In this week's episode, I'm joined again by Robin Taylor, who shares a powerful perspective that has shaped both her healing journey and her ministry: "If a flower doesn't bloom, don't blame the flower. Change the flower's environment." Growing up surrounded by domestic violence and rejection led her to believe she was unworthy of love and commitment. Those early wounds deeply impacted how she viewed herself and her relationships, reinforcing shame and insecurity that followed her into adulthood. But her story did not end there.

Robin recounts how coming to know God as her Ideal Parent transformed her understanding of her worth and identity. Through His relentless pursuit and tender care, the broken places in her heart began to mend, and shame started to lose its grip. Today, she carries that same hope to others who feel rejected or abandoned, pointing them toward the relational healing found in both healthy community and God's faithful love. Her testimony is honest, redemptive, and deeply encouraging for anyone longing to believe they are truly valued.

Connect with Robin: https://[email protected]/

Standard "Our Time to Bloom" Membership:

• Sunday Morning "Princess with a Crooked Crown" Live broadcast via the app (8am EST, then available as a recording)

• Monday's Morning Cup of Grace Devotional

• Community membership and posts

Premium "Our Time to Bloom" Membership

• Everything above

• God's Design: Domestic Violence Recovery Class

• 4 pre-recorded video lessons

• Workbook

• 30 day follow up journal

• 4 live Q and A sessions a month ( available recorded if missed)

• Messaging

The "standard" membership is $10.95 per month

The Premium membership that includes the recovery course is $79

I am giving away 5 of these for your listeners with the code: BRFREE

The link for the free code is https://withme.so/mytimetobloom?promo_code=BRFREE

The link for the app itself is:

https://withme.so/mytimetobloom

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at [email protected].

My guest for this and next week's podcast episodes is Robin Taylor, LCSW, who shares the painful beginnings of her story. Rejected by her father and merely tolerated by her mother, Robin grew up longing for love, attention, and acceptance. Without a clear sense of her worth, she moved from one unhealthy relationship to another, giving her heart to people who brought harm instead of care. Violence, cruelty, and unkindness left deep wounds, and true healing seemed out of reach.

Everything began to change when Robin encountered Jesus. Even then, the journey toward understanding her value and learning healthy patterns took time. Through every step, God was quietly at work, bringing transformation, restoration, and redemption. Robin's story is a powerful reminder that our worth is not defined by how others treat us, but by the love God has for us.

Connect with Robin: https://[email protected]/

Standard "Our Time to Bloom" Membership:

• Sunday Morning "Princess with a Crooked Crown" Live broadcast via the app (8am EST, then available as a recording)

• Monday's Morning Cup of Grace Devotional

• Community membership and posts

Premium "Our Time to Bloom" Membership

• Everything above

• God's Design: Domestic Violence Recovery Class

• 4 pre-recorded video lessons

• Workbook

• 30 day follow up journal

• 4 live Q and A sessions a month ( available recorded if missed)

• Messaging

The "standard" membership is $10.95 per month

The Premium membership that includes the recovery course is $79

I am giving away 5 of these for your listeners with the code: BRFREE

The link for the free code is https://withme.so/mytimetobloom?promo_code=BRFREE

The link for the app itself is:

https://withme.so/mytimetobloom

Scripture Mentioned: 2 Timothy 3:6

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at [email protected].

Casandra Morgan's high school sweetheart and the father of her son eventually walked away from her, leaving her to face life as a single mother struggling to survive emotionally, relationally, and financially. The loss was devastating, especially after dreaming of a happily ever after that never came. Yet in the midst of abandonment, God met Casandra with His grace and became her faithful provider and protector.

As she chose to walk in God's ways, step by step, He proved Himself true. A loving church family surrounded Casandra and her son, offering support, growth, and spiritual formation. Through that community, her faith deepened, her strength grew, and her life became a blessing to others. This episode is a beautiful story of redemption, showing how God can love someone back to life and build something new from what was broken.

Connect with Cassandra:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoveMe2LifeMinistries/about

Links Mentioned:

Book "Cultivating Holy Beauty" by Jessica North

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at [email protected].

My guest for this and next week's podcast episodes is Casandra Morgan, a self-professed military brat who shares the beginning of her deeply personal story. As a teenager, Casandra finally found a sense of belonging when she arrived at a new high school and made close friends, including a young man who quickly became her sweetheart. When his family received orders to move across the world, she assumed their relationship was over. Years later, they unexpectedly reconnected as young adults, stepping back into a relationship without realizing they were not yet ready for the weight of commitment.

Pregnancy brought reality sharply into focus, and Casandra's fairy tale quickly unraveled. Dark days followed, filled with heartbreak and uncertainty. Yet even in the depths of her pain, Jesus was present, holding her up and carrying her through. In this episode, Casandra begins sharing how God met her in her brokenness and how His grace became her rescue.

