When Gratitude Feels Hard: How God Meets You in the Pain - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - November 26
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18, NIV).
It's less than four days before Thanksgiving, but I feel more behind than when I started. From the moment my feet hit the floor, all I could think about was my mile-long to-do list, the person ringing my doorbell, and my goldendoodle, who was notifying us that he really needed to go to the bathroom. I wanted to be grateful and present. Focus on my time in the Bible and this week of giving thanks. Instead, I felt overwhelmed, exhausted, anxious, and heavy-hearted.
Can you relate?
Thanksgiving is a beautiful season. Fall leaves adorn us with their abundant colors. Cooler temperatures wrap us up in cozy sweatshirts, hot cocoa, and oodles of blankets. Long tables invite us to meal after meal of food, fellowship, and family. But amidst the noise and celebration, some of us feel tired, unnoticed, or anxious. Our hearts are grateful, but weary. Happy, yet sad. Excited to celebrate the season, but worn out before the day arrives.
If that's you this week, praying something like, "God, I want to be thankful, but today feels heavy," then you're in good company. God doesn't shame us for struggling; instead, gratitude grows in honest soil. Let me give you a practical example.
Many years ago, I felt like I had to be "fine" around others. It didn't matter how much my home life crumbled, how badly I felt inside, or how deeply I longed to be seen and heard; I put up a facade. I feared what would happen if people saw how I was really doing. Then, one day, on the way home from college, God met me in the quiet. My mind was spinning a million miles a minute, but I unloaded it all to the Lord. I told him I was tired of carrying this burden and keeping it hidden. I told him I didn't want to go on living this way. His answer shocked me: "I never asked you to."
Friends, when gratitude feels hard (and even when it feels easy), God doesn't ask us to pretend, put on a mask, or push down our feelings. Scripture tells us to be thankful in all circumstances, not for, but that requires us to be honest with God about how we're actually doing. Authentic gratitude isn't pretending or acting. There's no reward for being the best "actor." Instead, gratitude is about noticing the grace in small and fragile places. It's asking God to purify your heart every morning and seeking Him with this question:
"Where can I see one small sign of your goodness today?"
Goodness doesn't have to be monumental. It could be the sun finally peeking through the clouds. Perhaps it's the ability to breathe, take a walk, or stay hydrated. It could be talking to a friend, family member, or spouse who cares. It could even be your favorite warm drink at Starbucks or Dunkin'. No matter what it is, remember that God is good even when our circumstances are not, and nothing can take away His goodness from us.
When gratitude feels hard, please know that it's okay. God sees you where you are, and He isn't asking you to pretend. But He is asking you to come as you are, with the burdens you carry, so that you can learn to lay them down at His feet over and over again.
Prayer
Dear Jesus,
As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season takes over, please fill us with your spirit and love. Let us be aware of your presence, even in the midst of the circumstances we face, and hold us today. Hold our hearts, minds, and souls, and help us to notice your gifts, not despite the pain we experience, but in the midst of it. Remind us that even when we're weary and broken, you desire us to come to you as we are. Help us to notice gratitude, not because we avoid or ignore our emotions, but because we've humbly surrendered them to you. We love, praise, and thank you, Jesus. Amen.
Related Resource: Let Go, Trust, and Stay Rooted When Life Feels Unsteady
When life feels unsteady, many of us respond by holding tighter, trying harder, and carrying more than we were meant to bear. But Jesus offers a different way. In this episode of Unhurried Living, Gem Fadling is joined by Yvette Henry, writer, speaker, and author of Release, Rest, Remain, for a thoughtful conversation about learning to let go, trust God, and stay rooted in his presence when life feels overwhelming.
Drawing from Jesus’ words in John 15, this conversation explores what it means to release the pressure to hold everything together, rest in God’s love, and remain spiritually grounded in the middle of real life. Together, they reflect on spiritual exhaustion, the invitation to abide rather than strive, and how spiritual fruit grows naturally when we stay connected to God.
This episode is for anyone longing for peace, stability, and a deeper sense of trust when life feels uncertain. If this episode helps you recenter your work and life on God, be sure to follow Unhurried Living on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
