It’s not hard to thank God when you receive what you’ve asked for, but what about when you’re waiting on him for his deliverance? Having an attitude of gratitude is God’s will for us, regardless of our circumstances. Studies show that gratitude has tremendous social, physical, and emotional benefits, especially when practiced during times of adversity. This should be no surprise to Christians since Scripture is full of examples of God’s people giving thanks during hard times.
- Daniel knew it might cost him his life to open his window and pray to God after King Darius made an edict forbidding prayer—yet he did it anyway.
- From the belly of the fish, Jonah gave thanks and was reminded that salvation belonged to the Lord (Jonah 2:9). Later, the fish vomited him onto the land.
- Hannah patiently waited for the Lord to provide her with a child, keeping her promise to give him back to the Lord in service. She worshipped the Giver and not his gift (1 Sam 2:1-2).
- Paul gave thanks in the middle of a storm when all hope was lost of being saved. After not eating for two weeks, he took bread, gave thanks, and gave it to the men. The next day, all 276 on board made it safely to shore (Acts 27:27-44).
- Jesus, in a season of grieving over the beheading of John the Baptist, gave thanks for what little food he had and then fed 5,000.
While you may not know how God will work through your difficult circumstances, you can know without a doubt that it’s his will for you to give thanks. Here are 20 verses to remind you of that truth.
20 Bible Verses About Thanking God in Hard Times
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - Ephesians 5:20 (ESV)
Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Philippians 4:6 (ESV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. - Philippians 4:4 (ESV)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. - Romans 12:12 (ESV)
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. - 1 Peter 5:7 (ESV)
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 1:6 (ESV)
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, - 1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESV)
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. - Colossians 3:17 (ESV)
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. - Romans 5:3 (ESV)
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance. - Job 1:21 (ESV)
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” - Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. - 1 Peter 1:7 (ESV)
So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. - Colossians 3:15-16 (ESV)
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. - Psalm 30:12 (ESV)
That my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! - Psalm 9:1-2 (ESV)
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. - Romans 1:21 (ESV)
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. - Psalm 105:1 (ESV)
Oh, give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! - Psalm 59:16-17 (ESV)
But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love. - Acts 5:41 (ESV)
So they left the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
It’s God’s Will for You to Give Thanks
The heroes of our faith show us that offering thanks in the middle of hard times is proof that our faith is real.
Don’t you want to be like Daniel, who continued to offer gratitude to God, even at risk for his personal safety? Or Jonah, while never regarded as a model of obedience, his humble repentance and thanks to God, was rewarded with the most successful revival of all time. Oh, to be like Hannah, who, after God finally provided her heart’s desire for a child, loved God more than his gift and honored her vow, or Paul, who gave thanks in the midst of a storm. And where would we be without Jesus’ example of thanks to the Father while waiting for his supply or thanking him before he went to the cross?
While God’s will may seem mysterious, you can know that this is always his will: rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in everything.
Cara
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