By: Melissa Bell
There was a season when I woke up every day feeling overwhelmed and stuck, like nothing was changing and the heaviness was winning. I prayed, worshiped, tried everything I knew—and still felt buried.
Then I read these words in 1 Thessalonians 5: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.” That phrase—give thanks in all circumstances—stopped me. I remember thinking,
“Lord, how am I supposed to give thanks for this?”
But slowly, God began to shift my heart. My prayer became, “God, I don’t understand this season, but I trust You. Thank You for being with me. Thank You for holding me up. Thank You that Your promises still stand.”
Gratitude didn’t change my circumstances overnight, but it changed me. It anchored me in His presence instead of my fear.
Gratitude isn’t pretending life is easy. It’s choosing—sometimes with trembling hands—to trust God right in the middle of the hard.
Over time, I’ve learned a few simple practices that help me stay grounded in God’s truth:
- Morning gratitude list — Before my feet hit the floor, I name three things I’m grateful for. Even on the rough mornings, it reorients my heart.
- Walk with God — I walk, pray, sing (sorry neighbors), and pay attention to God’s creation. James 4:8 reminds us: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
- Stay in Scripture — God’s Word is alive and steadying. When I don’t know where to start, I read the Psalms and highlight every glimpse of God’s character.
- Journal the journey — My journals hold decades of God’s faithfulness. Writing helps me bring buried thoughts into the light.
- Declare God’s promises — Nights can be the hardest for me, so I keep Scripture beside my bed. Psalm 4:8 has carried me through many anxious hours, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Even on the hardest days, we have so much to be grateful for—not because life is perfect, but because God is present.
Wherever you find yourself today, I pray you experience the steady, perfect peace of His presence.
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