ADOPTION STRUGGLES AND SUPPORT | Adoption Trauma, Safety, Peace of Mind, Biblical Encouragement, Respite, Journaling

209 – 3 Biblical Steps to Eliminate Hurry and Find Peace, Calm, and Rest

❗Are you constantly rushing, feeling like there’s never enough time in the day?
💭Do you long for real peace, but life’s chaos keeps pulling you away?
🌟What if slowing down could actually help you experience God’s presence more fully?
Hi Neighbor,
A simple card on my cabin door inspired this unplugged episode.
“Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” ~Dallas Willard
I reflect on how embracing God’s gifts can help us ruthlessly eliminate hurry from our lives.
Surrounded by God’s creation and longtime friends, I’ve been reminded that peace, calm, and rest are already available. We just need to make room for them. I’ll share 3 Biblical steps that have helped me experience these gifts from God.
Whether you’re an adoptive parent navigating unique challenges, or simply someone feeling weary from life’s storms, I hope this episode encourages you to slow down and receive the peace, calm, and rest God offers.
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim 💙
P.S. If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.

208 – Finding Peace in Pain No One Understands: Psalm 3 for Adoptive Parents

He experienced one tragedy after another 💔. If that wasn't enough, he then experienced the ultimate act of betrayal 😢. How could a son do this to his father? Life would never be the same. Yet through it all, he was still able to find peace.
Hi Neighbor,
As an adoptive parent, have you faced sleepless nights filled with fear, wondering if peace will ever come?
Adoption can bring heartbreak no one else sees💔. In Psalm 3, David poured out his pain and found peace. This episode shows you how to do the same.
We’ll explore Psalm 3 and the story of David, and I’ll share how journaling can be a powerful tool for adoptive parents to process their emotions and find peace in the middle of heartbreak.
Even in sleepless nights and hidden tears, God sees, sustains, and gives rest to weary parents.🕊️
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim 💙
P.S. If you’ve ever felt lost trying to connect Scripture with the realities of adoption trauma, I’d love to walk alongside you. I’m opening a few free spots for one-on-one conversations where we can talk through practical tools and Biblical encouragement for your journey.
👉 Send me an email at tim@anchorsofencouragement.com to grab your spot. I’d be honored to walk with you. 💙
👉 If this podcast has given you the courage and confidence to face storms in your life, the number one way you can thank me is to leave a written review on Apple Podcasts. I recorded a quick video to show you how. Thanks so much!

207 – Encouraging Bible Verses to Help Adoptive Parents Partner with God and Keep Going

He faced one discouraging obstacle after another. Yet through it all, he persisted.How did he do it? First, he partnered with God. 
Hi Neighbor!
Do you ever feel like you’re facing one discouraging obstacle after another in your adoption journey? You’re not alone. 💔 As an adoptive parent and coach, I know exactly what that feels like and how to persist through it.
So, what’s my secret? Partnering with God and using journaling as a daily anchor.
In this episode, I’ll share:✨ My personal journaling experience✨ Inspiration from one of my favorite Bible characters in Genesis 39✨ An easy way to start journaling—even if you’ve never done it before✨ How pen-to-paper can help you partner with God
And so much more.
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim 💙
P.S. If you’ve ever felt lost trying to connect Scripture with the realities of adoption trauma, I’d love to walk alongside you. I’m opening a few free spots for one-on-one conversations where we can talk through practical tools and Biblical encouragement for your journey.
👉 Send me an email at tim@anchorsofencouragement.com to grab your spot. I’d be honored to walk with you. 💙
Here are a couple of my favorite Bible Apps for comparing translations. YouVersion and Blue Letter Bible

206 – The Worst Advice for Adoptive Parents? And Why It Turned Out to Be the Best

It was the worst advice I ever received as an adoptive parent and, strangely enough, it turned out to be the best advice too.
Hi Neighbor,
If you’ve ever felt crushed by unsolicited advice 😣 or wondered if you’re failing your kids 💔, you’re not alone. Some words sting and stay with you—but sometimes, with time and perspective, they can also become lifelines.
In this episode, I share the story of how a piece of “terrible” advice was both the worst and best advice I ever received.
On its own, it wasn’t enough. But paired with a fresh perspective and the right support, it became a foundation for hope and healing.
Curious what it was? Tune in for an honest look at the adoption journey and the surprising wisdom hidden in hurtful words.
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim💙
P.S. If you’ve ever felt lost trying to connect Scripture with the realities of adoption trauma, I’d love to walk alongside you. I’m opening a few free spots for one-on-one conversations where we can talk through practical tools and Biblical encouragement for your journey.
👉 Send me an email at tim@anchorsofencouragement.com to grab your spot—I’d be honored to walk with you. 💙

205 – If You’re Feeling Lost as an Adoptive Parent? THIS Could Be Your Lifeline!

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” 🌿Ecclesiastes 3:1 
Whatever season you’re in on your adoption journey, we can get through it together. 
If you’re feeling lost as an adoptive parent, THIS could be your lifeline. Remember, you’re not alone! 
Hi Neighbor,
Solomon in Ecclesiastes reminds us: there’s a time for everything. Whether you’re grieving 😢, celebrating 🎉, or searching for answers 🔎 in your adoption journey, every season has value and purpose.
Every adoption journey has its own season. Sometimes joyful, sometimes tough💔. You’re not alone walking through it. There’s a community waiting to support you, no matter what chapter you’re in.
Are you feeling lost as an adoptive parent? You don’t have to walk alone. Find encouragement, and let others walk with you through the highs and lows. Connection is your lifeline. 
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim 💙
P.S. If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.

