Gratitude for Emotional Pain

Gratitude for Emotional Pain

What do you think of when you hear the word gratitude or being thankful? Do you think of the things that bring you joy like good news or happy times? 

Have you ever considered being grateful for emotional pain? Last week God taught me to be thankful for the not-so-happy things. I had an experience that triggered a profound pain I didn’t realize I was still carrying. I was challenged to look deep inside, question myself and search for the why. It was a difficult week, but it was something I had to work through.

It’s not easy facing our hurts. When I became a leader for Celebrate Recovery (a 12-Step Christian Recovery Program), I had to first go through the course. I came face-to-face with deep emotional pain that I thought I’d worked through, but realized I hadn’t. In retrospect, I’m grateful for that opportunity to expand my healing. 

Last week was another opportunity to confront, learn and grow. It took a lot of journaling, waking up in the middle of the night praying, reading my Bible and talking to my husband when the light bulb went on,  and I could see it. I knew I could trust God to show me when I was ready. I had to be patient, which doesn’t always come easy for me. I had to remember His promises to me, the lessons I’ve learned in past experiences and how far He’s brought me. I love the way God works in my life, and the things He teaches me about myself. He does it because He loves me, and He always knows when I’m ready to look at another aspect of myself. He’s always been there for me on my most difficult days, and I know I can trust Him.

After a week of facing the pain, learning, understanding and growing, I discovered a new sense of gratitude. It would’ve been easy to push the pain down further, ignore it, remain angry or place the blame on someone else, but God didn’t let me do that. I’d never thought about being grateful for emotional pain, but God showed me that I can be. And my gratitude changed things for the better. The experience increased my faith and trust in God and His love for me.

Have you ever thought about giving thanks for emotional pain that you’ve faced and overcome?

4 Comments

  1. Tanya G.

    Hum, pondering how to best feel gratitude re: experiencing “emotional pain”. The chosen quote from “beyondordinary” stating “God often uses our deepest pain as the launching pad of our greatest calling” seems to really resonate with several recent painful experiences, from striving to align appropriate professional work, to balance domestic engineering duties along with parental responsibilities, as well as being confronted with a health challenge. Furthermore acknowledging how it appears to be effecting and impacting multiple areas of life including interpersonal social friendships and relationships, I feel being in the midst of contemplating the “calling” gives me a chance in the present to be grateful for a yoga mat, buckwheat filled pillow and a tiny yet mighty mini journal to jot down thoughts. Therefore, in process of exploring how to feel “gratitude” for emotional pain. Thanks Coach Marie for giving us opportunity once again to ponder, wonder, express and potentially find gratitude in our discovery. TLG

  2. Karyn Kostolanci

    Beautifully said, as always, Marie; I love your blogs each are so differentand each so helpful; maybe not for what is happening at this given moment; but in the future. Your words don’t escape and leave my mind; they stick like glue.
    Thank you, Marie
    Blessings to you and your family always😊❤🙏🇺🇸

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