How Can I Be Thankful In All Things

Thanksgiving is far more than a holiday—it’s a spiritual posture. Paul writes, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Worry drains us; thanksgiving fills us. Prayer lifts the burden; gratitude reminds us of God’s goodness.

When we pray with thanksgiving, we practice what the old hymn says: “Count your blessings, name them one by one.” As we look back on God’s faithfulness, our faith for tomorrow grows. If He has carried us before, we can trust Him to carry us again. Scripture gives us many reasons to practice gratitude even in seasons that don’t feel thankful. Here are five biblical reminders that steady our hearts.

1. God Never Gives Us More Than We Can Bear

1 Corinthians 10:13

Paul assures us that every temptation, trial, or testing is “common to man”—we’re not alone, and we’re not the first to face it. More importantly, “God is faithful.” He supervises the weight of every burden and always provides a way to endure it. Gratitude begins when we realize our trials are father-filtered; none of them reach us without His wisdom and care.

2. God Works All Things Together for Good

Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:20

Nothing in the believer’s life is wasted—not the confusing seasons, not the tears, not the disappointments. God is weaving all things for the good of those who love Him. Joseph looked at years of betrayal and imprisonment and said, “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” Faith says the same: “Lord, I don’t see it yet, but I trust Your hand.”

3. God Trains Us as a Loving Father

Hebrews 12:10; Psalm 119:67

Hebrews reminds us that God’s discipline is not condemnation—it’s love. What we deserve is wrath, but what He gives is correction for our profit. Psalm 119:67 says, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept Thy word.” Trials bend us back toward Him, shaping us into people who bear His likeness and bless His people.

4. God Produces Virtue Through Trials

Job 23:10

Job walked through unimaginable loss—family, wealth, health, friendships. Yet he declared, “When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” The furnace of affliction purified his faith, and for thousands of years his testimony has strengthened weary believers. The trials you walk through today may become tomorrow’s encouragement for someone else.

5. God Gives Sufficient Strength for Every Burden

2 Corinthians 12:9

Paul begged God to remove his “thorn in the flesh,” but instead the Lord answered, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” Sometimes God doesn’t lighten the load—He strengthens the shoulders. Weakness becomes a stage on which Christ displays His power. Thanksgiving grows when we stop asking, “Why is this happening?” and start praying, “Lord, show Your strength in me.”

Choosing Thanksgiving Today:

Thanksgiving is not denial—it’s faith. It doesn’t pretend circumstances are easy; it declares that God is faithful. When we bring our cares to Him with gratitude, “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,” stands guard over our hearts and minds.

So whatever you’re facing today, pause and thank Him. Count blessings. Remember His faithfulness. Trust His promises. And let His peace quiet your soul.

“In every thing… with thanksgiving.”