4 Things to Remember When It’s Hard to Give Thanks

Though I really try to be grateful throughout the year, I benefit from the heightened focus we place on gratitude during the weeks preceding Thanksgiving. I find it easy to be grateful during most Novembers, but there are years when it is exceedingly difficult because of the events that have taken place that year.

What should we do during these difficult seasons? How can we give thanks when we’re faced with circumstances (job loss, the death of a loved one, a serious health diagnosis, family discord, etc.) for which we aren’t grateful? Giving thanks during these times isn’t easy, but I’ve found that it is possible and that God is often able to work in our hearts when we manage to give thanks during these tough times. Here are some specific reminders that can help us express gratitude during difficult seasons.

Reminders that help us give thanks in difficult times

• God is close to the brokenhearted. I often feel far away from God during difficult seasons. However, the Bible teaches us that the opposite is true. According to David in Psalm 34, God is “near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit” (Psalm 34:18). In other words, having it all together or being cheerful and confident aren’t prerequisites for being close to God. He is with us, has compassion on us, and helps us in our difficult times.
• Praise is often a sacrifice. We rarely think about sacrifices because Jesus’ blood shed on the cross eliminated the need for us to bring animal sacrifices before the Lord. Sacrifice can be defined as the offering of the life of an animal to God, but it is also defined as giving “up something for something else considered more important” (source). It makes perfect sense that the Bible would speak of a “sacrifice of praise” or a “sacrifice of thanksgiving” (Psalm 116:17 and Hebrews 13:15) because it instructs us to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). In order to give thanks during the tough times, we often have to sacrifice—we have to set aside something (our lack of understanding, our anger, our frustration, our pain, etc.) for something else considered more important (giving thanks to God).
• A thankful heart prepares the way. It is often when we feel the least grateful that we would benefit the most from being grateful. We learn from Psalm 50 that thanksgiving prepares the way for God to reveal His power and salvation. This, by itself, seems like a convincing reason to be grateful! Human psychology and personal experience teach us that being grateful prepares the way in an additional sense. Giving thanks has a snowball effect. It starts small, but the more we do it the larger it grows. If we can just get started giving thanks during tough times, our gratitude will take off. Gratitude will become a habit instead of something we have to discipline ourselves to do and we will easily notice things for which we can be grateful.
• Joy is coming. It’s difficult to think beyond our present circumstances, but the reality is that the trials we face today are temporary. Jesus knew this better than anyone. The Bible teaches that he endured the cross “for the joy that was set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). Though the cross was painful and shameful, Jesus endured it because He knew the joy that was coming. We can follow His example and keep in mind the joys set before us as we persevere through trials. What are some of these joys? God will complete the good works He began in us (Philippians 1:6). God provides for our real needs (Philippians 4:19). In spite of present difficulties, we have salvation and the promise of the coming kingdom (Matthew 5:3-10). We will someday inhabit a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21-22). These are some great reasons to remain strong and give thanks as we endure tough seasons!

There’s no magic formula that makes it easy to give thanks during difficult times. However, I think that these reminders can help us understand what the Bible says about gratitude during challenging seasons and give us a foundation from which to begin giving thanks regardless of our circumstances.

Have you ever tried to be grateful during difficult times? Were you successful? If so, what helped you give thanks despite the challenges you were facing?