Six Ways to Practice Gratitude in Hard Seasons
When it’s tough, it’s hard to see the good in everything. It’s easier to focus on what we don’t have than focus on what we have. However, Jesus went each day grateful for the ministry that God had entrusted to him on earth. As his death was imminent, he spent his last moments before being forced to break bread with the apostles and give thanks to God. It is the best example of how to deal with difficult times in our lives.
There is always hope
But easier said than done. Sometimes life throws us so many twists and turns, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and hopeless not knowing where to go. However, for Christians, there is always hope. By adjusting our attitude to be grateful for the many blessings God has given us and by praying to Him, trusting that He will take care of everything in His time, we can live life with gratitude, even under the worst circumstances. harder. Here are six ways to practice gratitude during difficult times:
- Pray and give thanks to God
During your daily rest, use the ACTS prayer method:
Adoration – simply praising God for who He is. Repent of sin – confess your sins before Him, making sure that nothing stops God from hearing your prayers. Thanksgiving – be grateful for all that God has given you. Beg- then ask for your requests. Even in despair, there is always something to be grateful for. Take a moment and see where you are praying. What’s around you? What are you wearing? Where are you sitting? These are all things we can be grateful for because a lot of people don’t have these. Even if it’s about the socks on your feet or the ability to get out of bed, change your perspective by giving thanks for even the tiniest bit of luck. If you do this regularly and start your day this way, you will find the joy promised to us in the scriptures. - Count Your Blessings
Take your prayer time a step further by buying an empty diary and taking a moment of your quiet time to list all the ways that you have been blessed. A bulleted list would be great, although you can certainly write full sentences in a journal if you want. Set a goal to list ten to twenty new blessings each day. It’s okay if you can’t think about all those blessings in the meantime. Change your way of thinking to focus on it throughout the day. Ask God to help you become more aware of your surroundings. In doing so, you will not only change your thinking to a complaining mindset but to a grateful mindset instead, you will also discover that you are luckier than you realize. - Watching the news
While the news is not a good lens and shows us how difficult the world is right now, it is a good lesson to know that there are always bad people. than you. Watch the evening news for a week. Write down all the news you see. What tragic event does the news highlight? Put yourself in the shoes of the victims. What might they be feeling and thinking during this time?Imagine if you were the subject of this report. What do you think and how do you feel? Take a moment and thank God that this tragedy did not happen to you. Also, think about ways you can help. In what ways might God call you to help your community or your neighbours?
4. Community Service
There is no better way to show gratitude than to serve your local community. Isaiah 58:6-4 says: “Is not this the kind of fast I have chosen:to loosen the chains of injustice and untie the shackles, to set free the oppressed and break all yoke? It’s not about sharing your food with the hungry and providing shelter to the needy wanderers – when you see the naked, dress them up and don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood. ? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will soon appear. Then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your defender. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say:
I am here. If you remove the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious words, and if you give your life for the hungry and if you provide for the needs of the oppressed, then your light will shine. in the dark, and your night will become like noon.
Service not only fulfils Isaiah’s command but also gives meaning and purpose to your life. The service also improves your self-esteem and empowers you to make a difference in the world. Line up the shelves in your local pantry. Donate clothes to a local wardrobe. Be part of a group in your church. Donating money to charities may need to increase revenue to reach their goals. Even the smallest act will be a great act before God. This allows you to not focus on people in need who may live near you.5. Join a small group
Sometimes we need someone else’s point of view to see our situation differently. Form a small group in your local church. Boldly share prayer requests and vulnerabilities with those in the group. In this private setting, you can receive encouragement, wisdom, and prayer. The close friendships you will feel with others who worship you will be very important to your mental health. On the contrary, you can help them by praying for them and giving them the same encouragement and guidance. Check-in with them throughout the week to make sure your team members are doing well. This will help them feel loved and appreciated, and in return, you will show gratitude for the impact they have had on your life.6 . Focus on the less fortunate
Expand your philanthropy from people in your community to those in third-world countries. Nothing changes a perspective like seeing impoverished children and enslaved women living in unbearable conditions. Sponsor a World Vision or Compassion Child and write them letters sharing the love of Jesus. These organizations strive to spread the gospel message while meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of these people. Add the godfather’s name to your prayer list and pray for them often. Include the scriptures in your monthly letters and let them know that you love them and so does Jesus.
