Week 1: Choosing Gratitude in the Middle of the Mess
Sometimes I need to pause and remind myself: gratitude is not just for the good days. It’s not something we practice only when everything feels peaceful and easy. In fact, it’s often most powerful when life feels overwhelming—when it’s messy, heavy, and uncertain.
Lately, I’ve been feeling distracted and weighed down. The mental to-do list never ends, emotions hit at odd times, and grief still shows up, even after all these years. Sometimes it’s loud. Sometimes it’s just a dull ache that never really leaves. And when I’m in that place, gratitude is not my default response. I’m more likely to spiral into frustration or discouragement than pause and say, “Thank You, God.”
But I want to choose gratitude again. I need to. Not because everything is perfect, but because it reminds me of who God is, even when life is not what I would have chosen.
Gratitude shifts my perspective. It opens my heart to notice what is still good. It doesn’t erase the pain, but it gives me the strength to live in the tension of both joy and sorrow. It reminds me that God is still working, still providing, still present.
I love how Paul puts it so simply in 1 Thessalonians 5:18:
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Not for all circumstances—but in them. That’s a big difference.
Gratitude doesn’t ignore pain—it sees God within the pain. It acknowledges the hard while still choosing to see the blessings we might otherwise miss.
So, this August, I’m challenging myself—and inviting you—to refocus. To return to gratitude as a daily habit. Not just for the big things, but for the small mercies: a kind word, a quiet moment, the strength to keep going.
This month we’ll look at specific areas where gratitude can take root in our lives, even in places where sorrow still lingers. But today, we begin here—with the choice to start.
Call to Action:
Pause for a few quiet minutes. Write down three things you're grateful for today, even if they’re small or simple. If they’re hard to find, ask God to help you see them. Let gratitude shift your heart today.
💜 If you’re walking through grief and need a quiet place to process, Hope in the Mourning was created for you. This 30-day journal includes scripture, gentle prompts, and space to reflect, write, and breathe. It’s not about fixing the pain—but giving you a way to meet God in it, one day at a time. You don’t have to grieve alone.
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