Hidden Grief

Hidden Grief

Hidden Grief

By Toni Weisz / Recovery Tools

Scriptures: Psalm 34:18 and Psalm 51:17

Grief has a way of showing up quietly. Not always in ways others can see—but deeply, intensely, within.

In Scripture, we see this kind of grief in the life of David.

David wasn’t a stranger to sorrow. He experienced loss, regret, and deep emotional pain. In one of the most difficult seasons of his life, after his own failure and its consequences, David found himself overwhelmed with grief.

And he didn’t hide it from God.

In Psalm 34:18, he later writes:
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

That wasn’t just a comforting idea—it was something David lived.

David understood what it meant to feel brokenhearted, to carry sorrow that others may not fully understand, and to wrestle with both grief and the weight of his own choices.

And yet—he brought all of it to God.

In another moment of honesty, David writes:

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)

David didn’t try to hide his grief.
He didn’t pretend he was fine.
He didn’t push his emotions away.

He brought his brokenness fully into the presence of God.

And that’s where healing began.

Grief after abortion can feel complicated—just like David’s grief was.

There may be sorrow mixed with regret.
Questions mixed with silence.
Feelings that don’t seem to fit into neat categories.

But David’s story shows us something important:

God is not repelled by your grief—He draws near to it.

You don’t have to have the “right words.”
You don’t have to sort out every emotion first.

Like David, you can come as you are—honest, broken, unsure—and still be met with compassion.

Grief is not something to rush past.

It’s something to bring into the light—gently, honestly, and at your own pace.

And sometimes, healing deepens when you’re walking through that grief with women who have walked that road and now experience the healing that is available to you.

Being in a space where others understand—where you don’t have to explain or hide—can make a meaningful difference. Post-abortion support groups, like those at My Ashes to Beauty, are created to offer that kind of safe, compassionate environment. We invite you to join us on a conference call, a safe place where you can speak honestly about your abortion, in an understanding and loving environment.

David didn’t heal by ignoring his pain.

He healed by bringing it to God—and allowing himself to be seen in it.

You can do the same.

Your thoughts:
If you’re dealing with grief right now and would like to be as honest as David was about his grief, what would you say to God about your grief right now?

Please reach out if you would like to talk this week: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

You are loved,
Toni

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Post-Abortion Healing Through Resurrection Power

Post-Abortion Healing Through Resurrection Power

Post-Abortion Healing Through Resurrection Power

By Toni Weisz / Recovery Tools
Scriptures: Matthew 28:1-10 and 2 Corinthians 5:17

Easter is a story of Christ’s resurrection. (Read Matthew 28:1-10)

It also gives meaning to life rising from what seemed lost, of hope breaking through darkness, and of something new being born out of something that felt final.

But for many, seasons like Easter can feel complicated.

When your heart is carrying grief, regret, or quiet pain, it can be hard to fully connect with messages of joy and new life.

You may find yourself wondering:

“Can something in me really be made new?”
“Can God bring life out of this part of my story?”

The message of the resurrection of Christ answers with a gentle but powerful yes.

God Specializes in New Life

The resurrection of Jesus is more than a moment in history—it’s also a picture of what God does.

He brings life out of what feels dead.
He restores what feels broken.
He redeems what feels beyond repair.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17, we’re reminded:
“If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

That doesn’t mean your past disappears.

But it does mean your past does not have the final word.

When Your Heart Still Feels Heavy

After abortion, emotions can linger in unexpected ways.

Grief.
Shame.
“What ifs.”
Silent questions.

And sometimes it can feel like those things disqualify you from experiencing joy, peace, or closeness with God.

But the resurrection tells a different story. Jesus rose for broken, hurting, searching people.

He rose for you—right in the middle of your story.

Resurrection Doesn’t Ignore the Wounds

After Jesus rose, He still had scars.

They didn’t disappear—but they were no longer symbols of death.
They became evidence of victory and restoration.

In the same way, your story may always be part of you—but it does not have to be a place of shame.

Over time, through healing, it can become:

  • A place where God met you.
  • A place where growth began.
  • A place where life started to return.

Healing Is a Process of New Life

Resurrection isn’t always instant in how we experience it.

Sometimes it looks like:

  • A small moment of peace.
  • A shift in how you see yourself.
  • The courage to take one step toward healing.

New life often begins quietly.

But it grows.

And you don’t have to walk that process alone.

Being in a space where others understand—where healing is nurtured gently and without judgment—can make a meaningful difference. The My Ashes to Beauty Post-Abortion and Abuse Recovery Conference Call is helping women experience that kind of safe, compassionate restoration. You are invited to join us.

