She Was Kidnapped at 7. What God Did Next Is the Real Miracle | Lauren Burns | Out of Focus Ep. #57

Lauren Burns was kidnapped by her own father at seven years old and taken halfway around the world. But getting rescued wasn't the end of her story. Lauren is back on Out of Focus, and this time we're talking about what happened after the rescue. In 1987, Lauren's biological father took her to Jordan with no intention of bringing her home. While her mother prayed and fasted, a team of former military men launched an extraordinary international rescue mission that eventually brought Lauren safely across the border into Israel. It's a story that sounds like a movie. But what I love about this conversation is that Lauren doesn't stop at the miracle. We talk about the wounds that followed her home, the anger she carried toward God, and the questions she couldn't shake: If God was good, why had He allowed this to happen in the first place? Lauren shares how the wounds left by her earthly father affected the way she saw her heavenly Father, and how God slowly taught her what a good Father actually looks like. We also talk about her mother's incredible faith, the prayers Lauren discovered years later, what it took to forgive the father who kidnapped her, and why forgiveness doesn't mean pretending something didn't happen or allowing unsafe people back into your life. Lauren's new book, Stolen, tells the full story, but this conversation reminded me of something I don't want us to miss: sometimes the miracle isn't only what God rescues you from. It's what He does in you afterward. Maybe something has been stolen from you. Maybe your story didn't turn out the way you prayed it would. Maybe you're carrying wounds caused by someone who should have protected you. Your pain is real, but it does not get the final word. God is still able to meet you in what was broken, walk with you through the healing, and redeem what you thought could never be restored. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3 🎧 New episodes drop weekly on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. 📌 Subscribe so you never miss a real story of redemption, identity, and healing. 👇 RESOURCES & LINKS: *Coming February 23, 2027: My memoir Out of Focus Instagram:   / _shannon_stewart   Podcast Instagram:   / outoffocuspodcast   Facebook:   / shannonstewartmodel   TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/shannon_stewart_ 🎙️ All platforms & freebies: https://linktr.ee/shannonstewart 📩 Booking inquiries (churches, conferences, collaborations): info@shannonstewartmodel.com #OutOfFocusPodcast #ShannonStewart #FaithPodcast #ChristianPodcast #RedemptionStory #IdentityInChrist #WomenOfFaith