Do you sometimes not feel like praying, even though you know you should? This often happens when you’re going through a trial or when your soul simply feels downcast.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

What should you do if you can’t bring yourself to pray? It’s simple! Thank God for who He is. David said:

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” — Psalm 34:1

Perhaps you were taught to thank God for everything that happens to you? But that’s not what God is asking. In reality, the Bible says: give thanks in all circumstances, not for all circumstances. There’s a huge difference between thanking God for everything that happens to you and thanking Him in everything that happens to you.

Indeed, Paul clarifies (Sower version):

“Rejoice in all that the Lord is to you.” — Philippians 4:4

It’s not about thanking God for the events of your life, but for who He is to you—for His attributes: goodness, faithfulness, presence, love, justice, compassion, peace, power.

Who He is does not depend on circumstances, but each situation you go through gives Him the opportunity to reveal one or more aspects of His character.

In sorrow, He is your Comforter. In injustice, He remains the one who defends your cause—if you let Him. In loneliness, He is your fullness. In your mistakes, He doesn’t walk away but remains the Shepherd of your life. In every situation you face, He is with you and reveals His presence through His attributes. This is how He responds to you and guides you.

He never promised you wouldn’t go through painful times—on the contrary (John 16:33)! But when you thank Him regardless of your circumstances, simply for His presence and His attributes—for all that He is—you are the one who benefits.

In difficult moments, you need to regain hope, to be strengthened in your inner being, and to stand firm. You need divine oxygen. Prayer is the only way to breathe this divine oxygen. Learn to give thanks for all that He is, and you’ll be surprised to see His power strengthen you and His peace flood your heart. After all, isn’t that deep inner peace what you are truly searching for?

A Prayer for Today

“Father, grant me the grace to give thanks to You at all times. Help me understand that by doing so, I am actually doing myself a favor, not You. Thank You for renewing my perspective on the prayer of thanksgiving. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

This text is an excerpt from the book “365 Days at the Master’s Feet”, written by several French-speaking authors, with Jérémy Sourdril as the main contributor.

We invite you to read the following article: “Evangelism Is a Matter of Faith!”

Don’t Feel Like It. Don’t Feel Like It. Don’t Feel Like It.