In the mid-1800s, the Utah pioneers faced a devastating plague. Swarms of locusts descended upon their hard-won fields, consuming crops, destroying homes, and threatening their very survival. It seemed as though everything they had worked for was being devoured before their eyes. And yet, what followed was nothing short of remarkable. The pioneers, rather than giving in to despair, chose to turn the carcasses of the locusts back into the soil. The following year, to their surprise and relief, their harvest was more abundant than ever.
This story, often referred to as “the year of the locusts,” serves as a powerful metaphor for the human experience—especially in the realm of emotional and mental health. Life is full of locust seasons—those periods when loss, trauma, anxiety, or depression seem to consume everything we’ve cultivated in our hearts and minds. But just as the pioneers learned to turn devastation into abundance, we, too, can find renewal, healing, and even strength in the aftermath of hardship.
The Locusts of Life: Trauma, Grief, and Unexpected Struggles
No one escapes life without experiencing some form of emotional storm. For some, it’s the quiet ache of unresolved grief. For others, it’s the chaos of trauma, a battle with anxiety, a betrayal, a diagnosis, or a sudden loss that knocks the breath out of us. In these seasons, we often feel stripped bare, much like a field ravaged by locusts.
These painful experiences may feel like they’re destroying the very foundation of who we are. We might question our purpose, our worth, or even whether healing is possible. But these experiences, as unwelcome as they are, hold the potential to shape us—not just scar us.
Turning Pain into Soil: How Healing Begins
So how do we transform pain into growth? How can we begin to “turn the locusts into the soil” of our lives?
1. Acknowledge What’s Been Lost
The first step is to name what’s been taken. Just as the pioneers stood over empty fields and acknowledged their loss, we too must grieve honestly. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a dream, a sense of safety, or even our former selves, healing begins when we stop pretending and start feeling.
Grief is not a weakness; it’s a form of honoring what mattered to us. Allow yourself the time and space to mourn.
2. Choose to Engage the Wound
Instead of avoiding or suppressing the hurt, lean in gently. Reflect on what the experience is revealing about your values, fears, boundaries, or strengths. Therapy is a powerful place to do this work. A skilled therapist can help you unpack the trauma, process the grief, and make meaning of your experience without retraumatizing you.
Much like turning the locusts into the soil, this part of the process is messy, emotional, and requires patience—but it’s also where transformation begins.
3. Let Adversity Fertilize Your Growth
With time, you may begin to notice new things taking root—greater resilience, deeper empathy, stronger boundaries, or a more grounded sense of self. Pain becomes the compost of strength. Trauma becomes the teacher. Struggle becomes the spark for new purpose or creativity.
Ask yourself:
What have I learned about myself through this experience?
What matters to me more now than before?
What would I say to someone going through the same thing?
These questions often reveal the fruit growing quietly in the soil of our suffering.
4. Invite Support Along the Way
Just as no pioneer survived alone, we are not meant to walk through hardship in isolation. Healing often begins in the presence of others—through compassionate friendships, therapy, spiritual support, or support groups. Community helps us remember we are not alone in our suffering, and it can model for us what hope and healing look like in real time.
Abundance After the Storm
The following spring, after the locust plague, the Utah pioneers harvested one of the most abundant crops they had ever seen. This wasn’t just coincidence—it was nature’s quiet way of reminding them that renewal is always possible, even after great devastation.
In the same way, many people find that on the other side of their darkest seasons come the most meaningful transformations. Not because the pain didn’t matter, but because it did. And through it, they discovered a deeper sense of self, a new mission, or an unshakable strength.
You Can Heal. You Can Grow.
If you’re in the midst of a “locust year,” know that this isn’t the end of your story. Healing is possible. Growth is possible. Abundance is still ahead.
At our mental health center, we believe in walking with you through every season of life—especially the hard ones. Whether you’re facing anxiety, grief, trauma, or something you can’t even name yet, our team is here to help you turn devastation into growth, just like the pioneers did with the land they loved.
Your pain has a purpose. Your story has power. And your healing can begin today.