3 Things to Remember to Inspire a Heart of Thanksgiving

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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:

Remember the Goodness of God

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” ~ Psalm 118:1 ESV

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High. Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. ~ Psalm 7:17-8:1 NIV

It’s true that when catastrophe strikes, in long seasons of waiting, or when trouble seems unending, “good” is not the first word that comes to mind to describe our lives. We are tempted to forget that–although circumstances are hard–God is good. And God’s goodness is not dependent on our personal plight. His goodness is unceasing and unchanging. That’s a reason to praise!

Remember Where He has Brought you From

Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered. ~ 1 Chronicles 16:12 ESV

And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. ~ Deuteronomy 8:2 ESV

We all have those places in which we thought we would never survive. For me, it was years of chronic illness that left me homebound, loss of relationships, loss of a loved one, unending financial struggles, a host of lost dreams, and the survival of a hurricane. Now, on my weariest days, I take out a journal and list these incidents and praise God that I have made it through. Let’s begin today to stir up a heart of praise more often.

Remember God’s Promises for Now and Forever

He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ~ Hebrews 13:5 ESV

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” ~ Revelation 21:4 ESV

In the arduous seasons, the enemy seeks to defeat us by taunting us with the lies that God has forgotten us, forsaken us, cannot provide for us, doesn’t love us, and will never bring victory. But we can hold on to our ever-present Father, knowing that there will be a glorious end to this life and all its suffering. Let’s flip the script on the devil and shout out the Word of God.

I wish I could say when the counselor challenged me to offer thanksgiving and praise in my hard season that my heart immediately sprang up in gratitude and the despair lifted. But I can’t. Instead, it was an attitude that I had to cultivate. It’s a muscle that has to be developed with the weight of heavy lifting. And I’m still in training. 

Are you struggling to give thanks in your current circumstance? Can I encourage you to start with praising God for who He is in the difficulty? He is always good. His past faithfulness and His promises guarantee His faithfulness now and forevermore.

Dear Father, sometimes in my distress it is difficult to have a grateful heart. Help me remember who You are, what You’ve done, and Your promises for a blessed future. Thank You for staying close beside me, guiding me, and providing for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

How have you cultivated a grateful heart in difficult seasons? Please share in the comments.