How Gratitude Lifted Me Out from the Pit of Despair

Here is my story of how gratitude lifted me out of the pit of despair and depression after a life-altering loss.

Here is a sneak peek of my guest post for Begin Within: A Gratitude Series hosted by Twyla Franz in which I share how gratitude helped me to break the chains of grief and despair.

Today’s Pain Will Turn into Gratitude

I will always remember the first condolence card I received from a friend on the funeral day of my husband. It showed a golden path surrounded by majestic trees. The card said, “Today’s pain will turn into gratitude for all the precious memories you had together.”

What?

No, at that moment, this message didn’t resonate with me. It was unfathomable to think that this excruciating pain could one day turn into gratitude. In the powerful mix of immense sorrow, anguish, anger, sadness, and grief, there was no place for gratitude.

There were questions, there were tears and sobs, but no gratitude. I was in a deep shock, dying from the inside; my heart smashed into a thousand pieces.

Remember to pin me for later!

In the Chains of Grief and Despair

This condition continued and even worsened in the months that followed. Perhaps half a year later, I was at my lowest. I felt detached from life as if I was observing myself from the outside.

Yes, life continued, people were living their normal lives, as if nothing happened, but my world, as I knew it, was no longer. Life had stopped for me. I stayed paralyzed at the point between before and after, not able to move forward.

I didn’t see any meaning and purpose in the unexpected and premature death of my closest person, and I couldn’t see a future for me. The unwanted widowhood and multiple painful transitions left me disillusioned in my faith, questioning God’s goodness and justice, and chained in the prison of grief. 

How Gratitude Lifted Me Out from the Pit of Despair

One day, I followed the advice I found in the book about grief I was reading and started a simple gratitude practice. Every morning, I started writing in my journal at least three things I was grateful for.

Read the rest of the post at twylafranz.com to learn how gratitude placed my feet on the path toward acceptance, freedom, and healing.

How Our Pain Can Become the Birthplace of Blessings

Do you know that when we choose to practice gratitude and draw near to God in our pain and suffering, our pain can become the birthplace of blessings, purpose, new growth, and transformation?

You can read more on this topic in my new book “Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings.”

Let me take you on a journey through 13 painful experiences, showing losses and the precious blessings in each of them.

When we choose to practice gratitude and draw near to God in our pain and suffering, they can become the birthplace of blessings, purpose, new growth, and transformation. #drawnearbook #gratitude #losses #blessings Share on X

More Encouragement for You

If you need more resources, encouragement, and comfort when you go through pain, grief, and depair, I can highly recommend these books. Check them out.

Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace in Your Every Day by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk

Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life by Denise Dubois Pass and Michelle Nietert

Life Can Be Good Again by Lisa Appelo

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lisa Terkeurst

Hope When Life Unravels: Finding God When It Hurts by Adam Dooley

Restoration Year – a 365 Days Devotional by John Eldredge

All Things New by John Eldredge

Hope for the Hard Days by Sarah Geringer

Lean into Grace by Stacey Pardoe

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Your Turn

Are you going through grief and pain right now? How can you start practicing gratitude so you can endure the trial and come out of the pit? Share in the comments and on social media if you found this article helpful. Thank you!

The unwanted widowhood and multiple painful transitions left me disillusioned in my faith, questioning God's goodness and justice, and chained in the prison of grief.  #grief #gratitude #healing Share on X

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