Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate and give thanks for the many blessings in life. But what about being grateful for the difficult times? I don’t know one person who enjoys adversity. But what it can offer us is a chance for personal and spiritual growth.
If we’re honest about it, most of us become stronger from facing challenges. We discover just how resilient we are when dealing with emotional pain, illness, job loss, grief, divorce, financial setbacks and more. Our faith increases even in the midst of doubt and fear. We find that with God’s strength, we also gain strength.
Past troubles can teach us to develop a positive mindset for future battles. We are now better equipped to get through the rough and rocky roads of life because we’ve traveled them before. Even in the middle of a tough time, we know that God will not leave us there. When we change our perspective and become grateful for our difficult times, we can find the good even when sorrow overwhelms us.
Let us remember what Apostle Paul declared, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
Try to pause and give thanks for the lessons learned, spiritual growth gained and the people who stood by you during challenging times. Otherwise, you might miss an opportunity to recognize God’s presence. Tough times don’t last, but gratitude does.
