Finding Grace in Life’s Gut-Punch Moments

Why life's hardest seasons can carry hidden lessons

I believe every terrible, hard, infuriating, devastating challenge that I’ve encountered in my time on this planet has taught me an invaluable life lesson.

And I don’t say that lightly.

Like many of you, my story isn’t wrapped in a neat little bow.

I grew up with dysfunctional parents.

I’ve battled depression since junior high.

I became a teen parent and dropped out of high school.

I struggled financially for years to keep my family afloat.

After six years of infertility, I experienced the heartbreak of miscarriage.

Life continued to hand me one trial after another: going no contact with my mom for over a decade because of toxic behavior, watching one sibling face a life-changing spinal cord injury and another become lost in addiction and homelessness, managing my mom’s affairs after a major stroke, and later grieving her passing.

I’ve lost both of my in-laws to cancer, decades apart. And most recently, I’ve stood beside my own daughter as she fought childhood cancer and now lives with a life-altering autoimmune condition.

If you’re reading this and thinking, “That’s too much for one person to carry,” you’re not wrong.

The Pattern Life Kept Throwing at Me

What I’ve noticed through all of this is a pattern: life will knock me down, and somehow, I have to find a way to stand back up.

When I was younger, every blow felt unfair. I believed I had no control, no choice but to suffer through.

It took me years—decades, really—to shift my perspective. And truthfully? I was a slow learner. It took repeating the cycle of challenge after challenge before I began to trust that I could make it through to the other side.

But repetition has a way of teaching us resilience. Every setback became practice for finding my footing again.

Why This Isn’t About Just “Staying Positive”

I want to pause here and make something crystal clear: this blog is not a place for toxic positivity or spiritual bypassing.

I don’t believe in slapping a smiley face sticker over heartbreak. To heal, we have to feel.

For most of my life, I avoided my emotions—shoving them into boxes because my nervous system didn’t feel safe enough to handle them. That worked until it didn’t.

“To heal, we have to feel.”

And if you’ve ever walked through a season that nearly broke you, you know exactly what I mean.

The Season That Finally Broke Me

The greatest breaking point of my life came when my daughter began experiencing seizures and was later diagnosed with cancer.

Six months of hospitals, fear, and watching my little girl suffer shattered me in a way nothing else had.

And honestly? Nothing I had experienced before prepared me for that level of pain.

But when the dust finally began to settle and I started to piece myself back together, something unexpected happened. I found healing in yoga and Reiki. I discovered my gift as a medium.

And I realized something the spirits I now communicate with often tell me to share:

“We already carry within us everything we need to overcome the challenges we face.”

No matter how impossible it feels, we are never truly alone—our loved ones walk with us every step of the way.

Why I’m Sharing My Story with You

This is why I’m here, writing to you.

I want to share my stories—the messy, painful, surprising, hope-filled ones. Stories of how Spirit has shown up for me. Stories of how grace can arrive in the middle of despair. Stories that might remind you that you, too, are stronger and more supported than you realize.

If you are facing something right now that feels impossible, I want you to know this: there is a lesson, even here. You may not see it today. You may not see it tomorrow. But in time, you will find your way forward, carrying strength you didn’t know you had.

So come along with me. Let’s walk this road together with curiosity instead of despair. I can’t wait to see where this adventure takes us.

✨ Takeaway: Every challenge, no matter how painful, carries within it the seeds of strength and wisdom. Trust that you already have what you need to endure—and that grace and guidance are closer than you think.

👩‍🦰 About the Author

Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m a Spirit-led Medium, Reiki Master, and yoga teacher who believes every challenge carries hidden lessons. Through my work, I help women find hope, healing, and trust in themselves and in Spirit. Thank you for being here—I’m honored to walk this path with you.