By Jessica Brodie

Have you ever put a pair of binoculars to your eyes, then twisted that little wheel so you’re able to focus in on something tiny in the distance? Sometimes that’s me when life gets hectic and stressful—like I’m peering through binoculars at something far away, blocking out everything else all around me. I get focused on my own needs, my own responsibilities, my own circle of life. My vision focuses in on the minuscule.

At times like these, I start to grow a bit negative. I start to hear complaints and frustrations roll off my lips, and feelings of dismay and overwhelm press in like I’m standing in one of those funhouse rooms where the walls creep toward you and you have no way to escape.

It’s tempting in these periods to worry, or to put my head down and lock in, but the trouble is that when one period of stress is over, it’s often replaced by another.

I’m realizing there’s an antidote. And it’s not simply “don’t worry”—it’s “be grateful.”

Recently, I read a devotional on Proverbs 31 Ministries where a writer was talking about Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (NKJV).

What caught my attention was the writer’s realization that the operative word in this scripture is “in” everything, not “for.” It’s hard to be grateful for everything, isn’t it? When we’re struggling, most of us don’t feel terribly grateful for the cancer or the financial woes or the grief or the marital discord we are experiencing. But we can be grateful in that experience, even if we cannot be grateful for it.

Being grateful in a circumstance means that, even though we are experiencing hardship, we can still experience joy and hope. We can still appreciate the things in our life that are blessings, whether it’s the trees outside our window or the warm sun on our skin, the fact that we have air in our lungs, that we’ve woken up for one more day of existence on our beautiful earth that God handcrafted so carefully.

We can be grateful in the truth that—for those of us who believe Jesus is the Son of God and follow him—this life is not all there is. We who believe and follow him are able to enjoy eternity in God’s kingdom when this life on earth is over. And no matter what we are going through at the moment, that is a joy and a hope and a truth that cannot be taken away.

I tried it recently during a hard stretch—actually said the words aloud, “This is tough, and I’m tired, but I’m really grateful for the opportunity to do this.”

Uttering the words didn’t change my situation, but it changed my perspective. It brought a glimmer of light and joy to a tough day, which lifted my mood and boosted my endurance.

Consider: Instead of thinking how hard it is to have to go through what we are going through right now, what if we were to change the narrative and say aloud, “Thank you, God, for the opportunity to do this work, to serve you in this way, to use my body or my mind in this way”?

When we utter those words from our lips or in our hearts, suddenly the stress and pressure start to dissipate like smoke in the air. And instead of putting binoculars to our eyes and focusing on overcoming the struggle, we can push those binoculars aside and see so much more.

And we can enjoy it, too.

If you are consumed by worry, stress, or pain, I invite you to consider the power of that one word “in”—gratitude in everything, not gratitude for everything. Try to acknowledge the gratitude that you feel in other areas of your life, even as you’re trudging through hardship.

This life is a gift in spite of its challenges. God loves us so very much, and he longs to be in intimate relationship with each one of us. He longs for us to be part of his kingdom. He longs for us to come home to him.

And he walks beside us in our toughest journeys.

So the next time life narrows to a pinpoint and the walls of that funhouse room start creeping in, try lowering the binoculars. Take a breath. Look around at the wider view: the people who love you, the small mercies tucked into your ordinary day, the God who has never once left your side.

Then say it, out loud if you can: “This is hard, Lord, but thank you. Thank you for being here in this with me.”

You might be surprised how much more you can see.

Will you join me in a prayer?

Father God, thank you for loving me and for walking with me. Thank you for all the goodness, mercy, and grace you surround me with. When life is hard, help me remember the blessings I experience even amid the pain. Help me lower my binoculars to see the good all around me. Help me stay rooted in hope, not despair. In the holy and precious name of your son Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

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