204 – 5 Encouraging Bible Verses to Guide Adoptive Parents Through Life’s Fog

How do you navigate through the fog of life? I would like to suggest you consider relying on Someone with a better vantage point ✨. Someone who can shine the light on your path.
Hi Neighbor,
Adoptive life can feel foggy, uncertain, and overwhelming. Sometimes the best way forward is to slow down, trust a higher perspective 🙏, and let go of needing to see every step ahead. What would it look like for you to drive with “low beams” today?
In this special mindset episode of Anchors of Encouragement, I would like to suggest you consider relying on Someone with a better vantage point, Someone who can shine a light on your path.
We’ll consider this question in light of verses found in Psalm 119, Ecclesiastes 12, Micah 6, and Mark 12.
And finally, make a direct application to the adoption journey from James 1.
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim 💙
P.S. If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.
 

203 – Why Do Good People Suffer? 3 Hidden Benefits for Adoptive Parents

Why do bad things happen to good people? Sometimes the answer can only be seen through the perspective of time ⏳.
Hi Neighbor!
In this episode, we’ll dive into the story of Joseph in Genesis 📖 and see how time gave him clarity on why he suffered the things he did.
We’ll also explore 1 Corinthians and Romans to discover 3 powerful benefits of why good people and especially adoptive parents walk through seasons of suffering. 💔
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way.
Your Neighbor,Tim 💙
P.S. If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.

202 – Struggling with Conflict? Here’s a Simple Tool to Empower Your Adopted Child with Erich Nelson

As an adoptive parent, the way you were parented may or may not be the best approach in parenting your adopted child.
Hi Neighbor!
When what you’re doing as a parent 🚫 isn’t working, how do you flip the script 🔄 and approach parenting differently? 🤔
In this episode, one of the individuals who helped my son Jonny navigate the challenges of residential treatment joins the show.
My neighbor 🏡 Erich Nelson shares a script 📝 that adoptive parents can use to de-escalate a volatile situation ⚡ by empowering their children 💪.
Grab a pen ✍️ and paper 📄 — this is definitely an episode for which you’ll want to take notes.
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way.Your Neighbor,⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Tim
P.S. If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.
Follow Erich’s The DoLifeBig Project

201 – How Do You Love an Adopted Child Who Won’t Let You In? Jackson TerKeurst’s Story of Survival, Hope, and Healing

When connection feels impossible, is it still love? (Yes! Here’s how.)
Hi Neighbor,
Today, I’m joined by my neighbor from West Africa by way of Nashville, Jackson TerKeurst. Jackson opens up about his journey from civil war in Liberia to Tennessee, and what it was like to be an adopted teenager with walls built for survival.
He brings a powerful perspective on what love felt like on the receiving end of trauma… and what helped him slowly open the door to connection 🔓❤️.
🎧 You’ll hear: • 🧠 What adoptive parents need to understand about the “shut down” behaviors they often misread
 • 🪨 How Jackson’s parents stayed steady, even when he wouldn’t engage
 • 🔑 What finally broke through the silence (and what didn’t)
 • 💔 Practical encouragement for the parent who feels like their love isn’t working
This episode dives deep into what it means to love through rejection 🚫, resistance 🌀, and silence 🤐 — the painful places trauma creates when a child’s heart can’t receive the love you're offering.
If you’re an adoptive parent or someone walking alongside a family impacted by trauma, this episode will encourage you to stay rooted in hope even when it’s hard to see fruit. You’ll learn how to hold space, stay steady, and love through layers of trauma.
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way.

Your Neighbor,
Tim
P.S. If you haven’t joined our private community, consider this an invitation. It’s a safe space to share your struggles and triumphs with fellow adoptive parents who truly understand what you're going through.
Connect with Jackson:InstagramWebsiteBook

200 – Feeling Alone in Your Adoption Journey? You’re Not the Only One

If you’ve ever felt like no one truly understands what you’re going through as an adoptive parent, you’re not alone and you’re not broken.
Hi Neighbor,
Today marks not only our 200th episode, but also the third anniversary of this podcast. What started as a simple idea and a backyard walk has now grown into a global community of adoptive parents seeking encouragement, connection, and biblical hope.
In this milestone episode, I’ll take you back to where it all began. I’m recording from my outdoor “studio,” the same backyard path where I first began sharing adoption content three years ago. I reflect on the origin of the podcast, the evolution of its name, and the heart behind every episode: letting adoptive parents know they’re not alone in the hard work of parenting.
You’ll also get a sneak peek at what’s ahead for the podcast and community. Coming attractions include:
💬 Adoption Life Coaching – Biblically grounded, experience-based coaching for adoptive parents
📧 Email Community – Behind-the-scenes content, affirmations, and parenting tools delivered weekly
🎥 YouTube Channel – Additional video content and encouragement
🎙️ Expert Interviews – Hear from therapists, counselors, and adoptees themselves
🧭 Daily Doables & Practical Tools – More actionable ways to apply spiritual truths and regulate emotions
🌐 Streamlined Access – To easily find coaching, community, and podcast extras
If you’ve ever felt like no one understands the unique struggles of adoption, this episode is for you. You’ll hear how community, coaching, and Scripture have shaped this podcast and how they can support you too.
Anchors of Hope and Healing are on the way!Your Neighbor,Tim
P.S. Join the private Facebook community: TimSuggests.com/community