Father Wounds, Grief & the Adoption She Never Expected | Julie Busler

Julie lost her mother to cancer at 19 and her father to suicide at 27. For years, she survived by pushing down her emotions while trying to faithfully follow Jesus, raise a family, and serve in ministry. Eventually, the trauma she had never processed caught up with her, leading Julie to seek professional help and begin naming wounds she hadn't previously known how to describe.

Julie shares how counseling helped her understand emotional neglect, abandonment, attachment, and the ways childhood wounds had affected her relationship with God. She also explains why getting professional help does not mean we lack faith—and how Scripture, counseling, community, and honest lament can all be part of the healing journey.

We also unpack one of the practical teachings from Julie's book Hopeful Sorrow: the biblical practice of lament. Using Psalm 13, Julie walks through four simple steps:

1. Turn to God in faith.
2. Tell Him honestly how you feel.
3. Ask Him boldly for help.
4. Choose to trust His character even before you know the outcome.

Then Julie shares an extraordinary chapter of redemption she never expected. After years of identifying herself as an adult orphan and trusting God as a Father to the fatherless, a longtime friendship developed into a mother-daughter relationship—and Julie was legally adopted as an adult.

Her story is a beautiful reminder that God may still be writing chapters we haven't even thought to ask Him for.

If you've experienced father wounds, childhood trauma, grief, abandonment, emotional neglect, suicide loss, or difficulty seeing God as a loving Father, this conversation is for you.

IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 The redemption Julie never expected
 00:25 Julie Busler returns to The Redeemed Podcast
 01:45 Losing her mom at 19 and her dad to suicide
 04:20 Understanding emotional neglect and father wounds
 07:00 Processing anger and complicated grief
 08:15 Faith, ministry and getting professional help
 11:55 How childhood wounds follow us into adulthood
 13:35 Breaking generational cycles as a parent
 15:55 Why joy and sorrow can coexist
 17:05 What biblical lament really means
 18:20 How father wounds can affect our view of God
 19:10 Four steps of lament from Psalm 13
 20:40 The unexpected chapter God was writing
 23:30 “I have a mom”: Julie's adult adoption story
 26:30 Responding to criticism and misunderstood wounds
 28:45 Adult adoption and the Gospel
 30:15 Hope when you think your story is already over
 32:00 Where healing can begin
 33:20 Hopeful Sorrow and connecting with Julie
34:10 Lauren's encouragement for those carrying father wounds
36:00 A prayer for healing

CONNECT WITH JULIE BUSLER

Website: juliebusler.com
 Instagram & Facebook: @juliebusler

Look for Julie's books Hopeful Sorrow: Turning to God in Hope When Childhood Wounds Have You Turning Away and Joyful Sorrow wherever books are sold.

CONNECT WITH LAUREN

Visit laurenburns.net for The Redeemed Podcast, speaking events, resources, and Lauren's book STOLEN: True Story—Kidnapped, Rescued, Redeemed.

If this conversation encouraged you, subscribe to The Redeemed Podcast, leave a comment, and share this episode with someone who may need the reminder that their story is not finished.

📖 STOLEN — LAUREN BURNS

STOLEN: subscribepage.io/R8EW8e
🌐 laurenburns.net 

SCRIPTURES MENTIONED

Psalm 13
 2 Corinthians 6:10
 Psalm 68:5–6

Disclaimer:

The purpose of the Redeemed Podcast is to share the love of Jesus. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on behalf of guest do not necessarily represent the thoughts of the host. This podcast does not constitute services or medical advise. Pease pray and thoroughly research options for medical needs. Listeners and viewers consume this content on a voluntary basis and assume all responsibility for resulting consequence and impact.

#FatherWounds #ChildhoodTrauma #ChristianHealing #GriefAndFaith #AdultAdoption #JulieBusler #RedeemedPodcast

Lauren Burns Stolen, true story of being kidnapped by their father at seven years old, taken halfway around the world, and rescued. The book covers what happened after returning home, including years of hiding, father wounds, forgiveness, and discovering that God working in her story. Stolen: True Story, Kidnapped, Rescued, Redeemed is available now in hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook. Lauren personally narrated the audiobook  find it wherever books are sold.