Gratitude and Growth: Learning to See God’s Hand in Every Season

Gratitude is more than a fleeting feeling.

Gratitude is more than a fleeting feeling we experience when life is going well; it’s a spiritual discipline, a perspective shift, and a posture of the heart. The Bible calls us to give thanks not just in the good moments, but in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). That means gratitude is not dependent on our circumstances but on our God, who remains faithful through them all.

In this 4-week series, Gratitude and Growth, we’re exploring how to cultivate gratitude in everyday life, even in difficult seasons, and how it fuels our personal and spiritual growth. Along the way, you’ll find tips, journaling prompts, and weekly challenges to help you move from simply saying “thank you” to living a lifestyle of thankfulness.

Week 1: Cultivating a Heart of Gratitude

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

Gratitude begins with noticing the blessings that are already present in your life. It doesn’t have to be complicated; you can start by naming one thing you’re grateful for each morning or keeping a journal of daily blessings.

Hindrances: Comparison, focusing on what’s missing, or taking the “small things” for granted can block our thankfulness.

Overcome it by: Reframing comparisons into celebrations, slowing down to notice little gifts like laughter or provision, and shifting your prayers from “Lord, give me” to “Lord, thank You.”

Journal Prompt: Write down three things you’re thankful for today. Reflect on how they reveal God’s care for you. 

Weekly Challenge: Each morning this week, write or speak one thing you’re grateful for before reaching for your phone.

Week 2: Gratitude in Difficult Seasons

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3

Gratitude in hardship doesn’t mean ignoring your pain. It means choosing to look for God’s fingerprints in the storm and trusting that He is at work even when life doesn’t make sense.

Hindrances: Believing gratitude means denying pain, getting stuck in “why me?” thinking, or only being thankful when the trial is over.

Overcome it by: Allowing gratitude and grief to coexist, asking “What is God teaching me?” instead of “Why me?”, and celebrating the resilience He’s building in you.

Journal Prompt: Think of a current or past challenge. What lessons, strengths, or unexpected blessings came from it?

 Weekly Challenge: At the end of each day, write down one way you saw God at work, even if it was small.

Thanksgiving is a lifestyle, not an event

Week 3: Gratitude for Growth – Celebrating Progress

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

Too often, we minimize our progress because it doesn’t feel big enough. But growth spiritual, personal, or emotional deserves to be celebrated. Every step forward is evidence of God’s hand in your life.

Hindrances: Minimizing small victories, comparing your journey to others, or obsessing over how far you still have to go.

Overcome it by: Remembering that small steps lead to big transformation, reflecting on where you started, and testifying about victories to remind yourself of God’s faithfulness.

Journal Prompt: Where have you seen growth in your life over the last year? Thank God for the progress.

Weekly Challenge: Share a testimony of growth, big or small, with someone in your life this week.

Week 4: Gratitude as a Lifestyle

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

Gratitude isn’t meant to be occasional; it’s a lifestyle. When we weave thanksgiving into our everyday rhythms, it transforms how we see ourselves, others, and God’s work in our lives.

Hindrances: Negativity, busyness, or treating gratitude as a once-in-a-while activity.

Overcome it by: Setting reminders to pause and thank God, creating daily gratitude rituals, and memorizing scriptures on thanksgiving to reset your perspective.

Journal Prompt: What would it look like for you to practice gratitude daily? List three habits that could help. 

Weekly Challenge: Write a gratitude letter to God or to someone in your life. If you feel led, share it.

Final Thoughts

Gratitude doesn’t erase pain or dismiss challenges, but it does open our eyes to God’s presence in every season. As you cultivate gratitude, even in the hard places, you’ll find yourself growing stronger in faith, hope, and joy.

What would shift in your life if you committed to gratitude as more than a moment, but as a way of living?

To continue your journey towards living in gratitude, check out my latest book: Thanksgiving Not Just a Holiday: Transforming Your Day With Gratitude (a 52-week Devotional) available on Amazon.com 

Want to dive deeper? Listen to the whole 4-part podcast series Growing in Gratitude on the Empowered to Live podcast. The Becoming Woman's Network - YouTube