17. Faith After Tragedy: Michele Buschman’s Story of Choosing Better Over Bitter

In this powerful episode of Faith Conversations, Jessica Cabrera welcomes Michele Bushman to share her deeply authentic faith journey. From a childhood rooted in the church to facing unimaginable grief after the murder of her father at age 21, Michele opens up about choosing faith over bitterness. She recounts how God used adoption, loss, and Scripture to draw her closer to His heart.

Michelle speaks honestly about the pain, the healing, and the truth she found in God’s presence — especially through key moments with her adopted son. Her story is one of resilience, trust, and the unwavering faithfulness of God.

Tune in for a moving reminder that even in our darkest moments, God meets us there.

Bible Verses

Psalm 37:5 – Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Proverbs 3:5–6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart…

Psalm 20:7 – Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

New to the Bible? Read the Gospel of John.

Do you want a relationship with God too?

If you have never made the choice to accept Jesus' offer – a gift, not by works – to be restored to the original design for your life, which is a relationship with God (on earth and in heaven after physical death), now is the time. There is an article in Jessica's Engage Faith Column that will help you understand who He is, who you are, what choice you have, and what happens when you make the decision. Visit https://www.jessicacabrera.org/column/what-is-the-message-of-the-gospel to read the message of God's good news for mankind and to find a sample prayer that you can pray today. 

The importance of a Biblical faith community:

All listeners are encouraged to engage in a local church community to learn more about Jesus, the Bible, and to experience God through community. Listeners from the Northern Virginia area are welcomed at Burke Community Church and anyone seeking an online church service can find one here. We are not designed to be alone; we’re designed for a community of faith. 

To stay connected: Follow the show on Instagram @faithconversationspodcast and sign up for Jessica's Engage Faith communications https://www.jessicacabrera.org/sign-up for updates and inspiration.