Unlocking Joy After Grief | Christian Grief Support, Life After Child Loss, Bereavement, Hope and Healing for Grieving Moms
Does the thought of having to live in a world without your child cripple you? Do you lay awake at night with the ”what if’s” and the ”why’s” constantly playing in your mind, wondering if you’ll ever feel peace again? Does everything seem hard, even the little things? Do you just want someone to understand how you feel? I see you friend. In this podcast you will find the hope you’re looking for, the healing you’re longing for, and the key to living again after losing your child, all through the only way it’s possible - Jesus. Hi, I’m Courtney. Wife and mama to 6 kiddos, 1 in heaven waiting for us - and that’s why I’m here. I lost my precious 4 year old son, Sam, in 2017 and the pain and grief that instantly took over was crippling. Everything I went through after that horrific night threatened to consume me. But here I am. Years have passed. And the ONLY.WAY. I made it through was Jesus. His strength and his love carried me through a time that I could NOT have carried myself. His goodness and faithfulness were my life preservers that kept me from drowning. The hope and healing I was searching for was found in him. And it’s my joy to share with you everything this journey has taught me so far. Get ready for encouragement for your faith, tactical tips in dealing with your grief, finding hope and healing for your shattered heart, and learning how to live again. If you are screaming YES to not having to walk this road alone and letting Jesus carry you through, then I’m ready to lace up my shoes and begin walking this road with you. Learn ＞＞ www.unlockingjoy.com Connect ＞＞ courtney@unlockingjoy.com Facebook ＞＞ @unlockingjoy Instagram ＞＞ @unlockingjoy Get to know God’s Character with this Free 30 day Scripture Calendar ＞＞ www.unlockingjoy.com/godscharacter
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Episodes
Thursday Jan 25, 2024
Thursday Jan 25, 2024
In my grief journey after losing Sam, there have been many times that I’ve experienced joy and sadness all at the same time. But an important lesson I’ve learned is, feeling joy again IS POSSIBLE!
I know it doesn’t seem like you will ever feel anything but sadness (especially if you’re early in your grief journey), but I want to encourage you that feeling joy again is possible. And I share with you 5 things you can do to experience the joy of the Lord daily in your life.
🔗Links Mentioned in Episode:
Ep. 27 | 4 Ideas to Breathe New Life Into Your Daily Quiet Time
Ep. 25 | Finding New Purpose in Life After Losing Your Child: A Simple Way You Can Start Today
Ep. 21 | In Memory Of: 5 Ways to Honor Your Child After They Go to Heaven
Ep. 22 | Stop the Scroll! A Step-by-Step Plan to Reduce Social Media Usage
✨Free Resources:
Find Your Lifesaver Verse
31 Days of God’s Character Scripture Calendar
💚Connect With Me:
Learn >> www.unlockingjoy.com
Connect >> courtney@unlockingjoy.com
Instagram >> @unlockingjoy
Thursday Jan 18, 2024
Thursday Jan 18, 2024
Is your daily quiet time getting a little stale? Are you tired of doing the same thing day after day and are looking for a way to freshen it up, make you excited to spend time with Jesus again?
We’ve all been there!
But no worries - I’ve got you friend! In this episode I bring you 4 things that you can do to help bring a new excitement to your quiet time.
I pray that you can use one of these ideas to help bring a new spark into the most important part of your day.
🔗Links Mentioned in Episode:
My Bible
Free SOAP Download
Bible Study Pinterest Board
✨Free Resources:
Find Your Lifesaver Verse: www.unlockingjoy.com/lifesaver
31 Days of God’s Character Scripture Calendar: https://www.unlockingjoy.com/godscharacter/
💚Connect With Me:
Learn >> www.unlockingjoy.com
Connect >> courtney@unlockingjoy.com
Instagram >> @unlockingjoy
Thursday Jan 11, 2024
Thursday Jan 11, 2024
Community is so important in this grief journey. Losing a child can make you feel so alone.
