Living a Life of Gratitude in Every Season: A Heart Posture, Not a Circumstance
Author: Maddie Turner
Key Verse: “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” — Psalm 34:1
The Power of Gratitude in Every Season
All of us here at TRS are walking through seasons of needing to live with a heart posture of gratefulness. In fact, we believe this is what the Lord requires of all of us. Gratefulness is not simply an act or a prayer, but it is truly a heart posture; a way to live your life. No matter the circumstance, gratefulness is important and necessary as a part of our walk with Jesus.
Gratitude is one of the most radical acts of faith. It is easy to be grateful when life is full of blessings—when prayers are answered, doors are opening, and peace is abundant. But what about when life feels unbearable? What happens when you’re waiting on an answered prayer that seems delayed? Or, you’re grieving the loss of something or someone? Or even, life begins to feel unfair, uncertain, or out of control?
True gratitude is not just a reaction to good circumstances—it’s a defiant act of trust in who God is, no matter what season we are in.
1. Gratitude is a Weapon in Spiritual Warfare
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 — “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Gratitude is not just a nice attitude—it’s a spiritual weapon. It shifts the atmosphere, weakens the enemy’s influence, and strengthens our faith.
The enemy knows that a grateful heart is a strong heart that refuses his lies. So what does he do? He wages war against gratitude by trying to plant seeds of: Doubt → “Did God really say He’s working all things for your good?” (Genesis 3:1), Comparison → “Her life is better. You’re behind.” (2 Corinthians 10:12), Entitlement → “You deserve more than this.” (Luke 15:29-30) and Forgetfulness → “You’re still struggling—did God really come through for you before?” (Psalm 103:2).
When we give in to these lies, we slowly begin to stop recognizing the blessings we already have, focus more on what’s missing than what’s present, and start questioning God’s faithfulness. But gratitude shifts our perspective from what we lack to what we already have in Christ. It reminds us that we serve a God who has never failed us. He is working behind the scenes, even when we don’t see it and His goodness is not dependent on our circumstances—it’s dependent on His character.
2. Gratitude is a Direct Attack Against the Enemy
Scripture: "Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." — James 4:7
Gratitude is an act of spiritual resistance because it:
Shuts the Door on the Enemy → When we choose to thank God even in difficult moments, we silence the enemy’s lies and refuse to give him power over our thoughts.
Replaces Lies with Truth → When we thank God for His past faithfulness, we remind ourselves that He will be faithful again.
Destroys the Stronghold of Anxiety & Fear → Philippians 4:6 says that thanksgiving is the key to experiencing God’s peace.
We see this clearly in the story of Job, who lost everything—his family, wealth, and health. However, instead of cursing God, he worshiped (Job 1:20-21). His gratitude and faithfulness led to a double portion blessing (Job 42:10).
2. Gratitude Transforms Pain into Purpose
Scripture: Romans 8:28 — “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Gratitude doesn’t mean pretending pain doesn’t exist. It means choosing to trust God in the middle of it—believing that even our hardest seasons are not wasted.
Pain Will Either Break Us or Build Us
Pain is inevitable in life. Loss, disappointment, waiting, heartbreak—none of us escape it. But how we respond to pain determines whether it will: Break us → Leading to bitterness, doubt, and distance from God, or Build us → Strengthening our faith and drawing us closer to Him.
One of the clearest examples of this is Joseph (Genesis 37-50). Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and thrown into prison. But years later, when he was finally raised to power in Egypt, he told his brothers: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." — Genesis 50:20
Gratitude Shifts Our Perspective on Suffering
Without gratitude, suffering feels meaningless. With gratitude, suffering becomes refining; the refining fire (Malachi 3:3).
In biblical times, gold was purified through fire. The heat would burn away impurities, making it stronger and more valuable. God often uses our hardest seasons to purify our faith, strip away pride, self-reliance, or distractions and teach us deep dependence on Him. Gratitude is saying, “God, I may not understand this season, but I trust that You are making me more like You through it.”
