Gratitude in the Grittiness: Why We Give Thanks in Every Season

We are just coming off Thanksgiving.  It reminds me that Christians are called to be thankful all the time.  It is easy to be thankful when the sun is shining, the bills are paid, and the family is healthy. In those moments, praise flows naturally. It feels less like a discipline and more like a reflex.

But the Christian call to gratitude isn’t limited to the mountaintops. We are called to a much harder, more radical standard. We are asked to carry a posture of thanksgiving into the valleys, the waiting rooms, and the storms.

The Apostle Paul, writing from a place of hardship himself, gave us this command in 1 Thessalonians 5:18:

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

Notice the preposition. He says give thanks in all circumstances, not necessarily for all circumstances. We do not have to be thankful for the tragedy or the pain itself; but in the midst of it, we are called to look up.

Why does God ask this of us?  It is because He knows that gratitude is the key to our spiritual survival and our joy.

Here is why we should cultivate a heart of thanksgiving, even when it’s hard, and the biblical benefits that follow.

1. Gratitude is the Antidote to Anxiety

The most common alternative to thanksgiving is worry. When we look at our problems, they seem giant. When we look at God, our problems find their proper perspective. Paul connects gratitude directly to peace in Philippians 4:6-7:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

The Benefit: Thanksgiving acts as the bridge between our panic and God’s peace. It reminds us of God’s track record. When we thank Him for what He has done in the past, we gain the confidence to trust Him with our future.

2. Gratitude Shifts Our Gaze

Human nature is prone to a "scarcity mindset." We obsess over what we lack, what we lost, or what we are waiting for. This creates a spiritual blind spot where we miss the manna God is providing today because we are too busy worrying about tomorrow.

Psalm 107:1 reminds us: "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

The Benefit: Gratitude forces our eyes off the immediate obstacle and onto the Eternal Provider. It reframes our narrative from one of victimhood to one of victory in Christ. It doesn't deny the reality of pain, but it declares the greater reality of God’s presence.

3. Gratitude is the Gateway to God’s Presence

Have you ever noticed how complaining creates distance, while gratitude creates intimacy? Psalm 100:4 gives us the protocol for approaching God:

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."

The Benefit: Thanksgiving is the key that unlocks the door to intimacy with the Father. When we are stuck in a spiritual rut, feeling dry or distant from God, gratitude is often the way back. It aligns our heart with Heaven.

4. It Displaces Entitlement and Envy

We live in a culture of comparison. We scroll through social media and wonder why our lives don't look like the highlight reels of others. This breeds envy and bitterness. A thankful heart, however, is a content heart.

Hebrews 13:5 says, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"

The Benefit: You cannot be simultaneously envious and truly grateful. Gratitude acts as a shield against bitterness. It helps us steward our own blessings rather than coveting our neighbor's.

How to Start Today

Giving thanks in "all circumstances" is a muscle that must be exercised. If you are going through a difficult season right now, start small.

• Start with the basics: The breath in your lungs, the sunrise, the access to God’s Word.

• Keep a "Ebenezer" Journal: Samuel set up a stone to remember God's help (1 Samuel 7:12). Keep a journal of answered prayers so you can look back when times are tough.

• Pray the Scripture: Use the Psalms (like Psalm 103) to guide your prayer when you can't find your own words.

Gratitude changes us. It may not immediately change the storm happening outside, but it changes the heart of the person walking through it.