Believe it or not, God’s goodness is not dependent on life’s circumstances. His goodness is constant, unchanging and predicable even (and especially) when life is not.
I started learning this lesson a few weeks ago when I sensed God’s protection during a scary situation. It left me wondering if the worse really did happen, would I still think God was good?
Well, guess what?
This week the worse happened.
And I struggled. I continue to struggle.
I mean, how can I give God thanks in the midst of pain?
Does God deserve my gratitude when He allowed this awful thing to happen?
Could I really give thanks in ALL circumstances?
Are you sure God?
“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. – Isaiah 55:8
As we approach Thanksgiving week and the end of our #GratefulHeart series, I am daring to venture into the uncomfortable. Not because I want to (I wouldn’t wish this on anyone) but because this is where God is leading me and as His child, I follow, albeit tentatively.
How do you give God thanks when you think He doesn’t deserve it?
I see the shock on your face.
This is not easy. Neither is it neat and tidy.
When Lori and I planned this series, this was not a topic on our schedule. Far from it. We had every intention of encouraging you to cultivate a grateful heart with lessons we learned along the way. We just never saw this lesson coming.
But God had other plans. I dare say He had greater plans.
Because what is gratitude worth if it is only for the good times?
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Isn’t the real test how we show appreciation in the midst of the storm?
I’ll be the first to say that I wished this storm never came, but it did. And God has lessons tucked away and truths hidden in it that are beyond me. He might yet make them clear, though I don’t know when or if.
But here’s what I know to be true:
God is still good when bad things happen
God still deserves my praise
God still deserves my thanks
So as we wrap up this series, I share with you some of the verses that have brought me comfort and hope during a very challenging time. These verses have inspired me to keep looking up and to give God thanks even as the storm continues to swirl and wreak havoc on my soul.
Yes, it is possible to thank God in the heart of the storm. It doesn’t make the storm go away but with our eyes on God, we have hope that we will make it through. Not on our own strength but on His.
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. – 2 Chronicles 20:12
So here I offer you the hope that I found when I fixed my eyes on Jesus and His Word. I pray that these verses inspire you to be grateful in all circumstances. The good, the bad and the in between. God deserves it!
Get a free resource to inspire gratitude in all circumstances.
Give Thanks in All Circumstances
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1
At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws. Psalm 119:62
I will give thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. Psalm 118:21
I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. Ephesians 1:16
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
I will give thanks to you, Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all your wondrous deeds. Psalm 9:1
I will give thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you. Psalm 35:18
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7
Thank you from a #GratefulHeart
We hope you’ve enjoyed the #GratefulHeart series that Lori and I put together for you. As a thank you for sticking with us, I have a special treat.
Today, I’m introducing my Thanks•Giving prayer and scripture cards. Not only do you get them for free, but you also get a set of note cards to extend thanks to others.
In the Thanks•Giving gift pack you get:
- 5 prayer cards
- 5 scripture cards
and a bonus:
- 4 thank you note cards
And they’re not just for Thanksgiving either. This gift pack is perfect for all year round.
We pray that this will help set your mind on giving God thanks in all circumstances and then spread the shine of God’s love to others. Because, isn’t that what it’s all about?
By the way, if you missed Lori’s series wrap-up and her special gift, be sure to stop by and visit her.
Missed any of the Grateful Heart Mini-Series? Catch them all here:
♥ Series introductions from Lori and me.
♥ Post #1: Gratitude – How to Unlock the Power of Gratitude
♥ A Prayer for Hope When All Seems Lost
♥ A Prayer for a Grateful Heart {#MomentsofHope Linkup}
♥ 10 Practical Ways to Spark Gratitude in Your Home
♥ 10 Memorable Bible Verses for the Grateful Heart
What about you?
What’s your secret to giving thanks in all circumstances?
Are you struggling through a difficult time and wondering if God deserves your thanks? Let me reassure you that He does. Allow the free ThanksGiving gift pack to ignite your gratitude spark. Then fan the flame and share your hope with someone else. No matter our circumstances, we all could use a little extra spark.
Wishing you blessings,
Please spread the shine and share this with your friends using the share buttons below.
And if you’re looking for more encouraging and inspiring content, check out these amazing sites where I link up my weekly posts.
Thanks for sharing in the midst of your pain, Marva.
You shared some awesome scriptures but I’m a little partial to this one, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. – 2 Chronicles 20:12” Last year when I was facing a trying circumstance, I came across this passage in the bible and it was so helpful. When your back is against the wall, keep your eyes on Him!
Yes! 2 Chronicles 20:12 is one of my favourites too, Jerralea. That’s what immediately came to mind when I was speechless and wondering what God was doing. He doesn’t always make His reasons clear but I’m still reminded that He is trustworthy. I’m so glad for that hope. And I’m glad too that He got you through that very trying time.
Blessings and hugs to you for the holidays!
I needed to read this today. God is good. Life is good. Even when it seems tough.
Thank you my friend for always sharing the good over here.
That’s so true, Jen. God remains good, regardless of how life goes. I’m humbled that God would use my words to encourage you. And yes, I enjoy my visits to your #HappyNow linkup — there’s always an extra serving of smiles to go around. 🙂
I speak at women’s retreats on this topic frequently and it is truly a blessing to see that others are able to encourage people to cling to Jesus in the storms too! What glory we can give to Him when we can praise Him in the valleys! xoxo
Thank you so much, Nicki. God continues to be my comfort and hope. I’m so glad that you can share this hope with other women!
I’m so thankful for you, Marva. Thank you for these encouraging words. Yes, God is so good, even in the painful times.
Indeed He is, Dawn. So glad these words inspired you today.
Blessings to you, my friend.
((Marva)) I’m so sorry for your loss. Beautiful post, written through tears, I’m sure. Prayers for you. *hug*
You guessed correctly, Brenda. 🙂
My prayer is that others are encouraged through my own sense of loss coupled with hope.
Thanks for stopping by and encouraging me.
Marva you are so faithful and inspiring in th midst of hardship. I feel you right at Christ’s feet bringing your pain and mustard seeds of faith. We are blessed in both the easy and hard aspects of our lives because we rely on Him. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you so much, Kathy. Your words comfort me this morning.
Hugs and blessings!
Oh, how you are walking this out and giving hope to so many, Marva. I love your honesty here. I have a family member who, currently, is not in a “safe place.” Kind of dreading “that phone call.” Praying we never receive it. But your post reminds me that, no matter what, God is good and I can give Him thanks. You are so precious! And continuing to pray for you and your family. <3
It’s hard, Dianne and I imagine it is for you too as you are dreading that call. God is a great rescuer and I pray that He brings your loved one into a place of Hope. Whatever the outcome, we remember that God is still good.
Thanks for your prayers!
Such a wonderful post, and so much truth. This past June, I lost my best friend after a lifelong battle with cancer. I was never angry at God, but I found it very difficult to give thanks amidst the pain. I think sometimes, I still find it difficult. I am thankful–happy even–that she no longer suffers, but it can be hard to thank God for the loss I am facing. I try to remind myself that God is not celebrating her death either–he mourns as we mourned–he just gets to see her again sooner than us.
I’m so sorry that you lost your best friend, Tabitha and I hope that you will be blessed with beautiful memories of her as we approach the holidays. Thanks for pointing out that God mourns right along side us. I think sometimes we forget that in the midst of our pain.
Because of the Love of God in your life through this challenging time He sustained you. He will continue to keep and hold you as time passes. Thank you very much for sharing. Thank very much for shining and sparkling despite of the circumstances. You are a true Genuine CHAMPION
That’s so sweet of you to say, Tahirah. You’re right, it’s only because of God. Without Him, I don’t know how I would make it through this.
By the way, you are a true champion yourself — always with a smile on your face in spite of your challenges. Keep shining brightly!
Where do I even start, my sweet friend? Your courage … your faith … your love for Christ and for others deeply inspires me. That God would call us together in gratitude for this very time, I am humbled. I am so very thankful I get the privilege of calling you friend ♥
Hugs,
Lori
Lori, I’m almost at a loss for words. We had a plan but God had a better plan and He always knows best. Thank you so much for being a true friend and supporting me through this. I know it wasn’t easy but you are a real trooper thanks to God’s hand at work in your life.
You have blessed me so much!
Another wonderful post, Marva! Thank you for your willingness to be so transparent during such a difficult time. God is using you to encourage and inspire others to draw closer to Him in the midst of trials. Praise the Lord that you are drawing strength from His word and promises to us! Many reject hearing or reading the Word during difficult times and only increase their suffering by turning away from the only One who can give them the comfort they need. Thank you for sharing the verses that have given you strength and comfort. I’m praying for you and thanking God for you!
Thank you so much, Jerusha. I loved your post yesterday and I’m linking it here to inspire others as well: http://jerushaagen.com/how-thanksgiving-can-set-you-free-fighting-fear-with-gratitude/
I’m so glad we connected and can encourage one another in the good and in the bad.
Blessings to you!
I guess my secret to giving thanks in all circumstances would have to be learning to lean into my Savior’s love. That often looks like going to Jesus with my pain with the realization that He is experiencing the suffering with me… as well as far more than I could ever imagine. Thank-you for writing of God’s goodness in the midst of your pain. Hugs and love…
Leaning into God is such a great tip, Wendy. I remember when we both wrote on this topic about God’s goodness in the bad. I pray that you will constantly see God showing up for you in ways you don’t expect. As you walk through your own storm, I pray that you will sense Him near and that He will send help and support when you need it most. God is still good, my friend.
Thank you for continuing on in the midst of such challenging circumstances. I appreciate your faith and courage, and gratitude in the midst of pain. Love you, Lady! Keep sparkling and shining in the SON.
Thank you so much for being such a supportive friend, Sarah. Your words encourage me and add to my hope today. Hugs and blessings!
Amen, Marva. In the good and in the hard, I will praise Him because He is always worthy of my praise!
Hope you and your family have a restful week this week.
Blessings,
Melanie
That’s right, Melanie. He is worthy of our praise all the time, not just when things go the way we’d like. What a tough lesson but so worth sharing.
Thanks for your prayers, my friend.
I love the honesty of this post. Thank you!
Thank you, Pia. My words spill from a broken heart but I have hope in knowing that God can use them still for good.
Thanks for stopping by!
I have tears in my eyes as I type this. Oh Girl, you inspire me. I am humbled by the beautiful way you have continued to point us to our good good Father through a hurting heart. God bless you. You are blessing so many of us . . . I know, you bless me!
The feeling is mutual, Deb. I continue to be encouraged by your example of overcoming hurt and difficult times to get to a place where we can shout ‘God is good’ from the rooftops!
Hugs!
Thanks for all you do to spread encouragement and grace. Enjoyed this series. (Visiting today from #RaRaLinkup where we’re neighbors.)
Thanks for visiting from #RaRaLinkup today, Karlene! I’m so glad you enjoyed the series.
Thank you for your honesty and the verses. I just finished a series on my radio show about gratitude
Thanks, Kimberly. Is there a link to the show? If so, I’d love to hear it!
How I love your beautiful heart. Thanks for being real and vulnerable today. You are so loved…so loved by God and so loved by many, many others! Praying for you over all these holidays coming up! 💖
I appreciate your prayers so much, Stefani. I’m so grateful for the friendship that God has blessed us with! Thanks for lifting me up.
Such a good reminder of how our hearts can betray us and feel that God does not “deserve” to be thanked… but how false! Love this reminder of gratitude in all circumstances this week!
Thanks for putting that in perspective, Ashley. Anything that fools us into thinking that God is undeserving is a downright lie!
I appreciate you stopping by today. Hugs and blessings.