In times of grief and distress, along with making duas, we should repent over our sins and beg for Allah's mercy and forgiveness.

 Quality of the people of Jannah:

♦️ Allah ﷻ mentions the quality of people of Jannah in Surah Tawba: 

 *التّٰئَبُون*

"Those who repent"

Tawba or repentance does not have an ordinary status. Sometimes people think that they have never committed sins, yet it is far from the truth. We commit sins unintentionally or without our knowledge. That is why repenting over our sins has great virtue. 

 وَمَاۤ اَصَابَكُمۡ مِّنۡ مُّصِيۡبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتۡ اَيۡدِيۡكُمۡ وَيَعۡفُوۡا عَنۡ كَثِيۡرٍؕ

♦️ And whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned;

[Ash-Shuraa 42:30]

Imam Bayhaqi quotes in his famous book, "Zuhd ul Kabeer":

Prophet of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم  said:

O Ayesha! If your clothes get entangled in thorns and are torn, never speak ill of the thorns but reflect upon yourself as it would have been because of your own sin.

Once Abdullah ibn Mubarak was on his way back after performing Hajj. He saw an old woman whose back had bent down due to old age. She was so old and bent that it looked as if someone had placed some luggage on the ground. When he came near her and asked her some questions, she replied each question with an ayah of Qur'an. When he asked the reason for doing so, she recited the following ayah of Suran Qaf.

 مَا يَلۡفِظُ مِنۡ قَوۡلٍ اِلَّا لَدَيۡهِ رَقِيۡبٌ عَتِيۡدٌ*

♦️He [i.e. man] utters no word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].

[Qaf 50:18]

She said that since she had heard this ayah, she always tries to reply with Qur'an so that it would be recorded as recitation of Qur'an in her book of deeds.

Ibn Mubarak then offered to take her to her destination. When she sat on the camel, he forgot to tie up the saddle and when the camel stood up, she fell down. When he went to help her up, she recited:

 ♦️And whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned; 

[Ash-Shuraa 42:30]

*???? Imam Muhammad ibn Seereen said:

  ????By  Allah! Whenever I return home (from work) and if my wife criticizes me, I reflect upon my deeds. If I go to milk the cows and they start running away, I do not hit them. Instead, I reflect upon my deeds to see which mistake or sin have I committed to face this.

Unfortunately today we focus on our problems and hurdles but fail to reflect on ourselves.