4 Things You Can Always be Grateful For

Life is so full of ups and downs. We have good days and bad days, sometimes it feels like the bad days outweigh the good ones. But an attitude of gratitude changes everything.

If you’re in a place where you can’t think of anything to be grateful for, I get it. Maybe you’re facing sickness or financial difficulties or family problems. But here are four things you can always be thankful for.

Be Grateful for Salvation

Salvation is the greatest gift we could receive. But how often do we really take the time to think about it and be thankful for it?

I am saved. It’s such a wonderful phrase! Maybe I don’t say it enough. Or maybe I’ve said it so often that it doesn’t register what it means any more.

I am saved from sin, death and Hell!

I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior when I was thirteen years old, and He changed my whole life.  Not only that, but He changed my whole eternity.  Just remembering this one fact should always be enough to change any day.

If you have received Jesus as your Savior, you can be thankful for that every single day. And not just now but for eternity.

Salvation never changes and can never be taken away or lost. Even in the darkest times of life, we can be thankful for salvation.

Be Grateful for Family

After my salvation, I consider my family to be the greatest blessing in my life. I love my family and would do anything to protect them.

I believe that my family is the best. Our times together laughing, talking and playing are some of my best memories. There is nothing I love more than spending a day with my husband and sons, just being together.

No, they are not perfect. We don’t always get along. But our love for one another is unconditional.

Our families sometimes hurt us. And we hurt them. But in the end they are what matters most.

Maybe you have family members you aren’t close with anymore, or some who have hurt you beyond repair. I’ve been there. Maybe you can’t be thankful for them, and that’s okay.

Take a few minutes to be thankful for at least one person in your family who has influenced and loved you. Maybe it’s your parents, spouse, or even your kids. It may also be an aunt, uncle or even a foster or step parent.

Family is the most beautiful gift in life and something we can always be thankful for.

Be Grateful for Our Great Country

Our nation has strayed far from our foundation as a Christian nation. I don’t always agree with our politicians and leaders. I doubt if any of us do.

But the United States of America is still the greatest nation in the world. We have a proud history. We have rights as citizens–one of the greatest being our right to vote and choose our leaders.

The United States military is the greatest in the world! We can be so proud of our service members who sacrifice for us.

In the United States we experience freedom like no other place in the world. Our people are strong and resilient, and we come together when we need to.

Even when life is hard and times seem dark, I can be thankful that I live in the United States.

We Have Hope for Eternity

Sometimes life gets so dark that it’s hard to see past the pain of this very minute. In those moments it’s hard to be thankful for even one thing.

That’s when we have to remember that it’s all temporary. I know that life seems so permanent. Our problems will never end and we’ll always struggle.

We can always cling to the truth from Romans 8:18, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

We have hope that this life is not forever. Eternity is coming and it will be better than anything we can imagine.

If you’re in a dark place that seems like it will never end, I recommend Elisabeth Elliott’s book Suffering is Never for Nothing. It’s full of comfort for even the hardest parts of life, written by someone who’s been there.

Only the Beginning of Gratitude

I have found that practicing gratitude changes my outlook on life. Even when things are hard, there are a few ways to practice gratitude.

This list is only the beginning. I started here because these are things we can be thankful for all the time. Depending on your circumstances you may be able to add to the list.

You may be grateful for:

• Health
• Your home
• Church
• Food to eat
• Something nice that happened to you

Ultimately, gratitude breeds gratitude. Just start with a few small things, and you might be surprised where you end up!

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