In the Bible, some of the most powerful moments of thanksgiving happened in seasons of suffering:
Job lost everything, yet he still said, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)
Paul was in prison when he wrote, “I have learned the secret of being content in any situation.” (Philippians 4:12)
Jesus, on the night before His crucifixion, broke bread and gave thanks. (Luke 22:19)
3. Gratitude Breaks Chains and Opens Doors
Scripture: Acts 16:25-26 — “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God… Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open…”
Gratitude is not just a response to good times—it is a declaration of faith in all times. It has the power to break spiritual chains, shift atmospheres, and unlock doors we never imagined. Paul and Silas were wrongfully beaten, arrested, and thrown into prison for preaching the gospel. Instead of complaining, they did something radical: they prayed, worshiped and sang hymns to God. In response, an earthquake shook the prison, the doors flew open and the chains fell off of every prisoner there, including Paul and Silas. Gratitude in suffering invites the supernatural. When we praise God in the middle of our struggles, it shifts things.
Gratitude Frees Us From the Prison of Fear, Bitterness, and Worry
We may not be physically in chains, but many of us are trapped in fear of the future, bitterness from past wounds, anxiety over things we can’t control, or unforgiveness that keeps us trapped. Gratitude is the key that unlocks these chains. When we choose to thank God despite our circumstances, we begin to break free from the strongholds that have held us back.
In Numbers 14, we find the Israelites in the Wilderness. Instead of thanking God for rescuing them from slavery, they complained and doubted. Their lack of gratitude kept them wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. Gratitude could have positioned them for breakthrough sooner! When we complain, we prolong the wilderness. When we give thanks, we step into freedom.
Gratitude Unlocks Doors We Cannot Open on Our Own
Sometimes, we feel stuck—like no matter how hard we pray, the doors just aren’t opening. But could it be that we’re waiting for a move of God when He’s waiting for a shift in our heart posture? Think of it this way: complaining closes doors and gratitude opens doors.
In John 6:11, we see Jesus feeding the 5,000. Jesus had only five loaves and two fish—not enough to feed the massive crowd. Instead of focusing on the lack, He gave thanks. After He gave thanks, the miracle happened—the food multiplied and fed everyone. Sometimes, God won’t increase the blessing until we first thank Him for what’s already in our hands.
Closing Thought:
Gratitude is not just an emotion—it is a weapon of faith. It has the power to: break chains in our lives, open doors we never expected, shift the spiritual atmosphere, and bring breakthrough to those around us. When we choose gratitude, we position ourselves for miracles.
Paul and Silas were beaten and locked in prison, yet they chose to worship. Instead of complaining or questioning God, they praised Him—and that praise literally shook the foundations of the prison and set them free. What if the breakthrough we’re waiting for is on the other side of gratitude? Maybe we’re waiting for God to move, but He’s waiting for us to trust Him. Maybe the chains in our lives are not physical but spiritual—chains of fear, doubt, and disappointment that gratitude can break.
Closing Challenge: Practice Gratitude in a Radical Way
This week, we challenge you to:
Truly take time with the Lord, ask Him to reveal the answers to you as you sask yourself the following questions:
Which of these tactics does the enemy use most in my life? How has a lack of gratitude affected my faith?
Where in my life is the enemy trying to replace gratitude with discontentment?
Can I thank God even when life doesn’t make sense? How does gratitude shift my spiritual battles?
What painful experiences in my life might God be using for a greater purpose?
How has God refined me through a painful experience?
Can I find God’s hand in my hardest season? Can I thank Him not just after the storm, but in it?
How do I respond when I feel trapped, discouraged, or stuck? Do I turn to gratitude and worship, or to complaining and doubt?
What chains in my life could be broken if I shifted from grumbling to gratitude?
Am I waiting on God to move, or is He waiting on me to start thanking Him?
In addition to these reflective questions, this week we challenge you to look internally. Thank God for something painful in your life. Ask Him to reveal the hidden blessing in it. Speak gratitude out loud every morning. Start your day by thanking God, before anything else. Write a letter of gratitude to God. Not asking Him for anything—just thanking Him for His faithfulness.
We leave you with…
Gratitude is a heart posture, not a reaction. It is a daily decision to trust that God is good—even when life doesn’t feel good. And when we live this way, we will find joy, peace, and freedom like never before. Gratitude doesn’t mean we love the pain—it means we trust that God will redeem it. We love you and are praying for you, friend.