How many of you have ever sat with your head in your hands and thought, “I just can’t do this?” Maybe it was a tough season, or maybe it was just a tough Tuesday. I get it. Let me tell you, choosing gratitude in hardship is not just a catchy phrase we toss around when things are going well. It’s a real practice that sometimes feels more like a battle than a blessing. But friend, it changes everything.
Can I tell you something? Gratitude is easy on the good days, but gratitude practices for healing can sustain Christian women during difficult seasons. But I’ve learned firsthand that the real change happens when we decide to be thankful right in the middle of the mess, spiritual rebuilding after setbacks. In our recent podcast episode, Alana and I talked about those moments when life hits hard and gratitude seems out of reach, and finding God in hard times can carry us through. What do we do then?
Why Choosing Gratitude in Hardship Matters More Than Ever
Here’s the thing. Life isn’t always smooth, and building authentic Christian community during adversity can help carry us through. Sometimes it’s the loss you never expected, a relationship that breaks, or a prayer that goes unanswered, building authentic Christian community during adversity can help carry us through. It re-positions our hearts. It moves us from asking why to seeing the ways God is still present, still good, still writing our story.
I remember a season when I felt like nothing was going right—if you’ve been there, you know the weight, and finding faith after loss can help you rediscover God's presence. I had to remind myself, even while my heart was hurting, that thankfulness is more than a feeling, and growing spiritually through loss is possible. It’s a choice. And that choice brings hope, even if my circumstances don’t change overnight.
What Gratitude in Hardship Isn’t
Choosing gratitude in hardship is not pretending pain doesn’t exist. I’m not telling you to put on a fake smile and say it’s all fine. What I am saying is this: we get to acknowledge the hard and still look for something—anything—we can thank God for in that moment. Even if it’s as simple as the sunrise or a hot meal. Those little gratitudes matter more than we think.
How Our Words Shape Our Hearts Toward Thankfulness
Let me tell you, our words have power. I’ve watched this play out with my own kids. When they start listing things they’re thankful for, their attitude shifts. The same is true for us. Speaking gratitude out loud moves us away from complaint and toward contentment. It’s a simple thing, but it really works.
Try this when it feels impossible: say, “Thank you, God, for…” and fill in the blank with whatever you can. Sometimes the list is short. Sometimes it’s all you have. But those words start to steer your heart back to thankfulness, even when life feels out of control.
Choosing Gratitude Even When Answers Don’t Come
Let’s be honest. Our prayers aren’t always answered the way we want. In the podcast, Alana shared that sometimes God’s answer is, “Not this side of heaven.” That can feel so hard. But here’s what I’ve learned: God’s character doesn’t change just because my situation is rocky. I can always choose gratitude for who He is, not just what He gives. That decision holds me steady.
Practical Steps for Choosing Gratitude in Hardship Every Day
Some days, finding gratitude feels like lifting a heavy weight. But I believe these steps can help all of us put choosing gratitude in hardship into practice when life gets tough:
- Start small. Pick one thing each morning to thank God for—even if it’s just coffee in a quiet moment.
- Speak it out loud. There’s power when we move gratitude from thought to voice.
- Write it down. Keep a gratitude list and add to it, especially on the hard days.
- Share thankfulness with someone else. Text a friend or say it at dinner—let your family hear it, too.
- Pray the Scriptures. Let God’s promises shape your perspective. Try this verse: “Give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, CSB). Notice how it says in everything—not for everything. There’s grace in that.
These small choices add up over time. They change us from the inside out. And friend, they’re not just good ideas. They’re lifelines when life feels heavy.
What Happens When We Cultivate Thankfulness in Hard Seasons
You might be wondering if choosing gratitude in hardship really makes a difference. I see it shift my own heart over and over again. When I practice thankfulness, I notice pride slips away. I feel more willing to serve, to help, to keep going even when it’s tough. And I’ve watched our whole family become more content. Less striving. More peace.
This isn’t magic. It’s the fruit of faithfulness in the small things. And just like we talked about on the podcast, contentment and gratefulness are a cord that holds everything together. Even in the busy, even when things aren’t perfect at home, thankfulness grounds us in God’s goodness.
What to Do When You Feel Stuck in the Hard Place
Let’s be real. Sometimes the hard season just doesn’t lift. Maybe it’s a lost job, or a relationship that feels stuck. Here’s what I’ve found: choosing gratitude in hardship is still a choice, even when my feelings don’t line up right away. I have to purpose my words first and let my heart catch up.
If that feels fake to you, I get it. But the more I practice it, the more I see God meet me there. Sometimes the gratitude is for something small. Sometimes it’s for a lesson I learned. Other times it’s just thanking God that He’s with me, right in it.
Let Gratitude Change Your Community
I’ve seen how a thankful heart affects more than just me. Gratitude is contagious. When we stop complaining and start being thankful, it lifts the atmosphere at home and at work. I think about my own circle. When someone starts talking about what they’re grateful for, it shifts the mood for everyone. Choosing gratitude in hardship isn’t just about me—it has ripple effects for our whole community.
And can I encourage you? Keep company with people who practice thankfulness. We shape each other. Our voices matter, especially when life gets heavy. Let’s use them to point out God’s goodness, even when we’re still waiting for breakthrough.
How Contentment and Gratitude Go Hand in Hand
I know a lot of us struggle with contentment. Culture says chase more, push harder, never settle. But God’s word leads us to a different way. Gratitude and contentment are not about giving up on hope for the future. They are about being thankful for this moment—even when it’s messy or incomplete.
I remember a morning when all I could bring to God was, “Thank you for breath in my lungs.” That was enough to open my heart a little more, even on a hard day. Sometimes we forget that gratitude isn’t just for the days when everything lines up. It’s for the days we’re questioning, the days we’re waiting, and the days that feel in-between.
Choosing Thankfulness Is a Process, Not Perfection
Let’s make this practical. Here are a few takeaways you can use today, just like we shared in the recent episode:
- Don’t minimize your hard season, but don’t let it have the last word.
- Ask God to help you see the small blessings hiding in every day.
- Practice gratitude out loud, even if it feels awkward at first.
- Teach your family (or your friends) to notice and speak out what they’re thankful for.
- Celebrate the little wins. They add up to bigger victories over time.
You and I, we’re not alone in this. Even Jesus had moments where He asked for another way. Yet He chose gratitude and trust, even in the hardest hour. We get to follow that example, not out of obligation, but because it transforms us and those around us.
Next Steps: Putting Gratitude Into Practice Today
If you’re in a hard place right now, start here. Name one thing you can be thankful for today. Maybe write it on a sticky note. Maybe send a text to a friend. Let that small act be your first step toward a thankful heart. Because choosing gratitude in hardship is something we do one moment at a time.
I hope our conversation on the podcast encouraged you. These stories remind me—and I hope they remind you—that faithfulness isn’t about having stellar days. It’s about showing up and saying, “God, I thank you for who you are, right in the sticky middle.”
If you want more stories like this or practical ways to put faith into action, go listen to the full episode "Transforming Pain into Perspective: The Power of Gratitude." Let’s keep reminding each other that even the smallest shift in perspective can lead to big, beautiful changes. You are never alone, friend. God sees you. And there is always something to be grateful for, even on the hardest days.
