"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Gratitude functions as a key proponent in your resilience, such as the capability to handle, recover, and adapt more rapidly from setbacks. It contains the potential to provide hope as well as healing, as a thankful mindset is often energizing and inspiring. However, it’s integral to consider that tenacious individuals do not encounter any less anxiety, grief, or distress than others. Rather, their reactions to life’s obstacles are aided by coping techniques that facilitate growth along with fortitude. Primarily in catastrophic circumstances, a humble acknowledgement and appreciation for all you have significantly improves one's ability to overcome.
Let’s consider four steps to cultivate gratitude this spring.
1. Discover the positives.
Constructing a solid foundation of gratitude to fortify you during times of ease makes it intrinsic to implement this strategy when confronted with devastating realities during seasons of difficulty. As Christian author Ann Voskamp states, “Gratitude is not only a response to God in good times — it’s ultimately the very will of God in hard times. Gratitude isn’t only a celebration when good things happen. It’s a declaration that God is good no matter what happens.” (1)
Personally, I’m often prompted by my mother’s commendable example to cultivate gratitude and discover things to praise God about in every circumstance. So in spite of my husband’s traumatic brain injury, I’m overflowing with gratitude that my Marine didn’t lose all of his mental capabilities – or something even more unimaginably traumatic. If that ideal of finding the positive in every situation had not been so ingrained into every fiber of my being, I’m convinced I would’ve become totally submerged and overcome by all of the adverse circumstances that encompassed us during Jed’s initial rehabilitation.
2. Give praise to God.
Thankfulness requires recognizing and valuing the people, lessons, and experiences that God has graciously provided. Dwell in and truly savor the moments you spend in worship with Christ. Contemplate these prayers in your heart, or verbalize them in a public declaration of your authentic appreciation. Expressing the gratitude you feel – not only towards God but also others – drastically improves the quality and satisfaction of your relationships.
I’ve experienced the astonishing difference appreciation makes firsthand, following my husband’s combat incident abroad. Immediately after entering Jed’s hospital suite, I sensed an astonishing wave of relief pass through my whole body. What can only be described as a supernatural tranquility enveloped me. It was remarkably uplifting, articulating things to my husband and being in his presence at last, once again. In spite of not ever having the homecoming anticipated, dreamt of, or preferred, I was exceptionally grateful it wasn’t the experience dreaded far worse than all others combined.
3. Establish daily rituals of gratitude.
Pausing to relish and give thanks to God increases life contentment. To ensure that this exercise is part of your regular routine, create rituals by attaching your admiration to cues you experience every day. Examples may include a prayer upon waking in the mornings or composing five things you are thankful for prior to bed each evening (more on that below).
Adding daily assignments such as these will increase awareness of all the many blessings we are given to enjoy. Thanksgiving creates abundance, allowing you to see all that you have in a new way. (2)
4. Consider journaling.
It may be beneficial to record several things you find most remarkable in a gratitude diary. Observe your environment intently and take note of every good thing in your life. The precious sound of your children’s laughter, a loving glance from your spouse, the Scripture that feels like a direct whisper from God to your spirit, the warmth of sunshine on your face — these moments are worth reminiscing!
When adversity arises, recall those observations with celebration. As Voskamp shares, “As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible.” (3)
In Conclusion: Cultivate Gratitude
A posture of thanksgiving before God is quite transformative! Shifting your mentality to cultivate gratitude can alter the trajectory of your life.
I’d love to know your thoughts on the following questions in the comments below:
How do you cultivate gratitude in your daily life?
What was a crisis you knew you couldn't endure without gratitude and God?
Who is the most grateful person you know and what makes them so positive?
I also want to inform you that this blog will be shifting to a quarterly publishing frequency over the next several months, while I prioritize finalizing the memoir before passing it along to an agent and publishers.
As always, thank you for the support and prayers.
Love and hugs!
~ Anna Morgan
Portions of this post are excerpts from my upcoming memoir, Valley of the Shadow.
If you’d like to receive a free copy in exchange for a promotional review check out this link: Launch Team | Anna Morgan - Author
References
Ann Voskamp (2011). One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, p. 57, Zondervan
Ann Voskamp (2011). One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, p. 72, Zondervan
Ann Voskamp (2011). One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, p. 33, Zondervan
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