But I'm here to tell you that you do NOT have to walk this road alone!
There are so many options for you when it comes to having a support system in your life. Today I'm going to dive into 3 different places you can look for a community to walk alongside you.
Plus we never need to forget the one who will never leave us, the one who started walking this journey with you from the very moment you lost your child, the one who will be with you every step until we get to heaven and see our babies again.
And he is so very, very faithful.
🔗Links Mentioned in Episode:
I no longer have my Facebook community. However, While We're Waiting is a great Chrisitan Facebook community for grieving parents.
✨Free Resources:
Find Your Lifesaver Verse: www.unlockingjoy.com/lifesaver
31 Days of God’s Character Scripture Calendar: https://www.unlockingjoy.com/godscharacter/
💚Connect With Me:
Learn >> www.unlockingjoy.com
Connect >> courtney@unlockingjoy.com
Instagram >> @unlockingjoy
Thursday Jan 04, 2024
Thursday Jan 04, 2024
Everything changes after you lose your child. Your purpose and passions in life is no exception.
It can be hard feeling purpose or passion for anything after walking through such deep grief. And you’re right. In the beginning it’s all we can do to survive.
However, there will come a point in your grief journey that you’ll feel the pull to find a new purpose for your life. But how? Where do you even start?
In today’s episode I bring you simple steps you can do today to start finding your new purpose.
🔗Links Mentioned in Episode:
Ep 8 | Making it Through the Early Days After Losing Your Child
✨Free Resources:
Find Your Lifesaver Verse: www.unlockingjoy.com/lifesaver
31 Days of God’s Character Scripture Calendar: https://www.unlockingjoy.com/godscharacter/
💚Connect With Me:
Learn >> www.unlockingjoy.com
Connect >> courtney@unlockingjoy.com
Instagram >> @unlockingjoy
Thursday Dec 28, 2023
Thursday Dec 28, 2023
I know I’ve mentioned so many times that there’s not a right way to grieve. But is there a wrong way?
My initial reaction would be no, there isn’t a wrong way. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized there is a wrong way - a way that doesn’t bring lasting peace and comfort.
So today I wanted to share what that is and then give you some ideas on ways you can process your grief - all partnered with Jesus.
📄Show Notes:
Find all links mentioned in this episode here:
https://www.unlockingjoy.com/is-there-a-wrong-way-to-grieve-my-answer-might-surprise-you/
✨Free Resources:
Find Your Lifesaver Verse: www.unlockingjoy.com/lifesaver
31 Days of God’s Character Scripture Calendar: https://www.unlockingjoy.com/godscharacter/
💚Connect With Me:
Learn >> www.unlockingjoy.com
Connect >> courtney@unlockingjoy.com
Facebook >> @unlockingjoy
Instagram >> @unlockingjoy
Thursday Dec 21, 2023
Thursday Dec 21, 2023
Jesus' birth brought us many things, but there is one gift that his birth brought us that is the greatest gift we could have as grieving parents.
Today I want to talk about everything that Jesus' birth brought us - all based off of Isaiah 9:6. And then I want to add one important gift that he gave us. One that is the greatest gift we can have on our grief journey. One that I can’t talk about without crying.
I pray that we always remember the reason for this season. And that we continually give thanks to Jesus for this amazing gift.
📄Show Notes:
Find all links mentioned in this episode here:
https://www.unlockingjoy.com/gift-that-jesus-birth-gave-us-as-grieving-parents/
✨Free Resources:
Find Your Lifesaver Verse: www.unlockingjoy.com/lifesaver
31 Days of God’s Character Scripture Calendar: https://www.unlockingjoy.com/godscharacter/
💚Connect With Me:
Learn >> www.unlockingjoy.com
Connect >> courtney@unlockingjoy.com
Facebook >> @unlockingjoy
Instagram >> @unlockingjoy
Thursday Dec 14, 2023
Thursday Dec 14, 2023
Social media. It’s the thing that takes up so much of our time, but we all know we should turn it off.