Your Story Is Not Over

Easter is a reminder that what feels like an ending is not always the end.

There is still life ahead.
There is still healing ahead.
There is still hope ahead.

God is not finished with your story. And even here—right in this place—new life can begin.

Your Thoughts?

What is one area of your heart where you long to experience new life or healing?

Please reach out if you would like to talk this week: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

You are loved,
Toni

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You’re Not Alone: The Silent Struggle After Abortion

You’re Not Alone: The Silent Struggle After Abortion

You’re Not Alone: The Silent Struggle After Abortion

By Toni Weisz / Recovery Tools

Scripture: Psalm 147:3

There are experiences many women carry quietly—tucked deep into the hidden places of their hearts. Abortion is often one of them.

On the outside, life may appear normal. Smiles, responsibilities, routines. But underneath, there can be a swirl of emotions that feel confusing, heavy, and isolating. Thoughts that go unspoken. Questions that feel too complicated—or too painful—to share.

If this is part of your story, you need to hear this: You are not alone.

Many women walk this road, even if it doesn’t look like it from the outside. The silence surrounding abortion can make it feel like you’re the only one struggling—but that silence is often shared by countless others who simply don’t know how to begin the conversation.

Silence can be heavy.
It can convince you that your feelings don’t matter.
It can whisper that no one would understand.

But the truth is, your experience matters. Your emotions matter. You matter.

Healing often begins with one simple, brave step: acknowledging what’s real.

That doesn’t mean you have to tell everyone your story. It doesn’t mean rushing into conversations before you’re ready. But it might look like being honest—with yourself. Naming what you feel. Allowing space for your story to exist without pushing it away.

Post-abortion creates several emotions and stages. Some women feel relief. Others feel grief. Many feel both at the same time. But emotions may shift over time, appearing months or even years later.

Whatever you’re feeling, it’s valid. And you don’t have to carry it alone forever. You deserve support that meets you with compassion, not judgment. This may be a chapter of your story—but it is not the whole story.

God has a wonderful plan for your life, and He has people who can help you move forward. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

There is more ahead. There is healing ahead. And there are others who understand more than you think.

There are safe places. Safe people. Gentle paths toward healing.

For some, that looks like opening up to a trusted friend or counselor. For others, it may mean connecting with women who truly understand this specific journey.

If you’ve been longing for that kind of space, there are communities created just for this purpose—like the post-abortion support group at My Ashes to Beauty, where women can begin to heal in a safe, compassionate environment.

You don’t have to take a big step today.
Just a small one toward connection here.

Your thoughts:
What is one feeling you’ve been carrying silently that you can begin to acknowledge today?

Please reach out if you would like to talk this week: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

You are loved,
Toni

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Faith to Walk on Water

Faith to Walk on Water

Faith to Walk on Water

By Toni Weisz/Spiritual Disciplines

Scriptures: Matthew 14: 22-33

We see in Scripture right after Jesus feeds over five thousand men, not including women and children, the disciples are to go into the boat and go before Him to the other side. Then He sends the multitude away and goes up into the mountain to pray. But the boat, now in the middle of the sea, was caught in a treacherous storm that tossed the boat to and fro for the wind was against them.

Do you ever feel like the wind is against you when you are trying to serve God and trust Him through the storms of your life? It’s hard not to focus on the storm because it surrounds us and it causes us to fear, be anxious, and feel hopeless.

Then Jesus speaks to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Have you heard God speak those words to your heart?

Then bold and courageous Peter says, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” I want to have faith like Peter to step out of the boat to trust God when I am in the midst of a storm of uncertainty, fear, and even death.

Jesus says to us, “Come.” He wants us to grow in our faith and trust in Him.

How do we gain the confidence to step out? Through many trials and tribulations, we learn through time that God is faithful. He is working on things behind the scenes that we are not even aware of. We know that even the bad things we go through, He is working them all out for our good and His glory (Ref. Romans 8:28).

When Peter takes his eyes off of Jesus he starts to sink; the same is true for us. When we focus on the storm, we lose sight of God, and we become paralyzed by fear. Jesus is gently reminding us, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Questions to take to heart:

  1. Are you in the midst of a storm right now?
  2. What are you focusing on?
  3. Is Jesus telling you it’s time to step out of the boat?
  4. How can we pray for you?

I pray this topic was helpful for you. I have learned to trust God in the midst of the storm. He is my anchor, my refuge, and my deliverer. Please reach out if you need to talk: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

You are loved,

Toni

 

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