How to be grateful when everything falls apart?

In the midst of deep pain thank God with your words even before you feel it in your heart. Dr. Charles Stanley

In the midst of deep pain thank God with your words even before you feel it in your heart.

Dr. Charles Stanley

It's easier to feel grateful when you are at the peak of your success, when you have answers to your questions, and when everything is going your way. But to be thankful amid adversity takes courage, patience, and faith. How can you be hopeful when you are in a hopeless situation? How can you be grateful when you are experiencing drought and emptiness? How can you be faithful when everything falls apart?

Focusing on Jesus Christ rather than our circumstances will keep us continually aware that we are walking in His presence, even if we don't understand. Whatever God allows in our life, He promises to turn it for good and promises to be with us and enable us, not to explain everything. Thus, we need to take a leap of faith and trust His heart. God is too wise to be mistaken, and He will give us overwhelming peace that comes from our intimate relationship with Him.


Look to Jesus, and focus on Him rather than the circumstances. I know how painful it is, how lonesome it is, how tiring it is, and how discouraging life is at times. Thus, we need Jesus every moment, we need His Word. The Bible reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18-23, "to give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

Sometimes, it is God's way to draw us closer to Him and trust Him fully because He is able. Surely, the one who calls us is faithful and He will do it. It may be painful to let go of the plans and dreams we used to have, the things we thought were good for us, and our desires, but His ways are better than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Sometimes, God destroys our plans because He knows they will destroy us. Sometimes, God breaks us so He can complete us. Sometimes, God seems so distant so we can seek Him. Sometimes, God allows pain so He can heal us. Sometimes, God removes everything so we realize He's the only One we desperately need the most. Sometimes, He rips our dreams and plans because His dreams are better and bigger. And you will thank Him even if it doesn't make sense yet.

I was reading the book of Jeremiah yesterday and came across a passage that really resonated with me. In Jeremiah 29:10-13, it says, "This is what the Lord says: 'When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord, 'and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,' declares the Lord, 'and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.'"

These words were written by Jeremiah in a letter to the Babylonian captives. It's amazing to think about how difficult it must have been for them to believe these words while enduring captivity and hardship. Jeremiah had previously advised them to build houses, start families, and live peacefully in Babylon until the end of the seventy years. However, the Lord assured them that He would bring them back to their own land in due time.

As I reflected on these verses, I was reminded once again that God's intentions for His children are not to harm, but to prosper and give us hope and a future. It's a powerful message of faith and perseverance, even in the most challenging circumstances.

Maybe you're like me at times, pleading with God for hints and answers as we pursue His path and His ways, but most of the time it's hazy and uncertain. But I assure you, His Word is more than enough, and it's far better to trust His heart. Even though we don't know what's next, we can still rejoice in the Lord and praise Him if we take one small step of faith each day, persevere, and surrender until He makes it clear.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

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