Early in the morning, the faint sound of the coffee grinder pulls me into the new day until I’m fully awake. I lie there quietly with my eyes open and take my time to get my bearings. Slowly, I remember what day it is and what I had planned. Then the worries and burdens of the day creep into my thoughts and settle in my stomach, forming an all-too-familiar knot that has been there for as long as I can remember.
An invisible burden of anxiety.
That morning, when the weight inside me felt especially heavy, I did what I had learned to do. I got up, reached for my Bible and journal, and opened it. The first poem that caught my eye was this one:
“ He who sacrifices thanksgiving brings me glory…” Psalm 50:23(ESV)
A grateful sacrifice. Thanksgiving isn’t easy. It doesn’t come naturally and it costs something. That morning, with stiff shoulders and tight stomach, I whispered a prayer. “Okay, Lord, I’m going to take this moment to thank You in this anxiety.”
From that day on, I started my mornings with what the Bible calls a sacrifice of thanksgiving. I take time to write prayers in my journal and thank God for all the things I have to be thankful for. Gratitude springs not from ideal circumstances, but from trust in a faithful God.
When Thanksgiving feels like a battle:
Gratitude and praise overflow. These are the kinds of emotions that arise during church services, when we celebrate, feel joy and relief, and experience answered prayers. It’s also not emotionally based, it’s expensive, and it may not be that easy or come naturally. It confronts the lies of fear. It challenges the power of anxiety. It refuses to give in to emotion. It is worship born of weakness, and God calls it precious worship.
We see that David understood this struggle when he wrote in Psalm 42:5:Why, my soul, are you depressed? Why does it upset me so much? Put your hope in God.“Psalm 42:5. He did not feel hopeful, but chose hope; he did not rejoice, but commanded his soul to praise.”
This is what it means to offer a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to God. Worship while waiting, gratitude while grieving, faith in the midst of mist. When our hearts resist, praise becomes a battle. Because where there is worship, anxiety will not grow.
When Thanksgiving and tears coexist.
Some of the deepest praises we read in the Bible come from that place.Of pain.
• Paul praised while chained in prison.
• Job worshiped as he mourned all he had lost.
• Jesus sang a hymn on the night he was betrayed.
Praise and gratitude are not denial. That’s rebellion! It is a declaration that even when life is complicated, God remains valuable. “God, I trust you. You have been faithful and I know you will continue to be faithful.” loyal. ”
Anxiety is not the last word.
In my experience, anxiety doesn’t magically disappear just by reading scripture or spending time in prayer. Sometimes he wakes up with me, sometimes he sleeps with me, and he always shows up uninvited. But here’s the truth about anxiety. God meets us in the midst of the battle, not after we have somehow overcome its paralyzing effects. God doesn’t say, “When your anxiety goes away, I will comfort you.” he says:Cast all your worries on me because I care about you.“1 Peter 5:7. And as you choose to put one foot in front of the other, the Lord will walk lovingly with you and comfort you as you offer sacrifices of praise.”
And God collects every trust offering like a treasure.
Praise and gratitude declare who is really in charge.
Anxiety thrives on the illusion of control. Praise reminds us that we are not the ones holding the universe together, and we thank God for that. As we offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise, we fix our eyes on the unwavering and remember who is truly in control of our story. It removes fear, releases doubt, proclaims truth louder than lies, and sometimes praises, “God, you are good, even though life is so difficult.”
Practice for peace.
Since that morning, I have developed a consistent habit. That means getting up and having a cup of coffee. Then I go back to bed, open my journal, and write down a prayer of thanksgiving and praise. It’s not because life is easy. It’s not because the knots are gone. But God is worthy, and God is near. Sometimes I feel like it, sometimes I don’t, and sometimes it involves tears. But it is always an act of worship.
Your praise, especially the painful kind, shapes you. But it also shapes the generation that looks at you. Our children and grandchildren watch as we walk through uncertainty, have hope, and worship when life is difficult. Your sacrifice of praise is not just a choice. It is a living testimony and an example to others of how to live out our faith.
Bible verses that will strengthen you.
Here are some promises to say out loud when anxiety seems to be winning.
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.Psalm 56:3
“The joy of the Lord is your strength.Nehemiah chapter 8:10
“Be still and know that I am God.Psalm 46:10
“You keep him in perfect peace and his heart is turned towards you.” Isaiah 26:3
Let God’s Word be your anchor of stability.
Sacrificial Prayer of Praise:
Lord, today I offer You a sacrifice of praise. It’s not because my situation is simple, or because I’m speechless because of fear, bBecause you are worth it. Thank you that your love is constant, your presence is steady, and your promises are true. In the midst of my battle with anxiety, please teach my heart to praise You. Teach my soul to trust You when anxiety tries to take over. Anchor your thoughts to truth. Fill your mouth with gratitude. And remind me that You are with me in every breath, in every moment, in every burden. I praise you here and now. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Journaling reflection and mental discipline.
What worries you when you wake up each morning? Write about one specific burden and offer it to God in prayer.
What would it look like for you to start each day sacrificing gratitude and praise?
Which scripture brings you peace today? Write it down and meditate on it.
A final word of encouragement:
Even if you wake up today and feel anxious, if you choose to praise anyway, you will be walking in victory. Your worship is being watched. Your faith is real. Your Father is with you. And every sacrifice of praise you offer is a step toward peace, a declaration of trust, and a victory over fear.
You are not alone and anxiety is not the end of your story. God is.
Gina Smith is a wife of 37 years, mother of two, and grandmother of three. She is a writer and author, and wrote her first published book during the empty nest years. She has a passion for working with young people, encouraging them, strengthening their faith, and learning from them. You can find Gina on her website www.ginalsmith.com and her book Everyday Prayers for Joy is available in bookstores.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Bohdan Bevz
Gina Smith is a wife of 37 years, mother of two, and grandmother of three. She is a writer and author, and wrote her first published book during the empty nest years. She has a passion for working with young people, encouraging them, strengthening them in God, and learning from them. Gina can be found on her website www.ginalsmith.com and her book Everyday Prayers for Joy can be found wherever books are sold.
