Can Gratitude Heal Past Traumas?

Be thankful for the relief, don’t focus on the problem. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This powerful lesson comes from a recent khutbah in which Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan shared an ayah that many of us have read and memorized, but may not have completely internalized the meaning of: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ “If you are thankful, I will give you more” [Surah Ibrahim - 14:7] ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When Allah instructed Prophet Musa (AS) to remind his people of Allah’s favor upon them, when once upon a time they were under severe persecution from Fir’awn and now they’ve been freed, we can see a mindset that Allah is teaching here: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Don’t focus on your past traumas, but focus on how Allah relieved you from them. This type of gratitude has the power to change our lives. With such gratitude, Allah has promised to give us more. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This doesn’t take away from the fact that the trials and tribulations took place, but shifts the focus to the present instead of living in the past.