Gratitude has a way of changing how we see everything. It’s not just saying “thank you” when something goes right—it’s learning to recognize God’s goodness even when life feels heavy.
When I think about gratitude, I don’t picture an ideal life. I think about my own. Living with spina bifida comes with daily challenges that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Some days are frustrating. Some days are humbling. But in the middle of all of it, I’m grateful that I can walk. That may sound simple, but it’s something I don’t take for granted. It reminds me that even what seems ordinary to someone else is a gift to me. And it keeps me dependent on the Lord. My weakness has a way of pulling me back to his strength.
Gratitude shifts our focus. When I stop to actually list what I’m thankful for, it pulls me out of my head and reminds me of how present God really is. I’m grateful for my boss—he’s a good man who treats people with kindness. I’m grateful for a close friend who recently helped me talk through some hard things. And I’m grateful for Jesus, who doesn’t just offer comfort when life is tough, but who walks with me in it.
When Paul wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18), he wasn’t saying to fake it or pretend everything’s fine. He was pointing to a deeper kind of gratitude—the kind that grows from trust. Gratitude doesn’t erase pain, but it keeps pain from becoming the only thing we see.
Sometimes gratitude starts small. It’s noticing the warmth of sunlight, or the sound of laughter, or the way God provides people at just the right time. It’s choosing to see the good, even when the bad is loud. And the more I practice it, the more I realize gratitude isn’t just a response to blessings, it’s a doorway into peace.
Philippians 4 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” That little phrase “with thanksgiving” matters. It reminds me that gratitude belongs in every conversation with God, not because life is easy, but because he’s faithful.
When I look back, I can see how gratitude has softened me. It’s kept me from cynicism and helped me notice grace where I used to see only frustration. Gratitude doesn’t change my circumstances, but it changes the way I move through them. And maybe that’s the real power of it—it reminds me that God is near, that my story isn’t wasted, and that even on hard days, there’s still something worth thanking him for.
Reflection: Take a few minutes today to thank God for three specific things. Write them down, and let that small act become a reminder of his faithfulness.
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