Have you ever woken up feeling like nothing is right? Going through so much pain and heartbreak it feels like death is near?

In these moments, it can be hard to find something to be grateful for. It might be even irritating when our loved ones are trying to cheer us up because it feels like they don’t get it.

Before we know it, we despair, even questioning God’s goodness and faithfulness. 

We are anticipating, praying, and believing for a miracle—one that is extraordinary, magnificent, and monumental.

Yet, we fail to notice the tiny, little miracles that so resemble God’s gentle whisper of love.

Each day is a series of tiny little blessings. We must open our hearts to them.

Shifting from Despair to Gratitude in Hard Times

King David knew a lot of trouble, was persecuted, and had a lot of enemies. However, he never failed to recognize God as his present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

In Psalm 18:6 he says: “In my distress, I called upon the Lord; to my God, I cried for help. From his temple, he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.”

When faced with disappointments, we often run away from God, not recognizing that it is then that we need Him the most.

The Lord called David a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). It wasn’t because he was perfect, but because He sought God in every circumstance.

When in pain, he cried out to the Lord, when in joy, he praised God, and when confused, he poured out his heart to God.

We can learn and model this after him: seeking and pursuing God through it all.

During challenging seasons, it might feel like there is nothing to be grateful for. Yet, if we were to pause and look past ourselves, we would notice the blessings around us.

Being grateful for the little, insignificant things changes our perspective and helps us better navigate challenging circumstances.

Yes, it is painful, yes, it is challenging, yes, it feels like we are all alone, like death is near. 

But have you noticed that the sun rose today? Have you heard the bird sing? Have you noticed there is breath in your lungs?

Notice the things you often take for granted and praise God for them. The breath in your lungs, God’s presence in your life, whatever it may be, give thanks to God (1 Thessalonians 5:18). 

Start a gratitude journal, and start counting your blessings.

Honoring God’s Blessings

When we think of miracles, we think of Jesus walking on water or feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-33).

Still, we fail to acknowledge one of the greatest miracles of all—life. We take it so much for granted that we rarely pause to thank God for our very existence.

Many people only realize the value of life when they are on their deathbed.

We don’t have to wait until the last minute to appreciate the little things that make life easy and convenient: food, water, electricity, transport, etc. 

You may not have everything, but what you have is enough to thank God for.

We also fail to recognize our gifts, talents, and strengths as blessings. But the Bible tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17).

There will be times when we don’t feel strong, or equipped, or fall into depression. Be encouraged that God’s strength is made perfect in our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Are you hurting so much that you can’t or don’t want to get out of bed? It’s okay. God is here. Thank Him for His Presence and the gift of life.

This song paints it so beautifully, how each day is beautiful whether it rains or shines.

Did you manage to get out of bed today? Great! Thank God, even if that’s the only thing you managed to do.

Did someone reach out with a word of encouragement? Amazing! God is good. Thank Him for the people He placed in your life.

We often wait to celebrate until we’ve reached the peak of the mountain, whatever that might mean for us. How about we start celebrating every step of the way? 

Let us cultivate the habit of celebrating every small win and developing an awareness of God’s daily grace and mercy (Lamentations 3:22-23). Let us shift our focus from what could be to what is. 

God is good, all the time. Let’s pay attention to the manifestation of His goodness daily, because He is faithful.

If you’re struggling to find things to be grateful for, let these prompts lead you:

Building Habits for Gratitude and Lasting Joy

Life is hard. There are low valleys and high mountains. But in all circumstances, we must choose joy.

The Bible encourages us to rejoice in The Lord (Philippians 4:4). It means finding joy and satisfaction in God’s presence, character, and promises.

Our circumstances may not be what we wished them to be, but the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). We can find comfort in knowing that our God is constant and does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17).

It can be difficult to rejoice in times of trouble. Hence, we must cultivate it daily, until it becomes our default setting.

These habits will help us choose joy daily:

Spiritual Habits

1. Gratitude: Start each day by listing things you’re thankful for. This shifts your focus to God’s blessings.
2. Worship: Engage in worship music or singing hymns. Psalm 100:1 says, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!”
3. Meditate on Scripture: Reflect on verses that remind you of God’s faithfulness. For example, Psalm 118:24 declares, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Mindset Habits

1. Reframe Challenges: Shift your perspective by asking, “What is God teaching me in this situation?” Practice viewing challenges as opportunities for growth.
2. Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge even minor accomplishments as blessings from God.
3. Focus on the Present: Avoid dwelling on the past or worrying about the future; joy often comes from embracing the moment.

Relational Habits

1. Express Gratitude to Others: Thank friends, family, or colleagues for their kindness and support. Write thank-you notes or share verbal affirmations.
2. Practice Kindness: Joy often flows from serving others. Do small acts of kindness without expecting anything in return.
3. Share Joy: Encourage others in your life. Share how God is working in your life and rejoice together.

Self-Care Habits

1. Take Care of Your Body: Healthy habits like proper nutrition, exercise, and rest impact mental and emotional well-being.
2. Limit Negativity: Reduce exposure to toxic environments, whether online or offline, and replace them with uplifting, God-honoring content.

Community Habits

1. Join a Faith Community: Connect with a church group or Bible study to share testimonies and encouragement.
2. Share Gratitude Publicly: Post or speak about things you’re grateful for, inspiring others to reflect on their blessings.

And as the apostle Paul, let us learn to be content in all circumstances (Philippians 4:11-13). Contentment is tied to trusting God’s provision and timing.

We rest in His promises to be with us in times of trouble. We cast our cares unto Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

And we count our blessings, daily.

Conclusion

“May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.” – Psalm 20:1

The Lord loves you and cares for you. It might seem like an unattainable dream when things are not okay, but it is the truth.

We can cling to His promises because He is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19).

There’s so much to be grateful for, even if it’s not everything we desire. These blessings often go unnoticed or underappreciated.

However, let today be the day we start honoring every little miracle because they are an expression of God’s goodness and faithfulness.

Sometimes, big miracles happen one small miracle at a time.