Give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

“Am I supposed to thank God for this?” I clasped my hands into a fist as I stared back into my counselor’s wise eyes.

“No. You don’t have to thank God for the storm. But you can thank Him for who He is in the storm.” Her quick reply immediately set my upside-down perspective upright again.

Weeks before this encounter, flood waters from a passing hurricane left damage to my home. It was the last catastrophe on a list of tragedies that occurred in my life during that season. And “broken” is the only word that describes how I felt that day years ago. Words of thanksgiving and praise were not on my lips, and they were a galaxy away from my heart.

Sometimes it is difficult to be thankful when we’re hurting. Our thoughts war against offering praise to God when our lives are seemingly falling apart. But as challenging as it is––offering thanksgiving and praise––open the doorway to victory for a heart burdened by worry, fear, and defeat.

So how do we give thanks in the hardest times? Here are three things to remember when it’s difficult to praise: