Do you find it challenging to maintain a grateful heart in the midst of the unexpected? If so, you are not alone. Gratitude can be tough to practice, even during ordinary times. And we know life sometimes is far from usual. Yet, living without appreciation will only make our circumstances harder to endure.
At first, it may seem impractical, even impossible, and downright ridiculous to think we will find a bounty of blessings in the middle of uncertainty and darkness. However, they are there! Finding them begins with a choice—a decision to see what’s good despite the hard. Before we dive into cultivating an attitude of gratitude, let’s pause to acknowledge the pain we may be carrying.
Facing Pain Without Hiding
Gratitude isn’t about ignoring or covering up our pain. Have you ever tried to push through challenges by simply “naming your blessings” while bottling up the hurt? It may bring temporary relief, but genuine gratitude requires something deeper. Acknowledging hardship and seeing our blessings invites healing and peace.
A Grateful Heart is Helpful
Gratitude has been a tool I find extremely helpful in carrying me through dark days. Honestly, my thoughts go there first, driving the people around me bonkers when they want to acknowledge their pain. Aha, a superstar at gratitude. Well, maybe not.
My Struggle with Gratitude
In 2020, I plopped down in my chair, eager to create my annual “30 Days of Gratitude,” and hit an emotional wall. Instead of thankfulness flowing naturally, a fresh wave of grief and unmet expectations overwhelmed me.
To my surprise, the harder I tried to muster up a little gratitude, the further I moved away from a grateful heart. The clock kept ticking, and the deadline was looming. I wrestled for hours, trying to get words on paper, yet nothing flowed. I resisted God’s gentle nudge to pause and sit with Him.
A brand-new loss seemed to poke at my heart. Of course, I tried to rationalize the sorrow away and get on with my gratitude. But instead, it ushered in thoughts of many unmet expectations and losses from my lifetime. I was nowhere near grateful but rather heavy with sorrow.
Have you ever noticed how a brand-new loss tends to trigger the pain of the previous ones? Sometimes, when this happens, we see what we lack instead of what we have, what we wanted and didn’t receive—the unfairness of life. We can try to cover it with gratitude, but it’s like a Band-Aid that will fall off.
Finally, in surrender, I whispered, “Lord.”
That single word opened the floodgates— my eyes immediately filled to overflowing as the teardrops dropped one by one onto my desk. Then, with intensity, my voice cried out,
“Lord, this life is not what I expected. I’m tired, and quite honestly, I don’t want any more pain. My heart aches for the losses, plans that didn’t come to fruition, and the pain I see all around me. I wanted something different for me and those I love, yet it appears impossible.”
Back to a Grateful Heart
I shared my pain in that sacred moment, and Jesus met me with His comforting presence. Slowly, my heart softened, and I glanced out the window to the majestic scenery before my eyes and whispered – “Thank you, Lord.” My feet took me closer to the window, not wanting to miss a thing. My eyes darted up and down the street. The wind blew the beautiful yellow, orange, and purple leaves down the road. It was like they were dancing before my eyes— a reminder that God is in the details even when life feels messy. He will do the same for you. Do you struggle to express your pain to the Lord?
We must remember that hardships and blessings can exist simultaneously – one will not cancel the other out. #Embracing30DaysofGratitude #GratitudeWithMareeDee Share on XLet Go with God
Removing our armor with God and letting it out with the one who truly understands is essential. After all, Jesus walked this earth, and He understands our pain.
Let’s give Jesus our hearts. After all, He understands our unexpected circumstances. And when we include the Lord, we are not alone, and He will comfort us.
Embracing gratitude will not wipe away the pain or frustration; however, life is a little sweeter and easier to endure when we acknowledge the pain and the blessings together. #Embracing30DaysofGratitude #GratitudeWith MareeDee Share on XWhy Gratitude Matters
Choosing a grateful heart won’t erase the pain; however, a gratitude practice is crucial to persevering well amid the unexpected. Gratitude has countless benefits that make it worth pursuing.
Here Are Ten Reasons to Embrace Gratitude:
- Grateful People Are Happier People
- Boosts Physical Wellbeing
- Improves Emotional Health
- Enhances Relationships
- Fosters Contentment
- Supports Recovery
- Helps Us to Embrace the Wait
- Increases Hope
- Life Becomes More Meaningful
- Deepens Our Bond with God
For a detailed explanation of each benefit, please read my post 10 Powerful Reasons to Embrace Gratitude, Even in Tough Times.
How to Cultivate a Grateful Heart
Building a habit of gratitude takes intentionality. Here are six steps to help you get started:
- Begin with Jesus: Start each day by inviting Him into your heart and sharing your burdens.
- Live in the Moment: Notice the beauty in small, everyday moments.
- Be a “Gratitude Seeker”: Actively look for blessings, even during challenges.
- Join Our 30-Day Challenge: Participate in Unlock a Grateful Heart to grow in gratitude alongside others.
- Journal Your Blessings: Write down what you’re grateful for, even in the midst of trials.
- Reflect on God’s Faithfulness: Recall how He’s carried you through past difficulties.
—Maree Dee
Choosing gratitude is intentional.
It’s not something that happens accidentally.
For more detailed tips, check out my post How to Embrace Gratitude in the Midst of the Unexpected.
My Prayer for You
Gratitude and God’s Comfort
We can maintain a grateful heart in the midst of the unexpected. All we have to do is choose thankfulness. Remember, gratitude will not cancel out the pain but will remind us of God’s faithfulness amid the hardship. Jesus will meet us with love, comfort, and strength when we take our pain to Him.
As we choose gratitude, we discover that blessings and hardships can coexist, even in the exact moment. The pain may not disappear, but life becomes sweeter and more bearable when we open our hearts to God’s goodness.
What’s your secret to maintaining a grateful heart when life takes an unexpected turn? Will you join us this November for 30 days of gratitude and discover the beauty of a thankful heart together??
Embracing 30 Days of Gratitude
Discover how unlocking the power of thankfulness can help draw you closer to God and bring more joy into your life! Our 30-day gratitude workbook includes daily gratitude prompts, scriptures/quotes, and a place to record your thoughts. Our journal will be available free in November.
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Join our community of writers and readers at our Grace & Truth Christian Blog Link-Up as we uplift and inspire one another. #graceandtruth #graceandtruthbloglinkup #christianbloglinkup Share on X
I love this so much because it’s so honest and real. It’s not always easy to muster up gratitude–especially in the middle of or on the heels of loss, sorrow, change, or grief. Great reminders, friend!
Thank you, Kristen, for your encouraging comment. No, it isn’t easy, but it is so rewarding when we muster up that gratitude. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and your book sales are going well. Maree
It was good to read this again Maree & I agree with your following statement;
“As we choose gratitude, we discover that blessings and hardships can coexist, even in the exact moment. The pain may not disappear, but life becomes sweeter and more bearable when we open our hearts to God’s goodness.”
I remember when my late husband had just had brain surgery (to remove most of the Brain Tumour) & as I crossed the road walking to the hospital the following thought suddenly struck me;
‘even in this devastating time, when the biopsy results had shown the worst news possible, I could be grateful that God was with us carrying us through this Valley of the Shadow of Death.’ And He did!
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family this week.
Blessings, Jennifer
Thank you for sharing your story; it warmed my heart. We can be so grateful that we are not alone. I’m glad you turned to God.
Jennifer, do you celebrate Thanksgiving or a similar holiday? Yes, mine was great—I spent time with my two grandbabies.
Thank you Maree. No we don’t have a Thanksgiving Day here in Australia & there’s nothing similar, which is unfortunate.
We only have the main holiday celebrations at Christmas, Easter, Anzac Day (similar to your Veterans Day) & Australia Day. And of course Mother’s & Father’s Days although they aren’t holidays per se.
We do celebrate the Queen’s birthday which is a holiday now the King’s of course.
Your time with your grandbabies sounded like a wonderful way to spend your Thanksgiving. ☺️
Thank you for sharing your celebrations with me. I enjoyed learning about what you celebrate.