20 Things to Thank God for in the Midst of Adversity

Often, when people become Christians, they think all adversity will supernaturally disappear. Yet when adversity does befall them, their first thought may be, “But I am a Christian now. My life should be easy.” 

Right? 

Aaron Wilson, of Lifeway Research, says, “…if Christians say following Jesus is easy, they risk downplaying the Lord’s warning to count the cost of discipleship.”

Jesus, as He prepared His disciples for His departure, told them they would have tribulation in the world, but in Him they would have peace, because He has overcome the world (John 16:32-33). Tribulation is another word for adversity, and believers aren’t immune to it in this life.

But how and why are we to thank God in the midst of it?

In the core of adversity, we wonder why we are to be thankful. 

The Bible tells us to give thanks always, for everything “to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Ephesians 5:20). Always and for everything. 

We will consider why and how.

Thanksgiving continues through good times and hard times. We don’t need to stop what we are doing, for thanksgiving is a heart attitude. In giving thanks to God, we are expectant God will use our circumstances for His glory and our good. And we give more back to God than our tithes. He tells us to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to Him (Romans 12:1), acknowledging all He has done for us and serving Him by loving and abiding in Christ, walking in His Word, and serving others (among other things).

Think too of your personal and corporate time of worship, for in it you are thanking God (Psalm 95:2; Psalm 100:4).

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:8-10).

“For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me” (Colossians 1:29).

We can thank God for: 

1. His Sovereignty; nothing takes Him by surprise (His will). 

2. Being able to trust Him, for He is faithful.

3. That we are not alone, for wherever each day takes us, He is already there and He will be right there with us.