When Divorce Leaves You Feeling Anything but Thankful

It’s hard to be thankful when your world is collapsing due to divorce.  How can you feel gratitude when your heart is broken and the future is anything but certain?  Why bother?

Because being thankful helps you even when you don’t feel very thankful.

Gratitude changes the brain.  An article on positivepsychology.com says,

When we express gratitude and receive the same, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin, the two crucial neurotransmitters responsible for our emotions, and they make us feel ‘good’. They enhance our mood immediately, making us feel happy from the inside.

By consciously practicing gratitude everyday, we can help these neural pathways to strengthen themselves and ultimately create a permanent grateful and positive nature within ourselves.”*

Perhaps that is why scriptures tell us repeatedly to be grateful.  God designed us that way.

Being grateful to God takes this a step further in my experience.  How?  When we’re grateful to God, we acknowledge his power in our lives and we build our relationship with Him.  It reminds us that we are not alone in the adventure called life.

Finding the blessings in life and thanking God is not just about positive thinking.  It rewires your brain, makes you more joyful in each moment, and brings you closer to God.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:20

Take Your Next Step…

• To find out how to start a Peace after Divorce group ministry to your church, visit our start a group page.
• To find a group, click here.

About the Author

Renee Smith Ettline, M.Ed. is founder of After Divorce Ministries, LLC, author of Peace after Divorce, and creator of the Peace after Divorce Workshop. Her Peace after Divorce Workshop group study is widely offered in churches and reaches across denominational lines.  She builds on her background as an educational counselor, her Christian faith, and her own divorce experience to light a path for those who need support for healing from divorce.

*Quote Source: https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/