There aren’t many places in Scripture where God speaks with absolute clarity and says, “This is My will for you.” But when He does, we ought to lean in a little closer. One of those rare moments appears in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

All circumstances.
Not just the joyful ones.
Not just the comfortable ones.
Not just the seasons when everything is going according to your plan.

Paul says to give thanks even when life is not cooperating with your expectations.

But if we’re honest, gratitude doesn’t come naturally when life is painful. It’s easy to give thanks when your marriage is strong, your kids are doing well, your job is stable, and your heart feels full. But what about the days when your spouse is distant, your child is struggling, the report from work isn't good, or the pressure feels like it’s crushing you? What about those seasons when you’re hurting, confused, or walking through deep disappointment?

How do you give thanks then?

Here’s the key: you don’t give thanks for the pain—you give thanks for what God is doing through the pain.

God never wastes difficulty. Ever.

In fact, some of the greatest work God does in your soul happens during the seasons you would never choose for yourself. When life presses in, God uses that pressure to build something inside you that can’t be built any other way.

Think about it…

In hardship, God develops character.
In uncertainty, He strengthens trust.
In waiting, He grows patience.
In disappointment, He refines desire.
In pain, He deepens prayer.
In loss, He expands compassion.
And in every struggle, He draws you closer to His heart.

Some of the most spiritually mature people you know didn’t get there on a path of ease—they got there on a path of adversity. Their faith wasn’t developed on the mountaintop; it was forged in the valley.

This is why Paul can confidently say, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” Not because every circumstance is good, but because God is actively bringing good out of every circumstance.

Romans 8:28 reminds us that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him. Not some things. Not just the pleasant things. All things—including the ones that make you question, ache, or wrestle.

So how do you practice this kind of gratitude?

You start small. You start honest. And you start where you are.

You pray something like this:
“Father, I don’t understand this season. It hurts. But I trust You. I know You’re working even here. Thank You for what You’re producing in me.”

That kind of gratitude invites God into your struggle.
It aligns your heart with His will.
And it opens your eyes to the quiet, steady ways He’s shaping you.

You don’t have to pretend the pain isn’t real. You don’t have to slap on a smile. But you can choose to thank God in the hardship, because He’s doing something powerful through it.

This is God’s will for you—to be a person who trusts Him enough to say “thank You,” even in the storm.

May you find strength, hope, and deeper faith as you choose gratitude today. God bless.