Hopeful Sorrow

Did you grow up feeling unloved, unseen, and insecure? Do you still feel this way today? If so, you’re not alone.

Our earliest relationships become the blueprint for how we relate to others later in life, including God. But what happens when those childhood relationships have left you wounded?

In Hopeful Sorrow, Julie Busler shares her journey through childhood trauma, emotional neglect, and grief, showing that turning from childhood wounds to God in hope begins with turning toward them in sorrow. Through the biblical practice of lament – bringing honest pain and questions to God – she demonstrates how acknowledging sorrow can lead to hope, resilience, and renewed faith.

Blending personal stories with insight from Scripture, Julie will equip you to:

Face and process childhood pain with hope and forgiveness. Stop hiding pain and find peace in God’s presence. Navigate feelings of abandonment and neglect. Trust God as a loving Father. Break family patterns that have been breaking you.

The lens through which we see our parents naturally affects how we view God, but there is hope! We really can attach to Him as a loving Father and learn to live securely in His love.

1. Opening Credits
2. Dedication
3. Note from the Author
4. Introduction: Finally Honest
5. Part 1: Lament | Chapter 1: Permission to Grieve
6. Chapter 2: What Is Lament
7. Chapter 3: Practicing Lament
8. Part 2: Hindrances to Lament | Chapter 4: Emotional Neglect
9. Chapter 5: Attachment
10. Chapter 6: Fear of Abandonment
11. Chapter 7: Faithful Love
12. Chapter 8: Breaking the Cycle
13. Chapter 9: Penitential Lament
14. Part 3: Implications for the Church | Chapter 10: Lamenting Together
15. Chapter 11: Missional Lament
16. Epilogue: Remembering with Grace
17. Acknowledgments
18. Appendix 1: Words to Help You Lament
19. Closing Credits