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 Nov 09, 2023
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
Distractions. Normally they are not a good thing. We hear all the time: Stay focused on your goals! Don’t get distracted!
But during your grief journey (especially in the early days), distractions are a very good thing.
When we sit for too long the grief and pain threaten to consume our mind, so we need to have some distractions ready to go for those moments.
Here are 4 things that I used in my own grief journey to help me keep my mind distracted from the pain that threatens to take over.
Register for the Holiday Grief Relief Summit:
https://courtneywilliamsuj--grief2greatday.thrivecart.com/extended-access-relief-bundle/
📄Show Notes:
Find all links mentioned in this episode here:
https://www.unlockingjoy.com/the-power-of-distractions-in-your-grief-journey/
✨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 Oct 26, 2023
Thursday Oct 26, 2023
We all know how important sleep is, but sleep is one of the things that is so hard to do after losing your child. There were so many nights that I would just lay awake, my mind refusing to stop long enough for me to go to sleep.
There were 2 things I did specifically that helped me be able to fall asleep in those early days, weeks, and months after losing Sam.
So today I wanted to share those things with you (and a few additional tips) in hopes that you’ll be able to finally fall asleep when you lay down at night.
Register for the Holiday Grief Relief Summit:
https://courtneywilliamsuj--grief2greatday.thrivecart.com/extended-access-relief-bundle/
📄Show Notes:
Find all links mentioned in this episode here:
https://www.unlockingjoy.com/sleeping-after-child-loss-5-tips-to-help-you-fall-asleep-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
Facebook >> @unlockingjoy
Instagram >> @unlockingjoy
Thursday Oct 05, 2023
Thursday Oct 05, 2023
One thing that became crystal clear after we lost our son Sam is that I was done wasting time on things that didn’t matter. Because you never know how long you have on this Earth, I didn’t want to waste a moment on things that weren’t a priority.
But how do you know what’s a priority and what’s not?
In this episode I bring you through 4 steps to help you:
➡️Figure out what’s important to you
➡️Know what order to place them in
➡️Find time in your calendar for these priorities
It’s time to stop wasting our time on things that don’t matter! Start living your life with intention and purpose today!
📄Show Notes:
Find show notes here:
https://www.unlockingjoy.com/what-are-your-priorities-how-to-find-out-and-how-to-find-time-for-them/
✨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 Sep 21, 2023
Thursday Sep 21, 2023
After you lose a child, it wears you down emotionally, mentally, and physically. It feels as if we’ve just gone through battle. It’s important to be able to find some kind of rest after the dust of your loss settles. But I know that rest seems impossible while you’re starting to walk this grief journey.
So I wanted to share with you 5 different ways you can find rest for your mind and emotions. These are ways that I’ve used throughout my journey to help bring peace and rest to my life.
Child loss is such a journey. There’s no one right way to do things, so I pray that you’ll be able to use one of these ideas to help bring rest to your mind and to your heart.
📄Show Notes:
Find the show notes here:
www.unlockingjoy.com/resting-after-the-battle-ways-you-can-rest-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
Facebook >> @unlockingjoy
Instagram >> @unlockingjoy
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Are you struggling with a mental battle? Do you feel overwhelmed by the thoughts that won’t go away? Is this mental battle stealing your peace and your joy? Are you ready to win victory over this battle once and for all?!!!
That’s exactly what this episode is about. I’ve recently been struggling with something mentally and the Holy Spirit helped me gain victory over it. So I knew I wanted to bring you the steps He showed me to win!
These are the exact steps I took to finally win the mental battle I had been struggling with and I know that they will help you WIN and have VICTORY over those lies that have been overtaking your mind.
I pray that this episode will give you the tools you need to reach that victory for yourself. God has given us the truth to win over those lies - we just sometimes need a nudge in the right direction. I pray that this is the exact “nudge” you need to rise up victorious!
📄Show Notes:
Find the show notes here:
https://www.unlockingjoy.com/winning-the-battle-in-your-mind/
✨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 Aug 03, 2023
Thursday Aug 03, 2023
Welcome to the second part of our Walk With Us series!
Today we go into what to DO for someone who has just lost their child. It can be so hard knowing what to do for someone walking through such deep grief and sadness. Can you even do anything that will make a difference?
So I went back in my journey to when we lost Sam and thought about all the things that people did for us that I STILL remember to this day.
I hope that these 6 ideas will help you in knowing something you can do for your mama that I know will bless her and leave an impact on her heart and story for the rest of her life.
I pray this episode blesses you!
📄Show Notes:
https://www.unlockingjoy.com/walk-with-us-what-to-do-for-someone-who-just-lost-their-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
Facebook >> @unlockingjoy
Instagram >> @unlockingjoy
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Today I’m bringing you the first of a two-part series that I have called Walk With Us.
If you have someone in your life who has lost a child, these episodes are for you to help guide you in what to say and what not to say from a mama who has lost her child too.
These episodes are dedicated to all my family and friends who weren’t scared to get down in the dirt. They weren’t scared when life got hard. They walked with me. They cried with me. They laughed with me. They grieved with me.
I could not have made it in those early days without each and everyone of you.
📄Show Notes:
Find the show notes here:www.unlockingjoy.com/walk-with-us-what-to-say-and-not-say-to-someone-who-just-lost-their-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
Facebook >> @unlockingjoy
Instagram >> @unlockingjoy
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Your child’s heaven anniversary is the hardest 24 hours of the year. How are you supposed to get through the day that took your baby?
It can be so hard making it through that day, but I’m here with 6 things that have helped me get through Sam’s heaven anniversary in the past.
I pray that this episode will help give you some ideas on how you can make it through your child’s heaven anniversary too.
📄Show Notes:
Find the show notes here:www.unlockingjoy.com/how-to-get-through-your-childs-heaven-anniversary
✨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 Mar 23, 2023
Thursday Mar 23, 2023
Are you feeling angry at God? Are you wondering if that’s okay - to feel anger? Are you supposed to have that feeling on this grief journey?
Well I'm here to encourage you today friend. Not only is it okay - God completely understands.
I wanted to share my story of how I got angry with God and what He showed me in return (it might surprise you). Plus what you need to do when you are feeling that anger.
I pray this episode encourages you and lets you know that it’s okay to feel angry with God and all the unanswered “why’s”.
📄Show Notes:
Find the show notes here: www.unlockingjoy.com/getting-angry-with-god-is-it-okay/
✨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 Mar 09, 2023
Thursday Mar 09, 2023
I see you.
You just lost your child and you don’t know how you’re going to make it. There’s only one way - Jesus. But I do have a few ways that I wanted to share with you that helped me make it step by step through the valley and to the other side, where the sun is shining, and I could see a glimmer of joy, of hope, of happiness.
📄Show Notes:
Find the show notes here: https://www.unlockingjoy.com/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
Facebook >> @unlockingjoy
Instagram >> @unlockingjoy