We often count our blessings by naming only the enjoyable gifts God’s given us. But what about the unexpected job loss that deepened our dependence on him for significance and security? Or the wait for test results that taught us to trust his wisdom and timing? Or the strained relationship that exposed our need for grace and patience? How do we count our blessings when grief, a financial crisis, or a devastating diagnosis claims a seat at our Thanksgiving table? I’ve faced each of these. Maybe you have too. Such unwelcome guests challenge how we define blessing.
We often associate God’s generosity with favorable circumstances—good health, financial security, loving relationships. But when adversity overshadows those gifts, do we assume God has withdrawn his kindness? What if some of his most significant blessings emerge not from what he gives us but from what he accomplishes within us through experiences we’d rather avoid?
When Blessings Don’t Look Like Blessings
I don’t know anyone who welcomes hardship. Our natural response is to seek relief, pray for deliverance, or question why God allows pain. If given a choice, many of us would choose rescue over spiritual growth. Yet Paul reminds us:
In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. (Romans 8:28–29 NIV)
Paul doesn’t say everything that happens to us is good or that every painful experience will produce a happy ending. Instead, verse 29 names the “good” God accomplishes—those who love/obey (John 14:15) Jesus become more like him.
God can use our unwelcome experiences to open our eyes. A disappointment may expose our reluctance to surrender our plans. A difficult relationship may reveal resentment we refuse to confront. An uncertain future may uncover how much we depend on our ability to control the unknown. None of those discoveries feels pleasant, yet each offers an opportunity to recognize our need for God’s transforming grace.
The trials themselves aren’t blessings, but the perseverance and maturity God develops through them give us reasons to give thanks.
Choosing Gratitude When Life Hurts
Even when we recognize God’s purposes, a grateful heart may seem impossible. How can we give thanks when we don’t feel thankful?
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NIV)
Paul doesn’t command us to celebrate suffering or manufacture cheerful emotions. Instead, he calls us to rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances because God’s will for us is a thankful heart.
When anxiety threatens our peace, we can bring our fears and frustrations to the Lord. We can pray for healing while thanking him for his care. We can acknowledge uncertainty while remembering his faithfulness. Biblical gratitude never denies our misery but expresses confidence in God’s goodness despite our pain.
How can we maintain that confidence when we see no evidence of God’s activity? Focusing on who God is rather than what I can see him doing helps me.
Three Reasons to Give Thanks in Every Circumstance
Our lives may change overnight, but God’s character remains constant. Three of God’s biblical names and titles remind us why we can trust him even when life doesn’t go as planned.
El Roi: The God Who Sees Us
Pregnant, mistreated, and fleeing into the wilderness, Hagar encountered God far from home. Despite Sarah’s treating her as insignificant, the Lord saw her distress and spoke to her. She called him “El Roi, the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13).
We, too, may feel invisible when people don’t see the suffering we carry. Maybe they offer simple answers instead of a listening heart, or they assume we’re coping and don’t need help because we appear strong. Yet God knows the fears we hesitate to voice and the tears we shed when no one watches. We can give thanks that our anguish never escapes God’s notice. He is El Roi, the God who sees and hears us.
El Shaddai: God Almighty
Abraham was ninety-nine years old when God identified himself as “El Shaddai,” which most scholars translate as “God Almighty” (Genesis 17:1). God promised the patriarch descendants as numerous as the stars, even though fulfillment seemed impossible because of his and Sarah’s ages.
Our limitations never limit God. We may lack the strength to endure another defeat, the wisdom to navigate a tough decision, or the resources to resolve a financial crisis. We can thank God not because we’re strong enough to handle every challenge but because his grace sustains us in our weakness. He is El Shaddai, the God who is everything we need.
Immanuel: God with Us
Matthew identified Jesus as “Immanuel, God with us,” the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14). Nevertheless, God’s presence doesn’t guarantee freedom from tribulation.
When the future frightens us, and the present feels unbearable, we can thank Immanuel for his comforting, strengthening, and wise presence. He is Immanuel, the God who is always present with us.
Counting Blessings That Last Beyond Thanksgiving
Recognizing God’s work in adversity doesn’t guarantee spiritual advancement. Hardship can deepen our dependence on the Lord but can also fuel bitterness or self-reliance. We may never understand why God allows certain difficulties. Still, we choose how we respond. We can’t transform ourselves through determination alone, yet we can cooperate with God’s work by choosing his ways over ours.
This Thanksgiving, let’s count the familiar blessings, but let’s also consider how God has used life’s challenges to change us. How they’ve increased our trust in him, deepened our compassion for others, or exposed attitudes that need his transforming grace. Those are also gifts worth counting.
The greatest reason for our thanksgiving isn’t the number of blessings we can count but the God we can count on.
Counting Your Blessings: What Are You Missing? by @NancyLucenay on NancyLucenay.com Share on XJoin the Conversation
What have you learned about staying thankful when life is hard? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments box at the bottom of the page.
