Grief shows up in unexpected moments — a memory, a place, even something as simple as a family event… especially during the holidays.

In this Wonder Story Highlight, Heather O’Brien, host of the Heal with God Podcast, and I talk honestly about navigating grief, seasonal depression, and what it looks like to feel the emotion, process it, and keep moving forward without staying stuck.

For years, I avoided grieving. I stayed busy, took care of others, and pushed my own tears aside. But as loss kept piling up, I realized I couldn’t outrun it anymore — I had to grieve.

And in that journey, God met me with a closeness I didn’t even know to expect.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How grief shows up in everyday moments

• Why avoiding grief keeps you stuck

• What healthy grieving looks like

• How to take negative thoughts captive before they pull you deeper

• Why community matters when depression whispers “isolate”

• The surprising connection between helping others and emotional healing

• What the Bible actually says about comfort, mourning, and hope

If you're walking through grief or depression, this highlight is for you.

You’re not alone. There is hope.

✨ Watch full episodes on any streaming platform:

YouTube • Goodvue Network • FaithfulStream.com • Spotify • Apple Podcasts
Search: Witness the Wonder — Christina Smith

✨ CONNECT WITH HEATHER O’BRIEN

Prophetic Healing Workshop: https://heatherobrien.net/workshop

Podcast: Heal With God
Instagram: @healwithgodpodcast

✨ CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA SMITH

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@witnessthewonder

Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @witnessthewonder

Website: https://www.ChristinaSmithOfficial.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witnessthewonder

🤝 PARTNER WITH WITNESS THE WONDER

If this highlight encouraged you, would you consider supporting the show? Your shares, reviews, and financial gifts help keep these stories going.

Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=MKYXMV2Q4JS8U

💛 BIRCH GOLD FREE INFO KIT:

Looking for a way to protect your savings in uncertain times?
Birch Gold makes it simple to diversify with physical gold and silver.
Get your free info kit at: https://www.ChristinaSmithOfficial.com

#grief #grieftips #griefsupport #depressionhelp #seasonaldepression #healingjourney #innerhealing #mentalhealthmatters #emotionalwellbeing #takeeverythoughtcaptive #choosingjoy #overcomingdepression #youarenotalone #healingispossible #holidaygrief #mindsetmatters #witnessTheWonder

Joy and grief—can they really exist together?
During the holidays, grief often feels heavier, memories feel sharper, and the ache of who’s missing seems impossible to ignore. But what if joy doesn’t disappear in grief… what if it stands beside it?

In today’s heartfelt conversation, Heather O’Brien (Heal With God Podcast) joins me, Christina Smith, as we talk honestly about navigating holiday grief, emotional triggers, and the unexpected moments where God brings light into our darkest seasons.

I share a personal story from my own journey—hosting our annual family cookie night just five days after losing my mom. In that moment, I discovered something I didn’t know was possible: joy and grief can truly co-exist. God met me in both, and He wants to meet you there too.

Together, we explore how to grieve on purpose, how to take your thoughts captive when emotions feel overwhelming, and how to honor your grief without losing your joy.

If you’re facing the holidays with a heavy heart, this conversation offers comfort, clarity, and hope. God is close to the brokenhearted, and He is with you in every season—joyful or painful.

🌿 What We Cover

• Why grief often intensifies around the holidays
• What “fantasy grief” is and how it keeps us stuck
• Taking your thoughts captive (2 Cor. 10:5) in emotional seasons
• How to plan your grief instead of being overwhelmed by it
• The power of choosing joy even when you’re hurting
• Practical ways to support someone who is grieving
• Healthy ways to avoid isolation when depression whispers “withdraw”
• How God meets us—even in the hardest places

📖 Scriptures Mentioned

Ecclesiastes 3:1 • 2 Corinthians 10:5 • Psalm 34:18
Philippians 4:8 • Romans 8:37

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – “I choose joy.”
00:20 – Can joy & grief co-exist?
01:47 – Christina’s story: holidays after multiple losses
03:06 – Why grief hits harder during the holidays
05:19 – Grieving relationships that never became what you hoped
06:40 – “Fantasy grief” and the lies that accompany it
08:52 – How to grieve on purpose
10:44 – Taking thoughts captive in heavy seasons
14:42 – Cookie night five days after losing my mom
17:32 – Joy & grief as two sides of the same coin
20:35 – Preparing emotionally & spiritually for the holidays
22:44 – Supporting someone who is grieving
25:31 – Heather’s final encouragement
27:18 – Closing reminder: God is always at work

