Gratitude in the Hard Seasons: Giving Thanks When It’s Not Easy
Learning to See God’s Goodness When Life Hurts
When Gratitude Feels Impossible
There are moments when “give thanks” feels like a command you simply don’t have the strength to obey.
Some seasons make gratitude feel unnatural.
Some seasons make it feel unfair.
And some seasons make it feel downright impossible.
If you’ve ever stepped into a holiday season with an aching heart, an empty chair at the table, or a silent question lingering between you and God… then you already understand what gratitude in the hard seasons really means. It’s not passive and it’s not denial. It’s not about pretending everything is fine.
Gratitude in the hard seasons is courage.
- It’s a choice to trust God in the dark.
- It’s defiance against despair.
- It’s worship in its rawest form.
And I’ve walked that road myself.
Gratitude Isn’t a Feeling — It’s a Choice
One of Scripture’s most challenging verses says it plainly:
“Be thankful in all circumstances…” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NLT)
God doesn’t ask us to be thankful for the pain.
He asks us to be thankful in the pain.
That distinction matters.
Gratitude isn’t an emotion that magically appears when circumstances improve.
It’s a decision — sometimes whispered through tears — to anchor your heart in the truth that God’s goodness has not changed, even when your world has.
That truth carried me through one of the hardest seasons of my life.
When the Holidays Hurt
Last year was my first Thanksgiving and Christmas without Wendy — my wife of 33 years.
She adored the holidays.
She loved decorating, creating beauty, hosting people, and filling our home with warmth. Hospitality wasn’t just something she did. It was one of her spiritual gifts.
Every inch of the house felt like her signature.
Every tradition felt like her love poured out.
Our home during the holidays wasn’t just festive — it was her.
So when Thanksgiving arrived without her… gratitude felt like a mountain.
Mix in that our anniversary is November 29, and the season wasn’t just hard — it was tender, painful, and full of reminders.
I cried and I asked God “Why?” more than once.
I sat in quiet rooms that used to echo with her laughter.
But in that tear-filled quiet, something unexpected grew:
Gratitude.
Not loud gratitude.
Not cheerful gratitude.
But deep gratitude — the kind that aches and heals at the same time.
I became grateful for the memories she created, the joy she carried, the love she gave her family, and the 33 years God allowed me to share with her.
Grief and gratitude held hands in the same room.
And God brought new gifts into my life — Khloe, Maizon, and Owen — kids who became constant reminders that purpose still existed, love still mattered, and joy wasn’t finished with me yet.
They were, and still are, my little angels.
God’s provision in a season that felt empty.
Gratitude in the Hard Seasons Doesn’t Erase Pain — It Transforms It
Gratitude does not mean pretending the pain isn’t real.
It means choosing to see God through the pain.
Tears and thanksgiving can coexist.
Sorrow and praise can live in the same heart.
Jesus proved this. On the night before the cross — knowing betrayal and suffering were coming — He took bread and gave thanks (Luke 22:19).
That wasn’t sentiment.
That was surrender.
And it is the posture God invites us into when life hurts.
What Gratitude Looks Like in the Hard Seasons
Gratitude in the hard seasons is quieter and humbler. It often sounds like:
- “Thank You for getting me through this day.”
- “Thank You for the memories I cherish.”
- “Thank You for people who walk with me.”
- “Thank You that You haven’t left me.”
It is gratitude boiled down to its purest form:
Not thanking God for the pain—
but thanking Him that He is present in it.
Practical Ways to Practice Gratitude When Life Hurts
Speak one small gratitude each day.
You don’t need ten. Just one.
Write down how God sustained you today.
Small mercies matter most when life is heavy.
Be honest with God.
Tears are a kind of worship.
Lean on community.
Sometimes their gratitude carries you.
Revisit God’s past faithfulness (Psalm 77:11–12).
Your memory is one of your greatest spiritual weapons.
Root your gratitude in God’s character.
Circumstances shift.
God does not.
An Illustration: A Candle in the Long Night
Imagine standing in a dark room where you can’t see anything familiar. The shadows feel thick, the silence feels heavy, and you’re unsure how to move forward.
Then someone hands you a candle.
The candle doesn’t remove the darkness.
It doesn’t eliminate the pain.
It doesn’t restore what was lost.
But it changes what you can see.
It changes how you move.
It gives you just enough light to take the next step.
Gratitude in the hard seasons is that candle.
It doesn’t erase the grief.
It simply gives you enough grace to keep going — and enough hope to believe that dawn is coming.
A Closing Prayer
Lord,
When the season is heavy, strengthen us.
When gratitude feels impossible, soften our hearts.
Help us see Your goodness in the shadows and Your nearness in the ache.
Teach us to practice gratitude in the hard seasons — not as denial, but as trust.
Thank You for being faithful, even here.
Amen.
A Final Encouragement
- You can miss someone deeply and still thank God for the years you had.
- You can walk through sorrow and still experience joy.
- You can grieve and still be grateful.
That kind of gratitude is worship — and God honors it.
Want More Encouragement?
Follow and like our Facebook page @discipleblueprint for more biblical guidance and heartfelt encouragement.
You can also read our other blogs at https://www.discipleblueprint.com/blog-2.
And explore my books designed to inspire and strengthen your walk with God at discipleblueprintpress.com.
