Application

It is definitely easier to thank God when everything is going well. But even then, sometimes we forget. We don’t want to be like the nine lepers who failed to thank Jesus for healing them.

It pleases God when we praise and thank him for the things he’s given us. Name some things you are grateful for today.

We also saw that the Apostle Paul went through some really bad times, like being whipped, stoned, and shipwrecked. We may not experience the same kinds of things Paul did, but we will still encounter hard times here on earth.

How can we thank God during the bad times? What are some of the keys to gratefulness that we found in the Bible? Remembering our victory over suffering and death through Jesus; rejoicing during hard times; putting our hope in God; remembering that God is with us through his Holy Spirit; praying with thanksgiving.

Celebrating Thanksgiving can remind us to be grateful in all circumstances, whether good or bad. Through his Holy Spirit, God will always be with us, giving us the strength that we need to get through life’s bad times. If we can rejoice even during our hardships, we will become stronger, and our hope in God will grow. And if we pray during the tough times, trusting him with our problems, God will give us his peace. We can trust that he is in control of everything.

Prayer Time

• Thank God for the many blessings he’s given us.
• Ask God for strength and faith to trust him and to be thankful during the hard times.