How do you remain thankful in the midst of pain, grief and difficulty? When life brings with it challenges, pain or unexpected loss, gratitude might just be the last thing on your mind. Yet, it’s often in your stormy seasons that cultivating a heart of gratitude can have the most profound impact in your life. Today’s article is all about Gratitude in the storm and how to be thankful in tough times.
In every situation, no matter what the circumstances, be thankful and continually give thanks to God, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Giving thanks in painful and stormy seasons of life can be hard. Think about the widow of Nain walking behind her only son’s coffin to bury him, and how hard it could have been to remain thankful under such circumstances. Was it easy for Job to keep his trust in God unbroken despite having lost everything in his life?
As believers, we’re called to give thanks in all circumstances, trusting that God’s purpose is at work, even when we can’t see the full picture or have not received answers to our prayers. Learning to be thankful when life is tough and when walking on stormy waters doesn’t mean ignoring or suppressing your pain, struggles and fears. Rather, it is you choosing to focus on God and his faithfulness in the midst of everything.
I learnt to be grateful to God for the gift of having a child rather than whine and complain about delayed conception while I tried for a second baby. It was a long 5 year-wait before my answer came. I have chosen to be grateful for my current season rather than murmur about the things that I do not have yet. You can choose to be grateful for this present moment, the little things and even things yet to be figured out in your life.
When you choose to stay thankful in the midst of life’s fiercest storms, it is a powerful testament of your unbroken trust and faith in God and his promises for your life. Living a life of gratitude can also become a source of hope and strength for others around us. Let’s explore how we can nurture a heart of gratitude, especially in life’s hardest seasons.
How to Be Thankful in Tough Times
1. A Biblical Call to Give Thanks in all Circumstances
1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul writes, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
These words from Apostle Paul as inspired by God’s spirit serves as a reminder that God desires us to cultivate a heart of thankfulness, regardless of our circumstances. God says – In every situation be thankful and no matter the circumstances, be thankful. And the message translation of that scripture says – Thank God no matter what happens.
When you choose gratitude above worrying and complaining, it helps you shift your focus away from your immediate problems and place your trust in God’s higher plan. While it may seem counterintuitive and countercultural to thank God during hardships and difficult seasons, gratitude remains a powerful act of faith that says, “God, I will trust you even in this.” Are you walking on stormy waters right now in your life? Choose gratitude today.
2. Remember God’s Faithfulness in the Past
One of the most effective ways to embrace gratitude during a storm is to remember God’s faithfulness in the past. Remember when and how God came through for you in the past. Think about how he led you through that hard season years ago.
Taking out time to reflect on moments when God came through in unexpected ways for us, delivered us from impossible situations, gave us peace in the chaos, and turned our trials into testimonies helps us to remain hopeful even in dark seasons of life.
David remembered God’s past victories in his life before facing a huge giant named Goliath. He recalled how God saved him from the hands of the bear and lion. Those previous encounters fueled his faith and confidence in the power and presence of God, so much that standing before Goliath, he knew that his victory was assured. You too can find hope and strength by looking back at what God has done in your life in the past, trusting that he will continue to be faithful.
Psalm 77:11 — “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.”
3. There is Purpose in the Pain
The Word of God encourages us to see trials as opportunities for growth and maturity. In James 1:2-4, we’re told to “Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” God always works through these challenges to refine us, shape our character and deepen our faith.
TD Jakes in his book “Crushing: God turns pressure into power” says this:
“When faced with calamities, we believe our fears of destruction and forget that God is present, even though he may be hiding from our physical senses. But a hidden God does not equal an absent God. Like a grape transformed into wine, God is training us to recognize him in another form.”
There is purpose in the pain. Jesus had to die on the cross so that we can have a renewed relationship with God as his sons and daughters. Joseph walked through dark seasons and eventually became a succor to not just his family in their later years but to save many lives as well. Moses was isolated in the wilderness places of life for forty long years until it was time for God to use him to fulfil his purpose. Yet, I believe all these men chose to stay thankful in their waiting seasons no matter how dark it may have looked.
Being grateful in times of hardship leads you to a place of unfailing trust in God, knowing that God has a purpose for you and is working in you, even through the pain and chaos.
4. Embrace the Gift of God’s Presence
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. – Psalm 23:4-5
David spoke confidently of his trust in God when he declared that even in the deepest darkness, he will not let fear conquer him. Why? Because he knew that God was with him in the darkness. Have you gotten to that point in your Christian journey?
