When Life Feels Heavy

“I believed, even when I said,
‘I have been brought very low.’
In my distress I said, ‘No one can be trusted.’
How shall I repay the Lord
for all the good things he has done for me?”
— Psalm 116:10–12

I love the honesty of the Psalms. In just a few lines, the psalmist moves from trust, to distress, to gratitude.

First, a declaration of faith: trust in God even in the midst of hardship. Our faith is not dependent on our circumstances—we are resurrection people, even when life feels like Good Friday.

Then comes a hard admission: “No one can be trusted.” Stress has a way of narrowing our vision and pushing us away from others. Many of us know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed and pull back from community. But the psalm doesn’t let stress and isolation have the last word. Instead he turns to the healing work of gratitude.

When life feels heavy, gratitude can reorient us. When we pause to remember that our lives are gifts from God—every breath, every sign of new life—we begin to see differently. Gratitude softens our stress and draws us back to the One who loves us.

This week, may we make space for that kind of remembering. Even in the midst of stress, may we turn again to gratitude—and to God, who holds us fast.

Grace and peace,
Matt+