When Valentine’s Day Feels Disappointing - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - February 5, 2026

Audio By Carbonatix

It’s just another reminder that they can no longer surprise you with breakfast in bed, laugh at your jokes, or hug you close. 

Valentine’s Day is a trail of ghosts for many people, whether it’s a loved one gone from this earth, a loved one who willingly left, or a loved one who only lives in wishes and dreams. So what do we do when this holiday leaves us haunted by pain and disappointment? Where do we turn to get through all the sappy social media posts and television ads screaming, “This is what you’re missing!”? 

We cultivate meaning from heartache. We sow seeds of hope and let truth rewrite our narrative surrounding Valentine’s Day. We don’t run from the day. We take it back with joy. 

You see, God didn’t make us to be ostriches, to stick our heads in the sand when life gets scary or uncomfortable. In fact, Scripture says we are to remain vigilant (1 Peter 5:8), to keep our eyes wide open for what’s around us. Thus, if we can’t go around reality, can’t go under reality, and can’t go over reality, we must go through it. We can’t duck and dodge the misery that’s rooted in our hearts. That’s an internal problem, not an external one we can separate ourselves from. 

So what does cultivating joy practically look like this Valentine’s Day? 

It looks like identifying the ways God grants you consistent delight. Is it thrift shopping, cooking a new recipe, or crafting? Do you enjoy orchestra concerts, local coffee shops, or trips to the nearby lake? 

Make one or two of these things part of your Valentine’s tradition. Invite close friends, the kiddos, your mom, your dog, or whoever else brings you joy and is available.

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, which means it’s not a natural part of our nature. We are bent towards worry, doubt, and depression. Often, this is a defense mechanism to protect us from further hurt, but it’s a faulty one because it never lets us move forward. Our hearts become hermits, and life leaves us isolated from everything—especially the good things. 

Ask God to grant you joy this Valentine’s Day. Allow Him access to your bitter, skeptical, cynical heart. As you listen for His guidance and seek special ways to cultivate new Valentine’s fun, rest in the knowledge that joy is a gift that sustains. Will joy be challenged? Of course. But joy was meant to stay, to show up year after year for the mushy holiday that has always left you nauseously grumbling. 

So go on, let joy in. Give her a chance. And see what God has in store for a willing, open heart this Valentine’s Day.

Let’s pray:

Father, for many of us, Valentine’s Day isn’t a celebration. It’s an annual reminder of dashed expectations, disappointments, and things that will never be. It’s a day that feels rooted in our past, an attack on our worth and our future. Regardless of circumstances and the enemy’s lies, give us the strength to seek your Spirit’s joy, to dig deep and actively discover ways you grant us beauty and goodness, no matter our life season. Above all, may we feel your loving presence like never before this Valentine’s Day. We praise your almighty name and thank you for gifting us a joy that forever stays. In your holy name we pray, Lord, Amen.

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/agrobacter

Peyton Garland is an author, editor, and boy mama who lives in the beautiful foothills of East Tennessee. Subscribe to her blog Uncured+Okay for more encouragement.

Related Resource: Praying Through Psalm 51: Restoring the Joy of Salvation

Can a heart stained by the worst kinds of betrayal ever truly be restored?? When the world demands justice, does God offer a different way back? In this devotional on Psalm 51, we step into the wreckage of King David’s greatest failure—the affair with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. We move beyond a simple apology to uncover the specific Hebrew anatomy of David's confession: Pesha (rebellion), Avon (twistedness), and Hata'ah (missing the mark). We explore the shocking reality that under Mosaic Law, David should have faced the death penalty, yet he boldly asks God to "create a way" where the law offered none. If you’ve ever felt like your mistakes have disqualified you from God’s presence, or that you are not worthy due to your past mistakes, this episode offers a roadmap from guilt to gladness. Come ready to run toward the Father who doesn't just want your perfection, but your broken and contrite heart. If this episode helped you connect with God, be sure to follow Praying Christian Women on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!