We can’t control the things that happen around us in life, but we can control our response to them.

How we respond to situations profoundly affects our mental and spiritual health. It is the difference between sitting in depression and defeat or having hope and persevering.  

It is easy to be grateful when things are going well in life, but not so easy when we’re fighting sickness, loss, or uncertainty, and our world is turned upside.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9 ^“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

It’s not always easy to see past the troubled times, but it is possible. To remind me of God’s goodness in the dark times, I regularly practice a gratitude journal.

It is a simple journal where I write down what I am grateful for against each problem I am currently facing. This removes the focus of the issues and highlights the positive things in my life.  It has helped keep me in the right headspace when facing hard times.

When our focus is on the good, we have something positive to focus God brings us through the current storm.