From Grief to Healing: Hope After Loss with Dr. Gayla Holley - Part 2

From Grief to Healing: Hope After Loss with Dr. Gayla Holley - Part 2

How do people find hope in the darkest times? This conversation between Jenny Bushkell and Dr. Gayla Holley offers a very down‑to‑earth look at grief, especially for widows and those walking with them. You’ll hear Dr. Gayla explain what she calls “grief storms” – those sudden waves of sorrow that feel like a hurricane out of nowhere.

She compares them to weather: you can’t stop the storm, but you can “put up an umbrella” and learn to climb into the boat instead of being knocked over by every wave. She connects these storms to triggers and shares her idea of “trigger treats” – practical, faith-filled tools she uses so that places and situations that once broke her can now be faced with more calm. The episode spends a lot of time on the unique journey of widows.

Dr. Gayla talks about moving from “intensive grief to progressive grief”, and how widows often feel invisible in church life. Her heart is firmly fixed on widows and orphans, and she explains how her ministry offers teaching, support groups and resources for those in long-term grief, not just the first few weeks.

She also shares about her books and music, including lessons like “front row at the funeral”, “daily disciplines for healing grief”, and songs such as “Grief Storm”, “The Strength of a Widow”, and “Flip the Switch”. Scripture runs through everything she does, including a spoken-word “therapy” session where she reads verses over those in pain.

One powerful moment comes as she recalls God asking, “Can you accept this?” and how saying “okay, I accept it” became a tiny but vital step forward. She reminds anyone hurting that “maybe God does have a tomorrow for me. I promise you he does.” If grief has left you stuck, could it be time to pick up the fork at that banquet table she describes and take the first small bite toward healing?