Hello ,

Gratitude is often treated as a feeling.

Something that appears when life is going well.

But Scripture presents gratitude as something deeper—a discipline of perspective.

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2).

Notice the wording: in everything, not for everything. Gratitude is not pretending difficulty doesn’t exist. It is remembering that hardship is not the whole story.

During the Apollo 13 mission in 1970, an explosion crippled the spacecraft on its way to the moon. The mission instantly shifted from exploration to survival. Oxygen levels dropped. Power systems failed. The crew and ground engineers had to improvise constantly to keep the astronauts alive.

One of the astronauts later remarked that instead of dwelling on everything that had gone wrong, they focused on what was still working. A functioning guidance system. Limited oxygen. A small window of communication.

That perspective kept panic from taking over. It allowed them to work the problem. Eventually, against enormous odds, the crew returned safely to Earth.

Gratitude works in a similar way for the human heart. 

When we focus only on what is missing, anxiety grows. When we remember what remains—God’s faithfulness, daily provision, moments of grace—our perspective stabilizes.

The psalmist understood this when he told his own soul not to forget. Gratitude often requires intentional remembering. It is a decision to rehearse the ways God has carried us before.

This does not deny pain. It balances it.

If your spirit feels heavy today, pause for a moment and look again. What small mercies have you overlooked? What provisions quietly arrived that you barely noticed?

Sometimes strength returns when we simply remember.

Gratitude does not erase difficulty. But, it reminds us that God’s goodness is still present within it.

Have a great day and God bless!

Pastor Mike / The Open Word