The Power of a Thankful Heart in Difficult Circumstances - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - October 12, 2026
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18
There are seasons when gratitude comes easily. And then there are seasons when giving thanks can feel like one more thing we are supposed to do when we are already carrying too much.I have found myself in one of those seasons lately. I am back at work, and my mind is already full of students—the ones I am concerned about, the ones I hope find their place this year, and the ones whose stories I may not even know yet. I find myself wondering what this school year will hold and whether we will be able to reach the students who need us most.
At the same time, I am preparing for another year of Bible Study Fellowship. I am grateful for the privilege of serving and studying God’s Word, but even good things require time, preparation, and pieces of our hearts. Then there are the people I love—my family and friends, the people I don’t want to accidentally give only the leftovers of myself because my calendar is full and my mind is moving in a dozen different directions. And somewhere in the middle of all of that are my own health concerns, quiet reminders that I have limits and cannot simply keep adding things to my plate without paying attention to what my body is telling me. None of these things exists separately. They all seem to occupy space in my heart at the same time.
Maybe you understand that feeling. Perhaps your difficult circumstance isn’t one enormous crisis. Maybe it is the accumulated weight of caring deeply about many things at once: children who need you, aging parents, work responsibilities, ministry, marriage, friendships, finances, health concerns, or an unanswered prayer that keeps slipping into your thoughts. Sometimes life isn’t necessarily falling apart. It just feels heavy. And into seasons like these, Paul writes, “Give thanks in all circumstances.”
I used to read that verse and hear an instruction to somehow feel grateful for everything that happened. But notice what Paul says. He doesn’t tell us to give thanks for every circumstance. He tells us to give thanks in them. There is a difference. There are things we will experience that we would never choose and would never call good. Scripture doesn’t ask us to pretend that pain doesn’t hurt or disappointment isn’t disappointing. A thankful heart doesn’t deny what is hard; it remembers what is still true about God in the middle of it.
Gratitude allows us to say, “Lord, this is difficult, but You are still good. I don’t know what will happen, but I know You are already there. I don’t have enough strength for everything I am imagining about tomorrow, but You have given me enough grace for today.” Gratitude gently asks a different question: Where has God been faithful today?
Maybe this is where we misunderstand the power of a thankful heart. Gratitude does not magically remove our responsibilities. It doesn’t make the diagnosis disappear, fix the relationship, answer the prayer, or resolve the situation that keeps us awake at night. But gratitude can change where we are looking.
There is something else I am learning in this season: many of the things that occasionally overwhelm me are also things for which I am deeply grateful. I care about students because God has given me the opportunity to love and serve them. I feel the weight of ministry because He has entrusted me with people and a place to serve. I don’t want to neglect my family and friends because they are precious gifts in my life. Even the limitations I experience with my health remind me that I am not self-sufficient, and perhaps I was never supposed to be. We can be grateful while still feeling overwhelmed. We can be faithful and tired, hopeful and concerned, trusting God while still having questions. Those things can exist together.
Perhaps today we don’t need to force ourselves to produce a long list of blessings or pretend everything is okay. Maybe we simply need to stop long enough to notice one evidence of God’s goodness: one answered prayer, one person who showed up, one moment of peace, one provision we almost overlooked, or one reminder that we are not walking through this season alone. A thankful heart does not say that nothing is wrong. It says that even here, God is with us. And sometimes that is where gratitude becomes worship.
Let's pray ...
Father,
Thank you for meeting us in every circumstance, not only the easy ones. When our hearts feel crowded with responsibilities, worries, and unanswered questions, help us notice Your goodness amid them. Teach us to be honest about what is difficult without losing sight of what is still true: You are faithful, You are present, and You are already holding tomorrow. Give us grace for today and thankful hearts that continually turn our attention back to You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
What truth from today’s devotional is God using to encourage your heart? Share your reflection and join our conversation in the iBelieve Truth Devotional Forum.
Feel like digging a little deeper? Here is a wonderful resource to meet you right where you are. 5 Comforting Psalms for When We Worry: A Guided Reflection Journal
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Evgeniia Siiankovskaia
— 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
Jessica Ward is a Christian writer, speaker, Bible teacher, and author of Broken Can Be Beautiful: Embracing New Beginnings. She serves as a Bible Study Fellowship Teaching Leader and is passionate about helping women recognize God’s presence in every season, especially in places of waiting, grief, change, and spiritual renewal. Through her writing, speaking, and online ministry, Jessica encourages women to return to the Lord with honesty, hope, and trust in His unfailing grace. She writes at jessward.org and shares biblical encouragement through her newsletter, videos, and social media. Jessica lives in New Mexico with her husband, Chet, and loves being a wife, mom, and Branny (grandmother).
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