It’s amazing to see what people are willing to do to get the answers they are looking for. For many, grief is unbearable, and they are just hoping to push past it as quickly as possible. But, what if the key to moving forward was actually sitting in your grief? What if, finding joy in grief was actually the secret to resiliency and healing?
Every year, millions of people tune in—or even gather in person—to watch Punxsutawney Phil, a bewildered and slumbering groundhog, be yanked from his cozy winter shelter. They wait with bated breath to hear his so-called prediction: Will they endure six more weeks of winter, or is spring on the horizon? It’s a strange tradition, and obviously, there’s no science behind it.
Listen Here | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple
Yet, people cling to it. They show up year after year, desperate for a sign that winter will end.
Imagine if we had our own magical groundhog—or some other woodland creature—to tell us when the coldness of grief would finally melt away. If only we had some sign, some inkling that spring was coming, just as everyone keeps promising.
That’s what I’m going to be talking about today. Together, let’s dive into finding joy in grief—how we can know if the winter of pain will be coming to an end soon, or if perhaps, we can expect to endure it for a little longer.
Plus, we’ll talk about what you can do about it. You don’t have to stay stuck in this season of pain or be resigned to suffer forever. After losing my husband, my brother, and my long-term stable job back-to-back to back in less than three years, I was broken. But I found my hope, and I’m confident that you can too. So, let’s dive in.
Finding Joy in Grief: Trusting God Through the Healing Process
The early days of grief are brutal. Everything feels hopeless, raw, and unbearably heavy. Even when you’re surrounded by people, you feel utterly alone.
Much like winter itself, there will always be people who seem to thrive in it—those who love skiing, snowboarding, or braving the cold. And just like winter lovers, there are people who try to find the silver lining in grief. They mean well, but their words often sting more than they soothe:
“At least you got to be married. I haven’t even met anyone.”
“You weren’t even married that long. Shouldn’t you be over it by now?”
“You’ll find someone else.”
As if losing a husband is as simple as replacing a coffee mug.
But what most don’t understand—unless they’ve walked this road themselves—is that grief isn’t something you just “get over.” It’s a season, one that feels unbearably long and desolate. And for many of us, that loneliness is deafening.
I live in a small mountain town where we get a fair amount of snow. And every year, I’m struck by the eerie silence that follows a snowfall. It’s almost as if the world itself is holding its breath. The crunch of snow underfoot, the occasional drip of melting ice—otherwise, complete stillness.
That silence mirrors grief. The world around you keeps moving, but you are frozen. Numb. It feels like winter will never end.
Is Finding Joy in Grief Even Possible?
We can choose to let winter last forever, to remain buried beneath the weight of our sorrow.
Or—we can embrace the season for what it is and allow it to bring the healing that God intends.
One of the most fascinating things about winter is what happens beneath the surface. Years ago, I became interested in different gardening techniques, determined to grow my own food one day. (Still working on that part!) And I learned about a concept called Eden gardening.
Most traditional farmers clear out their fields at the end of the season, removing dead plants and debris before applying fresh fertilizer in the spring. But Eden gardeners take a different approach. Instead of stripping the land bare, they leave everything as it is, trusting the natural ecosystem to do its work. Beneath the soil, microbes, worms, and plant roots work together, breaking down the old to create nourishment for the new. The plants even release chemicals into the soil, communicating their needs so the ecosystem can sustain them.
Why am I telling you this? Because your heart, mind, body, and soul are an ecosystem, too.
Steps to Finding Joy in Grief Without Rushing the Process
But as I’ve begun focusing on my spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being, those symptoms have started to ease.
Grief is more than just an emotional experience—it affects your entire being. The stress of loss triggers a surge of cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, which can lead to inflammation, illness, and even chronic pain. I’ve experienced this firsthand. Losing my husband aggravated stomach issues I’d battled for years. Losing my brother made them worse. The stress manifested physically, leaving me in constant pain.
Just like a garden, if we are depleted and don’t replenish what’s been lost, we cannot thrive. If we try to rush through grief—cleaning ourselves up, presenting a “put-together” version to the world—we miss out on the deep, unseen healing God wants to bring.
Spring Is Coming
I know it doesn’t feel like it now. I know the weight of grief is crushing. You cherish the memories, but they also haunt you. You long to hear their voice, yet when you do, it shatters you. Grief is disorienting, consuming.
But it won’t last forever. Especially when we lean into Jesus, allowing His joy and peace to rest upon us.
“Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”
Psalm 30:5
Spring is coming, whether we feel ready or not. Life will go on. The world will keep spinning. And while it may seem impossible now, you will feel joy again. But the quality of that new life is up to you.
If we embrace the winter—allowing God to nourish our hearts, minds, and souls—our spring will be abundant. It will bring growth, healing, and the beauty of new life. It will bear the fruit that Jesus promises, spreading His light and love to the world.
So, my dear friend, I ask you: What’s it going to be today? Will you allow God to restore your internal ecosystem, to bring healing and joy? Or will you choose to remain in the darkness of winter?
The choice is yours. No matter what season of life you’re in, there is always hope. Jesus Himself said:
“I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10
But He won’t force it upon you. God is gentle. He is patient. He is loving. And His gifts of peace, joy, and restoration are waiting for you.
All you have to do is accept them.
If it’s been a while—or if you’ve never done so before—let’s pray together:
Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner, and I am hurting because of my sin and the sin of others. I want to know you and love you. Please come into my heart and show me how I can have joy again. Forgive me for my sins against you and heal my broken heart. Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me. Lead me down your narrow path. Show me the way. I love you Lord and I accept you into my heart. – In Jesus name, Amen.
Final Thoughts
Grief is a season, not a destination. It may feel endless, like an eternal winter with no signs of spring. But just as the earth continues to turn, the snow eventually melts, and life finds its way back into the barren places. So, it is with our hearts.
Your pain is real, but so is your healing. The winter of grief will not last forever. And when the first buds of spring start to appear in your heart—whether in the form of a small smile, a moment of peace, or a flicker of joy—embrace them. They are signs that God is working, even beneath the surface, preparing you for the season ahead.
You are not alone in this. Jesus is with you, walking beside you through every frozen step. And when the time is right, you will feel the warmth of His love melting the cold away, bringing new life, new joy, and a new season of hope.
Spring is coming. Hold on, dear friend. The best is yet to come.
