“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, . . . and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” —Psalm 50:14–15
Giving thanks sometimes requires sacrifice. Plenty of occasions exist where being thankful is the last thing you feel like doing.
Today, make a list of all the difficult things in your life. Then use it as a prompt for giving thanks. That may seem strange—or impossible! We’re not expected to thank God “for” things that are sinful. But we can give thanks “in everything,” knowing God uses all things to accomplish His purposes.
Begin to track how God is using these circumstances in your life. Perhaps they are causing you to become more dependent on Him, to call upon Him in prayer, or to exercise faith in His promises.
When we call upon our Lord “in the day of trouble,” with minds set on glorifying Him, He does marvelous things in the midst of our pain and sorrow. Thank Him by faith that He can use each of these situations as a means to display His glory.
Make it Personal
Pray over the difficult things on your list. Ask God to show you reasons you can be thankful to Him in each situation.