When you’re going through a trial, it’s natural to focus on what’s wrong. But we can miss something important: God’s presence in the middle of it.
This month, we’re sharing Dr. Stanley’s teaching on gratitude to help you practice thanksgiving in a wider, fuller way—one that reveals God is with you in every hardship.
All of us face difficult seasons and challenges.
And it’s natural to focus on the problem itself when you’re suffering from heartache, living through physical pain, or enduring a season of uncertainty.
We look for a solution or a way of escaping, even temporarily, from the pain.
God, in His abounding love and perfect knowledge, understands your heartache completely. And He knows how to work out His best for you.
As you wait on Him through your difficulty, remember His counsel:
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:16-18).
The psalmist offers this prescription for life:
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night” (Ps. 92:1-2).
We’re to begin the day with thanksgiving, continue through it praising Him, and conclude with gratitude for His faithfulness.
The Apostle Paul wrote: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).
The instruction isn’t to thank Him for some things, but for all things.
That means even if you lose your job, live in constant pain, or have conflicts within your family—give thanks. This is the will, purpose, and plan of God for every believer. It has nothing to do with how you feel about your situation.
How can I begin to thank God for what hurts me so deeply?
Acknowledge that God walks with you on the path of gratitude.
It takes the practice of saying, “Lord, even though I’m hurting deeply, even though I don’t understand things that are going on, You have a purpose in it. I thank You for Your good timing—and that You can show me Your ultimate purpose in this.”
Consider the powerful impact gratefulness can have on every area of your life.
Thankfulness keeps you continually aware of the presence of God—that you’re not alone. He is always with you, and you can talk to Him about your situation.
When you thank Him in every situation, you develop a stronger trust in God.
You gain an assurance that God has it under control. Remember that God is always at work in your life, building your faith and helping you to transfer your focus from your circumstances to God.
Jesus releases in us a divine energy to help us prevail.
Here’s something I’ve discovered, and I had to hurt desperately and get exhausted before I understood this: Giving thanks in all things will energize you when you’ve lost all strength.
Jesus begins to release something within you—an energy Paul wrote about when he said, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16 ESV).
His power within you makes it possible for you to go through the darkness of that valley and come out on the other side victorious before Him.
God won’t always change your circumstances, but He will use them to change you.
Adversity becomes a bridge to a deeper relationship with Him. And when you give thanks, you eventually recognize the overwhelming, powerful impact the Lord makes on every area of your life.
He can teach you awesome lessons through your troubles, and that may be His aim for you today.
When praise and adoration for God are on your lips, you will see the difference Christ makes in your character, your witness, and your inner peace. You will gain a greater sense of His power and of His fullness permeating every part of your life.
The kind of thanksgiving Dr. Stanley encourages doesn’t come easily, and some days it may not come at all. But when you’re able—even in small ways—to acknowledge God’s presence in hardship, you begin to remember you’re not alone.
Give thanks today, and trust that God’s grace sustains you through every challenge. Till next time, God bless you.
For His glory,
Your friends at In Touch Ministries
P.S. We’re grateful for you! Thank you for your partnership. May your Thanksgiving celebration be filled with rich reminders of the Lord’s goodness and faithful presence.