So why is it so hard to stop the scroll?
That’s what I go into in this episode. Plus I go through steps you can take to help reduce (or stop) your social media use and begin tasting the freedom that being away from your phone will bring.
📄Show Notes:
Find all links mentioned in this episode here:
https://www.unlockingjoy.com/stop-the-scroll-a-step-by-step-plan-to-reduce-social-media-usage/
✨Free Resources:
Find Your Lifesaver Verse: www.unlockingjoy.com/lifesaver
31 Days of God’s Character Scripture Calendar: https://www.unlockingjoy.com/godscharacter/
💚Connect With Me:
Learn >> www.unlockingjoy.com
Connect >> courtney@unlockingjoy.com
Facebook >> @unlockingjoy
Instagram >> @unlockingjoy
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
After your child goes to heaven, there will come a time when you want to do something in their memory. Something to honor them. And there are so many different things you can do!
I wanted to bring you 5 ways that you can honor your child that you’ve lost. You can use these 5 ideas to spark your own ideas of what you can do.
Everyone’s journey is so different and unique to them, so there’s no right or wrong way and there’s no right or wrong time to do something in honor of your child.
I know that whatever you end up doing, it will be perfect and will bring such honor to your precious child’s memory.
📄Show Notes:
Find all links mentioned in this episode here:
https://www.unlockingjoy.com/in-memory-of-5-ways-to-honor-your-child-after-they-go-to-heaven/
✨Free Resources:
Find Your Lifesaver Verse: www.unlockingjoy.com/lifesaver
31 Days of God’s Character Scripture Calendar: https://www.unlockingjoy.com/godscharacter/
💚Connect With Me:
Learn >> www.unlockingjoy.com
Connect >> courtney@unlockingjoy.com
Facebook >> @unlockingjoy
Instagram >> @unlockingjoy
Thursday Nov 30, 2023
Thursday Nov 30, 2023
The holidays are upon us. After losing a child everything about the holidays can seem hard. But today I wanted to touch on one specific part of this holiday season - holiday parties.
Getting together with family and friends while you’re processing your grief can seem so overwhelming and impossible.
So I wanted to bring you some tips you can use to prepare for the party and also some things you can do while you’re there.
Remember, our goal is to survive!
I pray that these tips will help you be able to survive the parties and get togethers that happen during this time of year.
📄Show Notes:
Find all links mentioned in this episode here:
https://www.unlockingjoy.com/dreading-get-togethers-after-losing-your-child-tips-on-preparing-for-and-making-it-through-holiday-parties/
✨Free Resources:
Find Your Lifesaver Verse: www.unlockingjoy.com/lifesaver
31 Days of God’s Character Scripture Calendar: https://www.unlockingjoy.com/godscharacter/
💚Connect With Me:
Learn >> www.unlockingjoy.com
Connect >> courtney@unlockingjoy.com
Facebook >> @unlockingjoy
Instagram >> @unlockingjoy
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
All holidays are hard after losing a child, and Thanksgiving is no exception. It’s just another reminder that our child isn’t here.
So today, I want to help us get through the day by taking you through one of my favorite “Thanksgiving” verses in scripture - Psalm 107.
I walk through this portion of scripture verse by verse and relate it to this grief journey that we’re walking. Inside is a promise that is so crucial to us on not just Thanksgiving Day, but every day.
📄Show Notes:
Find all links mentioned in this episode here:
https://www.unlockingjoy.com/give-thanks-to-the-lord-for-he-is-good-a-walkthrough-of-psalm-107/
✨Free Resources:
Find Your Lifesaver Verse: www.unlockingjoy.com/lifesaver
31 Days of God’s Character Scripture Calendar: https://www.unlockingjoy.com/godscharacter/
💚Connect With Me:
Learn >> www.unlockingjoy.com
Connect >> courtney@unlockingjoy.com
Facebook >> @unlockingjoy
Instagram >> @unlockingjoy