A Grateful Heart in Every Season

6 years later…

A grateful heart doesn’t wait for everything to be perfect before giving thanks. True gratitude takes root in every season — in both the harvest and the hardship, the good and the bad. When life feels abundant, it’s easy to praise. But when the ground feels dry and prayers seem unanswered, gratitude becomes a powerful act of faith. It’s choosing to believe that God is still good, even when the outcome isn’t what we hoped for. Sometimes it’s tough — a physical effort even — but that’s where faith becomes real. Gratitude shifts our perspective. Instead of focusing on what’s missing, it reminds us of what remains — His faithfulness, His presence, His promises that never fail.

When my son was in the hospital having surgery to remove a brain tumor, my husband was broken in a way I can hardly describe. In that moment, fear had me so frozen that I think God used it to keep me steady — to let me be the one “holding it all together.” But beneath that surface calm, something deeper was happening. My husband, having only recently surrendered to the call to pastor, came face to face with what it really means to trust God. He realized that this life is temporary — every single part of it. The only constant was and is God alone.

So in those breath-stealing moments of fear, with our son still on the operating table, he prayed one of the bravest prayers I’ve ever heard: “Yes, Lord. Even if…” Even if the healing didn’t come. Even if the outcome wasn’t what we wanted. “Yes, Lord. I will still praise You. I will still worship You. You are good, no matter what.” That was a Daniel moment — a moment of purposing in his heart before the outcome was known. He decided that no matter what this temporary life brought, no matter how God chose to answer, he would still serve and trust the Lord. And he has. Watching that kind of faith lived out has been nothing short of beautiful.

I share that because I need you to know this isn’t me preaching from a place of comfort. I’ve walked through all the seasons — joy and pain, waiting and wondering, abundance and emptiness. Each one has carried its own kind of grace. In joy, we learn to celebrate. In pain, we learn to trust. In waiting, we learn to hope. A grateful heart doesn’t deny the struggle — it invites God into it. The more we practice gratitude, the more clearly we begin to see that even the smallest blessings are evidence of His love. A kind word, a sunrise, a moment of laughter — they’re all gentle reminders that God is near.

Gratitude isn’t just a feeling; it’s a posture of the heart. It’s waking up each day and saying, “Lord, thank You — for what is, for what was, and for what will be.” As you walk through this month, let your heart find reasons to thank Him in every circumstance. Gratitude turns ordinary days into sacred ones, and it transforms every season into a testimony of God’s unchanging goodness.

Gratefully and sincerely,

Lynn