Connect with Cassandra:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoveMe2LifeMinistries/about

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at [email protected].

Matthew Summit returns this week to share the powerful story of how God faithfully provided for him after his biological father abandoned him as a preschooler. Though that loss could have defined his life, God stepped in with remarkable relational provision. A man who adopted Matthew, along with a devoted youth pastor, invested deeply in him, modeling healthy manhood and committing to him for the long haul. Through their presence, and through the steady love of his mother and wife, Matthew began to experience healing and restoration.

In this episode, Matthew also shares how forgiving his biological father brought freedom and release to his heart. His journey is a beautiful reminder that while earthly relationships may fail, God never abandons His children. Today, Matthew serves as a youth pastor himself, offering the same faithful care to young people that was once given to him. His story is one that leads us to worship our good, good Father.

Connect with Matthew:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093839421655

Podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/chartinglife/

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at [email protected].

What happens when expectations are placed on you before you even understand who you are? In this episode, Matthew shares how the weight of expectation followed him from preschool into his early years. Instead of processing his emotions, he learned to tuck them away into what he calls his "junk drawer," a place where unresolved feelings are stored when you do not know what to do with them.

As a teenager, Matthew's story began to shift. When his faith became his own rather than something handed to him, the healing process started. He reflects on identity, emotional suppression, and the journey toward healing that comes with self awareness and personal faith.

Connect with Matthew:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093839421655

Podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/chartinglife/

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at [email protected].

In today's episode, I begin a new series exploring the deep and often hidden experience of shame that can grow out of abandonment. I share parts of my own story of being abandoned by my parents and other family members, and how that loss shaped my identity, relationships, and sense of worth. The effects of abandonment can linger quietly for years, influencing how we see ourselves and God.

In this honest and personal conversation, I also share how God met me in my brokenness. Through His compassion and faithfulness, He began the work of healing my heart and freeing me from the shame I carried for so long. My hope is that this episode offers understanding, hope, and the assurance that restoration is possible, even after deep abandonment.

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at [email protected].

For Workbook Small Groups, contact Louise at:

https://www.louisesedgwick.com/zoomsmallgroups

Scriptures mentioned:

Genesis 2:18

Romans 12:18

Hebrews 13:5

Matthew 28:20

I John 3:1

Romans 8:15

Romans 1:6

Revelation 19:7

Romans 6:5

John 14:20

I Corinthians 6:19

John 15:15

Revelation 3:20

Romans 12:5

Choosing to trust again after being wounded takes courage, yet for some, that trust is met with harm more than once. This was the painful reality for my guest, author Charlaine Martin, and her first husband, Don. After experiencing spiritual abuse in their very first church assignment, they later faced it again further along in Don's pastoral career. The repeated betrayal left deep wounds of hurt and shame, made even heavier by the silence and inaction of denominational leaders who should have offered support and protection.

In this episode, Charlaine shares how the path to healing did not come easily, and how forgiveness became the doorway to release, restoration, and freedom. Her story speaks to the resilience of faith, the cost of misplaced trust, and the redemptive power of choosing love even after profound disappointment.

Connect with Charlaine: https://charlainemartin.com

Charlaine's book: Twice Blessed

Links Mentioned:

Peacemakers Ministries, Ken Sande

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at [email protected].

Many who enter full-time Christian ministry expect hardship, but few anticipate the depth of disappointment, betrayal, and criticism that can come from within the church itself. For some, the wounds go even deeper, resulting in spiritual abuse by those entrusted with oversight and care. These experiences have led many faithful servants to quietly step away from ministry, carrying grief they never expected.

In this week's episode, Charlaine Martin joins me to share the first part of her story. As a pastor's wife, Charlaine faithfully served alongside her husband in small rural churches for many years. In this conversation, she recounts the painful experience of spiritual abuse they endured in their very first church assignment. Her story sheds light on a hidden struggle faced by many in ministry and opens the door to hope, healing, and truth.

Connect with Charlaine: https://charlainemartin.com

Charlaine's book: Twice Blessed

Links Mentioned:

Peacemakers Ministries, Ken Sande

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at [email protected].

The miracle of God's grace is that He is never hindered by the walls we build or the shame we carry. Even when our hearts feel locked away, He faithfully creates safe places for us to risk drawing near to Him. Through His Word and His presence, He reveals Himself as the God who heals, restores, and frees us from the burdens we were never meant to carry.

This week, therapist and advocate Tanyka Abbott, LCSW, returns to the podcast to share how God gently earned her trust after the trauma of sexual and spiritual abuse. In this powerful conversation, Tanyka describes the slow, holy journey of learning to forgive, releasing shame, and embracing God's peace. She also shares how the freedom she found in Christ allowed her to meet with her abusers and extend grace with miraculous outcomes.

Scripture mentioned: Genesis 50:20

Connect with Tanyka: https://tanykaabbott.com/

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at [email protected].