Finding Gratitude on the Bad Days

When gratitude is hard to come by there is always one place you've failed to look.

This year a friend may have failed you, a job might have been lost to downsizing, days may have been more difficult than productive, and finances might have become as skinny as a toothpick.

We all face extremely hard days and it's no fun when good days are thinly sandwiched between the bad and the worst.

It's like living in a proverbial forest. There are so many trees we can't really appreciate the view God sees from above. We see bad days, and we see no end to the bad days.

People make decisions that negatively impact us. Someone cheats and seems to get ahead while you play nice and seem to fall behind.

“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” James 1:2-4 (MSG)

Bad days give us opportunity to show what we really believe to be true. Either bad days ruin us or demonstrate that we trust God. We ask God only for good days and we think He's failed us when bad days come. God wants us to be mature, well-developed, and lacking nothing when it comes to the demonstration of our faith.

We will face challenges, tests, and stressors our entire lives. Sometimes we think of life as a playground where we pursue fun and comfort at all costs. God seems to think of our lives here are preparation for life with Him.

“Keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.” 1 Peter 5:10-11 (MSG)

The Army features bootcamp – this is a training ground for soldiers who will be asked to defend. It is no fun. It is the hardest thing soldiers face. It seems unfair to ask for such dedication. But it's just what is needed to develop a young man or woman into a soldier who understand commands and has a great handle on obedience.

So, what does this have to do with gratitude? God, our commander, is training us. While He trains He also takes care of us. He has always been faithful. His rules don't change. His promises are true. His plan is this, “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG)

Gratitude is as much about thanking God for what is yet to be as it is thanking Him for what has already been. God can be trusted with our future so let's thank Him before we get there. His plans are good. He won't abandon us. His future includes His presence.

Let the bad days come – you can't stop them. Some day bad days go away for good. “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.” Revelation 21:4 (MSG)

Feeling grateful yet?