Overwhelmed & Grateful
The Key to Finding God’s Goodness in All Life's Ups & Downs
About
We want to live with joy. But life is hard. Culture tells us to ignore the hard and focus on the positive. But science shows that actually makes us more depressed and physically ill. In her transparent, hopeful way, Jillian Benfield shows how we can live with the joy Jesus promises--not by ignoring our dark circumstances and emotions, but by practicing a truer way of living: embracing the "&" in life.
Through sharing psalms, scientific findings, personal stories, and journaling prompts, Jillian offers encouraging, practical ways we can be real about our hard things & be grateful for the good things. She shows how we can be honest about our hardships & aware of God's goodness. We can acknowledge our pain & keep our eyes open to the beauty still unfolding. We can be overwhelmed, grieving, stressed, angry, confused, and unsure & we can be grateful.
Because the truth is, life is hard & life is beautiful. True gratitude is found at this intersection & leads to the joyful, abundant life God promises--no matter what is going on around us.
Endorsements
"Overwhelmed & Grateful is a stunning masterpiece that is hard to put down. Jillian Benfield leaves you feeling seen, understood, and held by God above as you learn to both recognize and embrace the & moments of life. She authentically and beautifully weaves together personal stories, astonishing facts, and Scripture. Her personal stories are reminders that we are not alone in the struggles we face in life and that we can simultaneously hold those things that seem in opposition. The Further Reading, Reflection, and & Gratitude Practice sections at the end of each chapter give the reader places to pause and reflect on all the wisdom Benfield shares in a way that enriches the text and really invites the reader in. Her words are a gift to all who crack open & find themselves in the pages of this book."
Jen Thompson, author of Return to Jesus and writer at Truly Yours, Jen blog
"Jillian Benfield's Overwhelmed & Grateful beautifully articulates what those of us who've experienced special needs parenting and loss know intimately--that our hearts can simultaneously hold deep pain and profound gratitude. Her wisdom about living in the '&' space invites us into a richer experience, where gratitude doesn't erase our pain but transforms how we carry it."
Rachel Wojo, mom of a child with a disability, loss mom, author of Desperate Prayers
"In a culture abuzz with talk of gratitude, Jillian takes us deeper into not just the practice of being thankful but altogether renewed vision--vision constantly awake to the divine among the difficult. This is more than a simple change of perspective. It is a call to hone your habits of awareness and no longer miss life's invitations to see and to celebrate."
Mattie Jackson, bestselling author of Lemons on Friday and Through the Valley of Grief
"Contrary to what culture tells us, we are not merely a reflection of our good choices because (more often than not) life happens too. Enter the '& concept.' In Overwhelmed & Grateful, Jillian reminds us that our days are both beautiful & hard, and I can feel overwhelmed by them & grateful for them all at the same time. This is an idea I'll carry with me forever."
Mikala Albertson, MD, family doctor and author of Everything I Wish I Could Tell You about Midlife: A Woman's Guide to Health in the Body You Actually Have
"Overwhelmed & Grateful is a gentle invitation to live fully in the tension of joy and sorrow, beauty and brokenness, the fullness of our humanity. Jillian gives us permission to sit in the hard while holding on to the good, walking us through the complex emotions we face and helping us process them in small steps. Overwhelmed & Grateful offers a much-needed mindset shift, reminding us that God meets us in every moment--the messy, mundane, miraculous, and unexpected. It reassures us that it's okay to live in the both/and, to be overwhelmed and still grateful."
Natasha Smith, author of Can You Just Sit with Me? Healthy Grieving for the Losses of Life
"As always, Jillian is a voice in the darkness that the world sorely needs. In Overwhelmed & Grateful, she helps us hold both in our hands as we examine these wonderful, beautiful, and sometimes wonderfully hard lives God has given us. Through real stories as well as strategies and reflections, she gently guides us to not only live in the Lord but to live in our lives as wholly as we are meant to."
Amy Betters-Midtvedt, author of You'll Make It (and They Will Too): Everything No One Talks About When You're Parenting Teens, educator, speaker, and mom of five
The Author
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© Gregory Daniel of Gregory Daniel Portrait Artist Jillian Benfield
Jillian Benfield is a former journalist and news anchor. She holds a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Georgia. Her freelance essays about living an unexpected life have appeared on sites such as TODAY, Good Morning America,...
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