How to Be Grateful to God in Tough Times
We’re a half mile from the truck when the sky opens wide and soaks us with silver beads the size of marbles. Hair matted beneath their bike helmets, the oldest two look at me with shining eyes and declare it the best bike ride of their lives. And to think, I hadn’t seen it that way whatsoever. My kids never fail to teach me how to be grateful to God in hard times and challenging moments.
How to Be Grateful to God When You Don’t Feel It
Obviously, getting stuck in a summer rain shower isn’t the kind of situation that turns a life upside down.
There are far worse circumstances.
Nevertheless, our afternoon at the bike path was a gentle reminder for me.
Giving thanks in tough times is always a gateway to the joyful, abundant life I crave.
You might not feel grateful for the difficult situation that’s on your plate today, but let’s take just a few moments to look at several insights on how to be grateful to God in hard times. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you experience God’s peace and presence in tough times.
How to Be Grateful to God in All Circumstances
1. Thank God for his goodness every day.
You might not feel grateful today. As you look around the room where you’re sitting right now, perhaps you can’t find a single reason to give thanks.
The Lord has an invitation for you: Stop looking at what is temporal and lift your eyes to him. Thank him for strengthening you and protecting you.
Thank him for being trustworthy—even when you doubt his trustworthiness. Give thanks for the ways he helps you in seen and unseen ways.
By purposefully guiding our hearts into thanksgiving, a shift takes place within us. We align ourselves with the Lord, and he fills us with his joy. As the joy of the Lord fills our hearts, our capacity for spontaneous gratitude expands.
Begin by thanking God for who he is, and you will soon find it easier to cultivate gratitude for the blessings surrounding you. Your eyes will be opened to the many gifts in your life.
2. Focus on what you do have.
I’ve learned that I can focus on Jesus by fixing my eyes on what is right in my life instead of focusing on what is wrong.
Here’s what I mean: I can complain that the house is too noisy, or I can give thanks for the children who make the noise.
I can grumble about their messes, or I can thank God for their presence.
Sometimes, I feel tempted to complain that my body isn’t as strong as it was when I was younger. Nonetheless, I can give thanks for the many ways this body continues to carry me.
In his letter to the Philippian church, Paul wrote, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
We cultivate gratitude when we look for what is right, pure, and good in our lives.
3. Remember that adversity is God’s primary tool to help us mature.
I’ve spent most of my life grumbling about adversity. I’m surprised when my plans are derailed and life gets hard.
Meanwhile, Jesus promised trouble in life (see John 16:33).
He also promised to stay with us when trouble comes.
Scripture also teaches that we become mature through adversity. Adversity is necessary for our spiritual growth. Without trials, we will remain spiritual infants (see James 1:2-4).
Let’s sit with this for a moment today. Most of us want to become spiritually mature, but it’s easy to miss God’s purpose for our pain.
Pain is the crucible for molding us into the image of Christ. Without adversity, we cannot become mature in the Lord.
I’m learning to thank God for hard times, illnesses, and even grief. When we let these troubles soften us, God shapes us into vessels he can use for his glory.
4. Learn how to be grateful to God by refusing to complain.
Our words matter.
One way to cultivate joy is by refusing to complain.
Every time a negative thought comes to mind, replace it with a positive thought.
Here are a few examples:
Instead of complaining about the messes your family makes, thank God that they are still with you. Think of a friend or loved one who has lost their family members, and give thanks for what you have.
Instead of grumbling about your job, thank God that you have a job. Thank him for providing resources to pay your bills, put a roof over your head, and provide you with clean, running water. For much of the world, these gifts are luxuries.
5. Regularly begin the day by giving thanks for five minutes.
We can change the way our brains function by focusing on God’s goodness. According to a study listed in the book Joyful Journey by Dr. James Wilder and his colleagues, by spending five minutes each morning focusing on God’s goodness for 30 days, we can rewire our brains from grumpiness to joy.
Before you get out of bed each morning, spend five minutes thanking God for everything you love about him. Try it for 30 days and see if your life changes.
As for me, I still grumble when I get caught outside in the rain. However, I’m learning from my kids. Every storm is an opportunity to turn to God and thank him for staying by my side.
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 7, 12, and 16, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. I also recently released a teen devotional called Anchored, designed to help teens learn key biblical narratives and apply them to their lives. You can find these books here or read more below. 
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Devotions for Boys by Boys
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
These Books Are Free on Kindle Unlimited: God Wants to Heal, Restore, and Refresh You
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. He also wants to help you establish a rhythm of meeting with him daily as you trust him with the hard parts of your life. Click here to explore two books that will guide you: Be Still and Trust and Lean Into Grace. They are free on the Kindle Unlimited program and for sale in print.
Download Your Free Devotional Here
Set Free: Let God Do What You Cannot explores ten realms in which most of us need God to work in our lives and bring deliverance. We’ll talk about finding freedom from fear, worry, insecurity, bad habits, emotional pain, and more. This short online devotional will bless you as you let God accomplish what you’ve been unable to achieve through willpower. Get your download for free with promo code GRACE or for a donation of 3.99 here. Thank you. This small gift helps keep this ministry running.
I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here!
