It wasn’t the news we wanted to hear.
My husband has been having issues with the use of one of his arms and has lost dexterity in his hand, and now movement and control of his left arm. It has progressed over the last year to the point where he can barely use it.
After numerous doctor visits, tests, and consultations, the diagnosis is not good. He has a brain disease that is not only progressive but incurable.
We’ve only been married seven years. After living 30 years in an abusive marriage, God had now blessed me with a husband, one who not only loves and cherishes the Lord but also me. We have just begun our lives, and now life feels unbearably hard and unfair.
But God is still God even though the future looks bleak. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”, and we know that He is and He does. But it’s still hard.
Even though this season is difficult and we have so many questions about why and how, we still cling to our God, knowing that He sees us and is good.
Therefore, we strive to cultivate gratitude even when life feels challenging.
Gratitude means to show appreciation for a kindness, and it’s times like these when you are overwhelmed by the burden of a trial, that it’s hard to keep your head above the fight long enough to see the kindness around you. But it’s there. With God, it’s always there.
Here are a few scriptures and a way to remember ways to find Gratitude when things get difficult to bear.
G – Ground yourself in your relationship with God.
Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
If you are honest with yourself, it can sometimes be difficult to feel close to God during hard times because you tend to think He must not care, given that He has allowed this to happen. But that’s not the case. It doesn’t lessen the pain, but it’s not based in truth. We can be grateful that the Creator of all things draws near to us during our difficult times.
Gratitude Reminder: I am grateful that God has provided me with the opportunity to have a personal relationship with the God of the universe. He watches me, He knows what I am experiencing, He understands my emotions and anxiety, and He loves me. For that, I am grateful.
R – Remember that you are human and it’s okay to feel complex emotions.
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
It’s okay to be angry, to be sad, to be confused. Remember your humanity. Jesus felt these same emotions when going to the cross, and He was the Son of God, but still felt the pain of that event. We can be grateful that Jesus understands emotional pain because he experienced suffering.
Gratitude Reminder: I am grateful that God understands my emotions. He knit me together in my mother’s womb and knows my emotional strengths and weaknesses. He tells me not to be anxious about anything, so He knows that at times I will. For that, I am grateful.
A – Acknowledge and process the difficulty.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Process the trial. Give yourself the grace and the time to think about what is going on around you. You can’t live in a bubble pretending that things are not difficult because they are. We are thankful that God understands we need wisdom to navigate challenging times and make difficult decisions. During those times, He will provide us with what we need to overcome them.
Gratitude Reminder: I am grateful that God gives me the wisdom to navigate the challenges I face. As I look around me, I can be assured that God will not abandon me and leave me to make decisions on my own, but will give me the strength and knowledge to do what is right. For that, I am grateful.
T – Trust God when things seem out of control.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Nothing that you experience has escaped God’s attention. He has been here since the beginning of time and will be here for eternity. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and good. God has proven Himself over and over throughout the generations, and we can trust that everything is within His control. He is still the creator of all things.
Gratitude Reminder: I am grateful that God is trustworthy. God doesn’t turn His head when I cry out to Him. Like a watchful Father, He goes before me, is behind me, but walks with me through every storm I face. For that, I am grateful.
I – Intercede and do something for someone else who is struggling.
Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Doing for others helps us shift our focus away from our own hardships. Bringing joy or a smile to someone else's face who is going through a tough time helps us find gratitude in our own lives. God looks favorably on those who bless others. He tells us to rejoice with others in the good things and weep with others when they struggle. We can be grateful that we are pleasing God in doing this.
Gratitude Reminder: I am grateful that Jesus modeled selfless service to others. He taught us to do unto others as we would like for others to do unto us. God’s word is filled with scriptures that direct me to help others, and I can be thankful that, in helping, I am reaping a bit of joy for myself. And for that, I am grateful.
T – Thank God for the small things.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Live in the moment, looking for things to be grateful for. If you look too far ahead, you miss the small things that God does for you. Be thankful for the breath you breathe, the things you see, hear, feel, taste, and smell, because if it were not for the grace of our God, those things would not happen.
Gratitude Reminder: I am grateful that God is in the smallest of things. He makes Himself real every day. I am thankful that He supplies the air I breathe, the flowers I see, the soft embrace of a child’s hug I experience, and the sweet nuzzles of a pet I am blessed with. He is good to me each day, and for that I am grateful.
U – Uncover God’s hand at work.
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Good things can come from hard things. As we walk through difficult times, we can rest assured that God is working behind the scenes to bring everything together according to His plan. If it doesn’t make sense to us, it does to God. If it seems unfair, wait and see how God will pull it all together for our good. Rest easy because God is at work.
Gratitude Reminder: I am grateful that God is at work in all things. He may not have caused the hard things in my life, but He is making all things work together for my good. In the future, I may find out the reason they happened, or, again, I may never know. But what I do know is that God’s hand is in it, and for that I am grateful.
D – Dwell on Truth.
2 Corinthians 6:18 And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.
Ask God to help you remember who you are. When times get difficult and life seems complicated, the enemy's voice is the loudest one you hear. Take time to read Scripture so that you receive clarity as to the truth of who you are, who watches over you, and who is in control of your life. Knowing this truth brings clarity to your situation and helps pave the way for a grateful heart.
Gratitude Reminder: I am grateful that God promises to be my Father. And as a Father, He watches over me, and nothing happens outside of His watch. Regardless of what the enemy whispers in my ear, the truth is that because I have a personal relationship with Jesus, I am His forever. Nothing can take that away. For that, I am grateful.
E – Embrace the support of others in the body of Christ.
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
During difficult times, the body of Christ comes together, but sometimes it is challenging to accept the support of others. God tells us that to fulfill the law of Christ, we should bear one another's burdens. We are not meant to be isolated creatures, but to live as one body with different parts. So, be thankful and permit yourself to embrace the support of others.
Gratitude Reminder: I am grateful that I was created to live in community. We gather strength from one another, and I need to remind myself that it does not show weakness to allow others to help support me during this challenging season; rather, the body of Christ is fulfilling what God has created us to be. And for that, I am grateful.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Jecapix
