing. Survivors wrestle with why they lived while others perished.

These burdens don’t stay on the battlefield. They follow veterans home, shaping their relationships, their ability to function, and their sense of self-worth. And for many, the weight is unbearable.

Judy’s own father, a World War II veteran who fought in Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and the liberation of a concentration camp, was one of many who never fully came home. His body returned, but his spirit carried the war with him.

The Silent Battle Veterans Face

One of the most heartbreaking revelations from the episode was this: 80% of the veterans Heroes to Heroes works with believe that God wishes they were dead.

Let that sink in.

These are men and women who risked everything, yet they come home feeling unworthy of forgiveness, redemption, or even life itself. They struggle to reconnect with their families, to hold their newborn children without remembering the innocent lives lost in war, to accept love when they feel irredeemable.

For those of us who have never been in combat, it’s easy to say, “You did what you had to do.” But to a veteran carrying the weight of moral injury, those words ring hollow. The only true path to healing is through God’s forgiveness—and accepting it.

Healing Begins with Faith

Judy’s own journey of faith was shaped by her experience in Israel as a teenager, where she reconnected with God, her faith, and her people. That experience became the foundation for Heroes to Heroes, a 12-month faith-based program designed to help veterans rediscover their identity, reconnect with God, and learn how to forgive themselves.

“You can’t fully heal the body if the soul is broken,” she shared.

The program walks veterans through an intentional process of healing, starting with values—who they are outside of war, what they believe, and what truly defines them. Through structured reflection, faith-based mentorship, and even transformative trips to Israel, veterans begin to see themselves through God’s eyes rather than through the lens of their past.

The Power of Atonement and Forgiveness

One of the most striking moments of the episode came when Judy discussed atonement. In Judaism, there is a clear process for atonement—a way back to God, no matter what has been done. Through prayer, repentance, and reconnecting with faith, healing begins.

For veterans, the path is similar.

1. Recognizing that God still has a purpose for them.
2. Understanding that their past does not define them.
3. Accepting the forgiveness that God freely offers.
4. Taking action—living out their faith in a way that brings healing and renewal.

Judy shared powerful stories of veterans falling to their knees in prayer at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, weeping as they finally allowed themselves to feel God’s presence and grace.

One of the most practical exercises they use is writing Letters to God—an unfiltered outpouring of pain, regret, and longing. For many, it’s the first time they’ve spoken honestly to God in years.

A Call to Stand Together

As the conversation turned to global conflict, Judy highlighted the reality that good and evil do exist in this world—and that sometimes war is necessary to fight against it. But even when war is justified, the soldiers who fight still carry the weight of it home.

She made an urgent call for Christians and Jews to stand together, recognizing our shared faith and responsibility to fight against evil. Too often, both communities fail to speak up, to act, or to support those who bear the cost of defending freedom.

Judy reminded us that we are all people of the Book, and we need to return to the core values of faith, family, and responsibility.

Final Thoughts

This episode was not just about veterans—it was about all of us.

Moral injury isn’t limited to the battlefield. Many of us carry wounds that feel impossible to heal—regrets, guilt, or a sense of unworthiness. But just as the veterans in Heroes to Heroes are finding redemption, so can we.

The answer isn’t found in human approval, self-help, or ignoring the past. The answer is in God’s mercy, in atonement, and in recognizing that no one is too far gone for His grace.

If this conversation resonated with you, take a moment to reflect. What burdens are you carrying that God is asking you to release? What lies have you believed about your worth?

The path to healing is open. All we have to do is take the first step with Jesus.