Staying Grateful Amidst The Struggle
Have you ever beaten yourself up for feeling down? Or catch yourself complaining when life gets hard and you feel guilty for feeling that way? If you’re nodding your head, just know you’re not alone.
This is something I struggle with more often than I’d like to admit. I have so many blessings—my precious family, who are quite literally the reason I get out of bed each day. Our home. My job. The food in our fridge. The hot shower I can take whenever I please. The mercy of my Heavenly Father. The gift of a new day. A perfect sky. A rainbow after the storm.
You get it, right? That list barely scratches the surface of all we have to be grateful for. And yet—life can still be so hard sometimes.
As much as I try to stay grounded in gratitude, some days are just rough. Heavy. The kind of days where it feels like I’m carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders.
Can you relate?
Here’s what I’m learning: We have to give ourselves grace. So often, we minimize our struggles because “it could be worse.” And yes, that’s true—it often could be. But I don’t think that’s always what our hearts need to hear.
Sometimes, what we need most is permission to feel what we are feeling—not downplay the ache or rush past it, but sit with it, pray through it, cry if we need to, and take a moment to breathe.
I’ve found that talking to a trusted friend helps, too. You’d be surprised how often they’re carrying something heavy themselves—and suddenly, neither of you feels quite so alone.
But the truest, deepest comfort I know comes from Jesus. When I remember to hand the burden over to Him—to say, “Lord, I can’t carry this alone”—something always shifts. Maybe not the circumstance, but the weight of it. Somehow, it just feels lighter.
Today, I’m sitting outside in the sunshine, soaking in the warmth and the grace of a new day. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for this beautiful, fragile, sacred life I’ve been given. I’m holding close a special thank you to the brave souls who gave everything for the freedom we often take for granted.
Much love,
Susan
*If you’re looking for a daily devotional, this is my favorite.
"The greater your storm, the brighter your rainbow." – Unknown
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