Sometimes, perhaps often, it’s hard to give thanks in times of change. When we’re in a challenging or uncertain season, cultivating a grateful heart can seem almost impossible. Sometimes life is hard, and finding a positive perspective can seem out of reach. We all face days, weeks, months, or seasons when life isn’t going the way we hoped or planned. The natural human response is to be frustrated, disappointed, and, at times, just angry.
Questions arise: Why is this happening to me? How many times do I have to go through this? When will things finally start to change? And, when things do change, will they change for the better?
Scripture: “Rejoice always … give thanks in all circumstances.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16,18.
As autumn deepens and the mornings grow colder, we reach for what brings physical warmth: a soft blanket, a steaming mug, the glow of a fireplace. There’s comfort in these small rituals—simple routines we can grab onto that ground us and give us peace.
Paul’s words to the Thessalonians offer us a ritual to bring us spiritual warmth: “Rejoice every day … give thanks no matter what is going on around you.” Rejoice, by the way, isn’t an encouragement to put on a false front or pretend a false hope. It’s finding God’s peace and joy in life and giving thanks to God—not because every circumstance is good, but because God’s goodness runs through you and everything around you. Gratitude becomes an internal, spiritual place deep inside us where our hearts are warmed by awareness of God’s presence.
It’s not easy. Rituals take repetition. The ones that give us the most comfort are the ones that are well-established in our lives. We have found that doing them over and over again brings us comfort. They are “cultivated” -planted, watered, cared for, and grown over time.
When we cultivate gratitude, we train our eyes to see grace in the ordinary: a neighbor’s smile, a quiet morning, the laughter that breaks tension after a hard day. Thankfulness doesn’t erase pain, but it reframes it. It reminds us that even in our struggles, God is near and sees possibilities for us we can’t yet see or even imagine.
Perhaps John Wesley had this in mind when he urged his young Methodists to see joy and gratitude, not as fleeting or false emotions, but as practices of grace. When we “practice” something we set time aside to work at it.
If we let it, giving thanks can bring warmth to the cold corners of our hearts and to the world around us. What are three simple blessings today that bring warmth to your spirit?
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for the warmth of your presence. Help me to practice gratitude even when life feels uncertain. May my thankful heart become a light that warms others with your joy and peace. Amen.