🤝 Partnership: Birch Gold

Looking for a way to protect your savings in uncertain times? Birch Gold makes it simple to diversify with gold and silver. Get your free info kit at:
https://www.ChristinaSmithOfficial.com

✨ Connect with Heather O’Brien

Prophetic Healing Workshops: heatherobrien.net/workshop
Podcast: Heal With God

✨ Connect with Christina Smith, Host of Witness the Wonder

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@witnessthewonder
Instagram, Facebook & TikTok: @witnessthewonder
Website: https://www.ChristinaSmithOfficial.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witnessthewonder

💖 Partner with Witness the Wonder

If these conversations have encouraged you, would you consider supporting the show? You can give by listening, sharing, reviewing, or financially partnering. Together, we’ll keep telling stories that remind the world: God is always at work in your story.

Donate:
https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=MKYXMV2Q4JS8U

Grief, seasonal depression, and hearing God’s voice—When God woke me at 2 A.M., I didn’t realize He was preparing me for what I couldn’t yet see and giving me a gift I didn’t know I’d need. One week later, a simple voicemail became a lifeline through loss—and a reminder that God is close to the brokenhearted.

Guest host Heather O’Brien (Heal With God Podcast) joins me, Christina Smith, as I share my personal story. We talk about recognizing God’s voice and gentle nudges, walking through seasonal depression, and choosing community over isolation. If you’re grieving or dealing with depression this holiday season, this conversation offers Scripture, practical tools, and the comfort of God’s presence.

📖 Psalm 34:18 — “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

🌿 What We Cover

• How God prepares us and speaks through quiet “nudges”

• Processing grief and seasonal depression with faith and scripture

• Taking thoughts captive (2 Cor 10:5) and refocusing our thoughts (Phil 4:8)

• Choosing community when depression says “withdraw”

• Why God feels closest in our hardest seasons

📖 Scriptures Mentioned

2 Corinthians 10:5; Philippians 4:8; Psalm 34:18; Romans 8:37; James 1:17

Chapters

00:00 Ministry, honesty, and depression

00:46 Birch Gold message

01:09 Welcome + why this episode is different

02:02 Handing the mic to Heather (guest host)

02:08 Setting the scene

02:19 God woke me at 2 A.M.

03:08 Calling my brother in the night

04:45 “I’ll call you back—don’t answer.”

05:32 The voicemail I’ll treasure forever

06:04 One week later: sudden loss

07:00 Seeing God’s fingerprints

08:37 “My sheep hear my voice.”

09:10 Learning to notice the gentle tap

09:43 The last-minute dinner with Grandma

11:13 A final family gift

12:48 Learning God’s voice personally

14:14 Birch Gold message

14:27 Holidays, seasonal depression, and grief

15:23 Learning to actually grieve

18:01 Everyday triggers and letting tears come

20:41 One takeaway for the heavy-hearted

21:22 Taking thoughts captive (2 Cor 10:5)

21:27 Training your focus (Phil 4:8)

21:56 Doing the opposite of isolation

22:52 Catching thoughts before they drop to the heart

23:19 Identity truths that fight the lies

24:57 Simple dopamine wins when you feel stuck

25:21 God is near the brokenhearted (Ps 34:18)

26:44 Every good and perfect gift (James 1:17)

27:41 Birch Gold + closing

Partnership Birch Gold

Looking for a way to protect your savings in uncertain times? Birch Gold makes it simple to diversify with gold and silver. To get your free info kit, visit: https://www.ChristinaSmithOfficial.com

Connect with Christina Smith, Host of Witness the Wonder:

📺YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@WitnesstheWonder

📱TikTok, Instagram & Facebook: @witnessthewonder

🌐Website: ⁠https://www.christinasmithofficial.com⁠

🤝Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/witnessthewonder⁠

💖 Partner with Christina Smith and support Witness the Wonder

If these conversations have blessed you, would you consider partnering with us? You can give your time (by listening, sharing, and writing a review), your talent (by using your creative gifts to spread the message), or your treasure (by giving financially). Together, we’ll keep telling stories that remind the world: God is always at work in your story.

👉 Donate here: ⁠

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=MKYXMV2Q4JS8U⁠

#WitnessTheWonder #SeasonalDepression #depression #grief #griefsupport #GriefAndHealing #griefandloss #unexpectedgifts #depressionhelp #depressionawareness #overcomingdepression #HearingGod #godsvoice #hearinggodsvoice #mentalhealth #GodStories #truestory #Podcast #MiracleStories #FaithJourney #Encouragement #holidays #holiday #healwithgod #mentalhealthpodcast