Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

I have days when gratitude comes easily, and others when I have to fight for it through tears and pain. When problems keep piling up, pain feels overwhelming, or I see no solution in sight, my view of God’s goodness gets blurred. Giving thanks to Him can seem impossible and feel like the last thing I want to do.

When Gratitude Feels Hard, Count Your Blessings (Past and Present)

On Thanksgiving Day 2005, I wrote the following in my journal:

Today is Thanksgiving, and I am very grateful and thankful. Most people look at me and wonder how I could possibly be so thankful. All they see are my hardships; they don’t look beyond to see my blessings. Yes, my life is not easy. Do I wish things were different? Of course. But in spite of the difficulties, my life is good. I am surrounded by love, and all my needs are met. Who could ask for anything more? I am not thankful that I am hurt, but I am thankful that my life is complete despite my injury. As the Bible says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess 5:18) and, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever” (1 Chron 16:34). As long as I have God with me, life is blessed and therefore worth being thankful for.

I read those words now and think about all the additional heartaches, hardships, and struggles I’ve faced since writing that journal entry.

Still, I can read those words and say they ring true because, no matter what, God has been with me through all those times and has helped me persevere. He has seen me through each day, and that is a blessing that deserves my gratitude.

So, during difficult times now, when I can’t feel God’s goodness, I need to remind myself of how He has blessed me in the past.

But I also need to focus on present blessings. For instance, even though I’m often in bed, I am at home in my bed rather than in a hospital or nursing facility, and on the days I can get up and sit outside, I get to enjoy the beauty of His creation. Also, despite the challenges of arranging for care, I continue to receive the care I need each day.

Those blessings, and many more, provide plenty of reasons to give thanks. They are glimpses of God’s goodness shining through the cracks of difficulty. They remind me that His presence is still near, working in ways beyond my understanding to bring about His perfect will for my life.

When Gratitude Feels Hard, Look to the Cross

In another of my prayer journal entries about five years ago, I wrote,

Lord God, I have to be honest that sometimes I find it really hard to be thankful. In the midst of pain and disappointments, my heart cries out in frustration. But I am thankful to You for all things. I am so thankful for all that You sacrificed for me and provided for me. Help me to always give You thanks and praise, no matter the circumstances, because You deserve it.

No matter what I am going through, I wholeheartedly agree with the last three words in my entry.

Even during my struggles to thank God in tough times, God still deserves my praise and gratitude because of Jesus’s sacrifice on the Cross. He gave Himself as a ransom for my sins so that by believing in Him, I can have everlasting life. Because of that, I will thank God for the eternal peace and promises that await beyond this life.

Being Thankful Always

So, gratitude, then, isn’t about pretending we’re fine; it’s about remembering that He is faithful.
We may not always feel thankful, but we can choose to be grateful, trusting that God works even when we can’t see how.

On the hardest days, we can practice counting blessings, not because it makes the hardship disappear, but because it helps us remember we are not going through it alone. God is with us, working through us and around us to bless us as He wills. And above all, we can look to the Cross.

When we focus on those truths, peace and thankfulness return, not because our situation changes, but because our perspective shifts.

We’re choosing to see God’s hand in the middle of the mess and to trust that someday, when we stand in His presence, we’ll understand it all and give thanks forever.

Lord, thank You for loving me even when my heart feels weary and my gratitude feels small.
Help me count my blessings, thanking You for what You have done and what You are doing, even if I am not aware of it. And most of all, help me to always thank You for Jesus, who gave His life so I could one day live with You in perfect peace. Amen.

Do you struggle to be thankful to God during difficult times? What are some blessings that you can count to remind you of God’s faithfulness in the past and present?

Friend, I know going through hard times is not easy—that’s why I wrote Persevering By Faith: 10 Devotions to Give You Hope During Hard Times—ten short, hope-filled readings for hard days. Use the sign-up form at the bottom of this page to subscribe, and I’ll send it straight to your inbox, free.