Thankful in Suffering: Finding Gratitude When Life is Hard

Thanksgiving in Canada happens at the most spectacular time of year. Mornings are crisp, but afternoons are warm. Autumn trees put on a brilliant glow as falling leaves carpet the ground. Warm fires and golden sunsets make the season almost magical. It should be easy to be grateful when the world wraps us in its beauty and warmth.

Yet I recall Thanksgivings when gratitude seemed hard, even when the view outside my window was glorious. There was more than one Thanksgiving when the future seemed uncertain. The ones when my heart was in pieces. The ones when I was slogging it out as a single mom. Even if the circumstances differ, we’ve all known times of confusion, profound sadness, and devastating loss that have made thankfulness seem impossible.

However, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the Apostle Paul wrote: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul escaped Thessalonica when his preaching sparked intense jealousy from religious leaders and an angry mob threw the city into an uproar (Acts 17:1-9). In his absence, Paul felt an overwhelming concern for this vulnerable new church and dispatched Timothy to return as his trusted partner in the faith. The report that followed was that the believers remained steadfast, despite the difficulties and challenges they faced.

In his letter to the believers, Paul encouraged the Christians to rejoice, pray and give thanks. These were not instructions meant only for the good times; it was a way of life to embrace amid hardship and suffering.

There is a difference between giving thanks for a trial and giving thanks amid a trial. How do we give thanks when a spouse has betrayed? Or the cancer has returned? Or a loved one has died? Or our prayers seem unanswered? The effects of sin in this world and on our lives should cause us to grieve, not rejoice. The Psalmist often poured out his heart in desperation because of the evil around him. He longed for God to enact judgment and bring restoration.

Yet even in suffering, we can give thanks for God’s faithfulness, as well as His work of sanctification. Our Heavenly Father provides His presence and comfort while completing His purpose in our lives. There is no joy in the pain, but there can be joy in daily abiding with the Lord. This happens as we rely on Him for strength in weakness and have faith when we don’t understand. In fact, during the worst of times, the sweetest communion can happen as we look to the Lord in trust and hope.

If there was ever a secret for unleashing God’s powerful peace in a situation, it’s developing a heart of true thanksgiving. Lysa TerKeurst

If this Thanksgiving is hard, remember that God’s promises are sure. As His children, we are forgiven, redeemed, and beloved. We are safe and secure in His sovereign care. The struggles of this life are a mere preparation for the glory of eternity.

No matter what the day brings, being a child of God is always a reason to have a grateful heart. So, give thanks, resting in the truth that all we will ever need comes from the Father’s loving hand.

Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:12-14