Prayer of gratitude during trials
Written by Kelly Eichberger
Bible reading:
Do not be anxious about anything, but under all circumstances, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7
Listen or read below:
One of the last things people in the midst of suffering want to do is be grateful for their suffering.
It’s been almost 20 years. With our first wedding anniversary just two months away, my husband and I had the unexpected privilege of zeroing in on the strong, healthy heartbeat of our first baby. But a few weeks later, disaster struck. The second ultrasound is haunted by a still image of a tiny human figure, sprouting arms and legs but whose heart is no longer beating. Many years have passed and God has blessed me with many new blessings, but I will never forget the pain that filled my soul during that season. But I can also now confess what clearly failed to fulfill me through it all. Thank you. Through my suffering, I did not look to the Lord and did not thank Him. Instead, I was haunted by the pain of emptiness, leading to a desperate desire to get rid of that hurt.
I rushed through life and clung to control to compensate for the loss. And I was single-handedly depriving myself of something that I desperately needed. peace. I needed peace, but I wanted the exact opposite. Stress, anxiety, extreme anxiety. Throughout the trial, I never stopped to thank God for the gift of a new bond with my husband. He did not express gratitude for witnessing the creation of life. And I was not filled with gratitude for God’s presence. Every attitude of mind I know now would have given me the blessing of His ever-present peace. But instead of building peace, I was growing anxious. It spiraled and swelled, stealing all my joy. More control, more effort, and more chaos inside.
Does any of this apply to you? Have you ever been in such a hurt or difficult situation that you couldn’t even think about praising God? Okay. It’s never easy. But I have witnessed something many times in my life, and if you look back, you can probably testify to the same thing. When we face really difficult events in our lives and find ourselves surrounded by confusion and sadness, we can be so eager for peace that we don’t even realize that it’s what we need. And even when we recognize this need, we easily forget where it comes from and how to find it.
In Philippians, the answer to finding the fruit of peace is given in chapter 4, verses 6-7. It teaches us not to worry about anything. It instructs us to pray and offer our requests to God. And to be honest, the latter memory comes quickly. But there’s another part that I quickly forget. Perhaps you can relate. I say this with gratitude. Please do not deny the direction of giving thanks to God. It is our supplications and prayers of thanksgiving that keep our hearts and minds at peace. The peace we are hungry for.
I have now lived many years since that particular season of suffering. I have learned so much about God and His mercy through and through everything. And I learned to be more grateful because he gave me so much more than what I lost. But I also learned how to not let suffering get the best of me. Not trying, not stressing, not forcing or manipulating things to go my way, all the while leaving the peace I wanted in the dust. But instead, I sought God in difficult situations and took my hurt to Him. Never forget to acknowledge and be grateful for all the small gifts and blessings he provides along the way.
Being grateful through trials reaffirms that God is at work. That there is good and purpose in our pain. And this confidence gives you the strength and peace to persevere. Gratitude is a way to keep peace. A peace that transcends all understanding. Peace that protects our hearts and minds. Peace that reassures you, that God has a hold on you, that He is good, and that His goodness will continue to follow you. My season was marked by stress and control and exclusion from people and worst of all, God. In doing so, I shut out peace.
So whether you’re in a season of suffering or anxiety, or just lacking a little peace, give thanks to God. Thank him at your trial. Be grateful that he is there, that he cares, and that he will continue to carry you.
Let’s pray:
Father God,
You are my eternal peace. And as much as I try to control or worry or wish I wasn’t, I still know that you’re there. You are there with perfect peace and endless blessings and I am so grateful. Lord, help me to acknowledge Your presence. Help me to see your goodness. And please never forget how grateful I am to you. You are the giver of all good things. You never stop pouring them into my life, and I praise your presence and the peace that passes all understanding.
In Your Almighty Name, Amen.
If you liked what you read, you might also like my latest book, Conquering Worries: Conquering What Shakes You and Soaring with Those Who Overcome. You can find it on Amazon or your favorite online retail site. I hope it brings you blessings!
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Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Maryviolet
Kelly Eichberger is a Kentucky girl who loves Jesus. She is married to her best friend Mike and they have five children. After years of writing for online audiences, Keri was ordained through Southeast Christian Church and dedicated her life to full-time ministry. She is the author of Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes and is passionate about sharing faith-filled encouragement through devotional writing. Connect with Keri at KeriEichberger.com or on Instagram.
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