Gratitude and Praise: Seeing God’s Goodness in All Seasons

Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:25–26 (NLT)

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.”

A parchment-textured background with the bold words “COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS” in large serif font, and the chorus of the hymn below in italicized script. — “Count your blessings, name them one by one…” A timeless reminder to see God’s goodness in every detail.

Gratitude When It Doesn’t Make Sense

Gratitude is easy when life is going the way we want. When prayers are answered the way we hoped, when the bills are paid, when our health is good, and when the future feels secure—praise flows naturally. But what about when life takes a turn we never expected?

In Matthew 11, Jesus is facing rejection. Entire towns had witnessed His miracles and still refused to believe. Instead of letting frustration take the spotlight, He begins His prayer with thanks. He thanks the Father—not because the circumstances were easy, but because He trusted the Father’s wisdom and plan.

Gratitude, in Jesus’ example, isn’t a reaction to good circumstances. It’s a declaration of trust.

A snowy view through a frosted window showing a church steeple, bare trees, and a small building during a blizzard, with overlaid text reading “Hope in the midst of a Buffalo blizzard.” — Finding hope when the storm rages the fiercest.

Gratitude as a Spiritual Weapon

Gratitude has a way of disarming the enemy’s lies. It shifts our focus from what’s wrong to what’s true.

It softens the heart. Thanksgiving keeps us from growing bitter.
It redirects the mind. Praise takes our attention off the problem and places it on the Problem-Solver.
It strengthens faith. When we remember what God has already done, we find confidence that He will continue to work.

Scripture reminds us:

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
“I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.” (Psalm 34:1)

A father with dark wavy hair and a beard holds his smiling young daughter close, both with eyes closed, with the text “CHILDLIKE FAITH – Praise like a kid, trust like a child.” — Childlike faith means trusting God with the same joy and innocence as a child trusts their parent.

A Personal Story in the Snow

I remember one of the hardest seasons of my life. Wendy was in the hospital in Buffalo, and we had just learned the devastating news—it was stage IV pancreatic cancer, and there really weren’t any treatment options.

We had arrived just before four feet of snow hit the city. I stayed in the hotel connected to the hospital, staring out the window at the swirling white. The weight of the news was crushing. Unless God performed a real miracle, our time together on this earth was coming to an end far sooner than we’d ever imagined.

As I sat in that hotel room, I turned to Philippians 4, a familiar place in times of trouble. Verse 4 read:

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”

Honestly, my first thought was, What is there to rejoice about? But I kept reading. Verse 6 caught my attention:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

It wasn’t exactly what I wanted to hear in that moment. How could I rejoice and be thankful right now?

Then something happened. God began flooding my mind with memories—33 years of laughter, adventures, challenges overcome, and countless moments of love. I realized how blessed I was to call Wendy my wife. Then hope entered my heart. I thought about eternity and how, in the grand scope of forever, we’d only be apart for a brief time before spending eternity together.

Suddenly, I could rejoice. I did have reasons to be thankful. Even in a dark, uncertain time, gratitude gave me strength.

A glass gratitude jar with a gold lid, labeled “GRATITUDE,” sits on a wooden surface, filled with folded paper slips. White text reads, “GRATITUDE JAR – Praising God is good for the soul,” with soft candlelight in the background. — Gratitude Jar – Praising God is good for the soul.

Count Your Blessings

There’s an old hymn that says:

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

It’s not just a sweet song—it’s a spiritual practice. Sometimes, the only way to find joy in the middle of heartache is to take inventory of God’s goodness.

A countryside path at sunset with the Bible verse 1 Thessalonians 5:18 in elegant white text reading, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — Gratitude isn’t for the easy days—it’s for every day.

Practical Ways to Practice Gratitude and Praise

Keep a gratitude journal – Write down three blessings each night.
Praise out loud – Sing, read Psalms, or pray your thanks.
Share gratitude with others – Tell someone how they’ve blessed your life.
Follow Jesus’ example – Thank God even before you see the breakthrough.

A digital image features a star-filled night sky with a colorful nebula in shades of blue, purple, and pink, overlaid with the text “KEEP ONE EYE ON ETERNITY” and the smaller phrase “The story isn’t over yet.” — Keep your heart fixed on what lasts forever—the story isn’t over yet.

Conclusion – Praise Before Provision

Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 11 teaches us that gratitude isn’t reserved for after the miracle—it often comes before. It’s a choice we make to acknowledge God’s goodness and trust His plan, even when the outcome is uncertain.

If you’re in a season where gratitude feels impossible, take a deep breath and start counting your blessings. You may be surprised at how your heart begins to change.

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📚 Want to Go Deeper?

Check out my books:

The Greater the Love, The Deeper the Grief – finding hope after loss
Confessions of a Pray-er to Be Named Later – growing a life of prayer

Available now on Disciple Blueprint Press.

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