Jesus in Matthew 28:20 tell us this – “I will be with you till the end of the age“. You are never alone as a child of God. Whether you are high above the seas or fighting to stay afloat on the stormy waters, know that God is right there with you.
In those tough and difficult times, be reminded that God is always close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). Rather than focusing solely on the pain, distress and inner turmoil, let gratitude shift your perspective to appreciate the comfort, peace, and closeness of God, who promises to never leave or forsake you.
Hebrews 13:5 — “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
5. Give Thanks as an Act of Worship
Come right into God’s presence with thanksgiving. Come bring your thanks offering to him and affectionately bless his beautiful name. –Psalm 100:4 TPT
Gratitude is a powerful form of worship. Imagine stepping into God’s presence with a heart full of thanksgiving. You are not only worshipping but are acknowledging God’s sovereignty in your life. A thankful heart will always give you audience before God. By giving thanks during hardship and in difficult seasons, you are still declaring that God is worthy of praise no matter your circumstances.
This kind of worship reveals a deep trust in God and reminds us and those around us that our hope is in him alone. Choosing gratitude in the storm is you testifying of God’s unchanging nature and faithfulness in your life irrespective of what you may be going through. As you thank him, you grow closer to his heart, hope is renewed within you and you will find the strength to press on in the darkness.
6. Gratitude as a Pathway to Peace
Here is a roadmap from the word of God to finding peace in our lives through gratitude. Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
When we bring our worries and anxiety to God with a thankful heart, he promises to give us a peace that transcends all human understanding. This peace does not mean that our challenges will suddenly disappear, but we will experience God’s presence as he calms our hearts, speaks faith to our soul and provides us with the strength to endure through the storm. Practicing gratitude, even in turmoil is an invitation to divine peace into our mind and lives.
4 Practical Ways to Cultivate Gratitude in Difficult Times
1. Keep a Gratitude Journal
Writing down daily blessings, even small ones, can help us find positive moments to focus on, even on our hardest days. What are you thankful for at the end of each day? Start by writing out five things you are grateful for in your journal before you go to bed each day. You will be amazed at how much there is in your life to be grateful for.
2. Reflect on Encouraging Scriptures
For they are life unto those that find them: and health unto all their flesh. – Proverbs 4:22
The bible tells that God’s word is life to those who find it. And beyond finding it, it is all about embracing and filling our minds with the truth of his promises. There are hundreds of bible verses and stories that speak to different areas of life and situations. Taking out time to reflect on God’s word is a great spiritual discipline which acts as a constant reminder of his promises, thereby boosting our faith and increasing our thankfulness.
3. Surround Yourself with Faithful Community
Being in the midst of like-minded believers who help you grow, challenge, encourage and support you can do a lot for you in your spiritual journey. You get to learn, engage and also share your gifts with others.
Faith-filled communities help us to foster godly relationships and build meaningful connections with other fellow believers who can encourage, pray, and stand with us in faith. Our presence in these communities also help us to stay anchored in gratitude as we spend time together in bible study, prayers and intercession. Such communities also give us the opportunity to serve, plant seeds of kindness and be a blessing to other lives.
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25
4. Serve Others
Have you been in a situation where you had to serve when you did not feel like serving? There are times when God will put you in spaces and places to serve others in our not so good moments. Maybe you are having financial struggles and you have to care for a sick parent at the same time. Or your marriage is going through a crisis and you still have to serve in the children’s department in church.
However, as you serve, God opens up your heart to find gratitude in each moment and the things happening in your life. And sometimes, the best way to overcome our own struggles is by helping someone else with theirs. Serving others shifts our focus from our own struggles to bringing hope to others. How will you choose to serve today?
Conclusion
Cultivating a heart of gratitude during life’s storms is a choice, and while it may not come easily, it will draw you closer to God and remind you that you are never alone. God is right there with you in the storm and be assured that the raging waters of life will not drown you.
When Peter saw the winds and the waves while walking on the water and began to sink, he called out to Jesus saying, ‘master save me’. Jesus reached out to him and pulled his hand. Imagine how thankful Peter must have been in that moment to have known and had Jesus in his life and story.
By focusing on God’s faithfulness, you can find purpose in the pain, and experience his peace like you have never known. You can nurture a thankful heart that stands firm, even in life’s darkest seasons. What will you choose to be thankful for today?
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” —William Arthur Ward
Image by Michael De Groot from Pixabay
