Week 3: Grateful for the People God Placed Around Me
I don’t know how I would have made it through those early days of grief without the people God placed around me.
Some were close friends who knew exactly what to say—and what not to say. Some were quiet helpers who brought meals or folded laundry without expecting anything in return. Others prayed from a distance or sent a simple text that said, “I’m thinking of you today.” Each one was a lifeline.
Grief has a way of making you feel isolated, even when you're surrounded by people. But God, in His kindness, kept sending people who reminded me I wasn’t alone. Sometimes it was a listening ear. Sometimes it was someone just sitting with me in silence. Sometimes it was someone taking my kids, so I could have some time to myself. These simple, beautiful acts were deeply healing.
Paul writes in Philippians 1:3,
“I thank my God every time I remember you.”
That verse comes to mind so often when I think about the people who have carried me, prayed over me, spoken life into my heart, and invested in me when I didn’t have much to give back. I’m grateful not only for what they did—but for who they were. Instruments of God’s love. Reminders of His presence. Proof that He was still caring for me.
There were people who showed up when I didn’t ask. Others who walked away—and that was painful too—but I’ve learned to treasure the ones who stayed. The ones who still check in. The ones who gently speak my late husband’s name and don’t flinch when I cry. And I’m also deeply thankful for the new people God has brought into my life since then, including those who want to know my story and are now walking with me through the ongoing layers of healing.
If you’re in the thick of grief, don’t be afraid to lean on the people God has placed in your life. And if you’re looking back—like I am this month—take time to thank Him for those He sent to carry you.
Call to Action:
Write down the names of three people who helped you through a hard time. Say a prayer of thanks for each of them. If you feel led, send a note or text today letting one of them know how much they meant to you.
💜 If you’re walking through grief and need a quiet place to process, Hope in the Mourning was created for you. This 30-day journal includes scripture, gentle prompts, and space to reflect, write, and breathe. It’s not about fixing the pain—but giving you a way to meet God in it, one day at a time. You don’t have to grieve alone.
I want to thank you for lovingly listen to me in my newly widow stage and always making yourself available to listen to the next stage of my grief.
Sharing your grief with me and others has helped in my healing process. You are a blessing and have given me that strength as I journey through life without my husband. The Lord has truly been my comforter.