Q&A: How to Be Grateful Even During Difficult & Tough Times - DJ Dickerson

Well, this evening we are in our I I

usually say it's the third Sunday of the

month, but sometimes that changes uh

with our five Sundays. So, I guess I

should start saying the next to last

Sunday of the month uh we have our Q&A

asking for a friend uh series that we do

once a month. And of course, the last

Sunday of the month we have right the

sermon in song. So, that's next Sunday

evening, Lord's will. And we'll we'll be

back to that one. But for asking for a

friend, these questions that are

submitted and and sometimes I would say

that we commonly hear at least I do. I

get these questions quite a bit uh

throughout uh not just particularly in

in requesting a sermon at a any

particular time but questions that are

asked and and hope for some answers you

know during some very difficult times.

But I thought this one of course is uh

one of those questions submitted but

it's I guess I use this one because it's

perfect timing uh because it is

Thanksgiving week because everybody's

wonder we're going to have a

Thanksgiving sermon. You know that's

usually what everybody's want to know.

Uh but we're we're going to ask this

question or you know is how how can we

be grateful even during difficult and

tough times. uh it's a struggle

sometimes I believe and and uh as as we

live in this physical flesh and I I

don't believe that it's a secret that

life brings seasons of joy

but also seasons of heartache, loss,

disappointment, and uncertainties.

Yet scripture repeatedly calls God's

people to that word gratitude

constantly.

Uh but interestingly, we're not called

to simply be grateful when things are

going well,

but especially when life is difficult,

when life is hard, when there are tough

times. One of the scriptures that we

many times see during the holiday season

that we are in is 1 Thessalonians 5 and

verse 18. Paul is giving what I have

called many times the three perpetual

practices of the Christian life. Did a

lesson on that. It's been a while back.

I believe that was one of our sermon and

songs. But 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is one

1 Thessalonians 5:18

of those perpetual practices that we are

to be doing every day. And that is in

everything give thanks for this is the

will of God in Christ Jesus for you. How

many times we have to remind when we

read that passage that it it does not

say for everything but in everything.

You ever just really focus that? You

might actually just kind of circle that

a little bit, you know, and say, "I need

that reminder." or underline that word

in everything. Does say for everything

in everything. And so today's lessons

addressing this question is how can we

how can a Christian be grateful even

during difficult and tough times. Now a

lot of times the short answer that that

we will go into this is is because

gratitude is not based on circumstances.

It's based on Christ. And you know

that's we say well that's a short

answer. Well, let's let's give a few

other things here obviously that we can

consider uh as we go through this week

uh and throughout our lives. Well, one

of those things I would say is how can

we be grateful? Um and that question

even during difficult and tough times,

how can we stay focused in our

perspective and such? Well, I think the

first one I would give to you is that we

are to be grateful because God is still

good. Can we agree with that? uh and you

go to Psalm 100

and verse five and Psalm 100 is actually

just five verses, isn't it? But verse 5

tells us this, for the Lord is good, his

mercy is everlasting, and his truth

endures to all generations.

So what the psalmist is telling us and

what the scriptures go to remind us is

that his goodness does not change with

our circumstances.

I I think about a lot of things we might

see that changes because we're used to a

lot of those things. Whether we're

talking about the stock market, that

changes obviously that fluctuates.

Health issues may change. Relationships

may change. Emotions certainly may

change, right? Sometimes several times

during a day for that matter, but God

does not. And that's a key thing we have

to focus upon. One of those passages

that I I consider many times is from

Malachi 3 and 6. The first part of that

verse says, "For I am the Lord. I do not

change." Oh, the reminder that we need

all the time. Even the Hebrew writer

speaks of Jesus in Hebrews 13 and verse

8 being the same to yesterday, today,

and forever. And those are are just a

few passages that remind us of this

point here to be grateful because God is

still good. that even in trials, do we

realize that his goodness is active?

Because trials does not mean that God is

absent. As we know from scriptures that

trials, difficulties, hardships,

whichever word you want to use in that

particular instance

are designed to do certain things.

Refine us, strengthen us, and bring us

closer to him. And I'll talk a little

about that here in just a moment. We

used a passage in a lesson just recently

talking about connecting that of Joseph,

right? Remember Joseph and Jesus in our

last Sunday morning's lesson. We're

talking about him and and the

difficulties that he faced in his

waiting rooms of life. And Romans 8:28

Romans 8:28

was one of those verses that I believe

Joseph would understand throughout his

life. And one that we are to understand

that we know that all things work

together for good to those who love God,

to those who are the called according to

his purpose.

Not that all things are good. Y'all

notice that? Not that all things are

good, but God can bring good out of all

things. And we see that play out in the

life of Joseph, don't we?

So, what we find in in this first point

that I'm just simply, you know, like I

said, this seems to be a give me kind of

thing. But gratitude grows when we focus

on who God is, not on how or what we

feel.

Sometimes that's the driving force and

that shouldn't be right. Gratitude grows

when we focus on who God is, not what we

feel.

Well, second of all, I would say to be

grateful during even difficult times,

tough issues that we deal with is be

grateful because not that God is still

good, but because God is still working.

You know, John 5 in verse 17. You know,

you think about these these verses in

and that that we see. Oh, and I said

there's there was numerous verses that I

kind of had to bring it back just a

little bit of course, but again all I

say about all the lessons that no matter

how many verses I give you that uh or or

in and any lesson that these are to

stimulate our thinking what Jesus even

said here regarding honoring the father

and the son but Jesus actually my father

has been working till now and I have

been working and that's something that

has been represented throughout the

scriptures is the working that that is

still going on that even we don't see

the outcome, God is already ahead.

Uh hard times rarely come with

explanations. You ever think about that?

Um

but can we see that they always come

with God's involvement? And again, I go

back to Joseph. Joseph didn't see the

purpose in the pit, did he? He might not

saw the purpose in Piper's house or in

prison for that matter. But again, what

do we see from Genesis 50 and verse 20?

God was working behind the scenes the

entire time.

But as for you, remember this, you meant

evil against me. This is Joseph talking

to his brothers who betrayed him, who

threw him into the pit, WHO SOLD HIM

INTO SLAVERY. THAT'S WHO HE'S TALKING

TO. BUT HE SAYS, "But God meant it for

good in order to bring about as it is

this day to save many people alive."

Look at what all these waiting rooms of

life and all these difficulties and all

these things happened

because God meant it for good

because the trials that that Joseph was

facing became tools in God's hands.

How many times do we go to James chapter

James 1 · chapter mention

1 and look at these verses? How often

have I taught these passages and and and

talking about the refining process? And

it's it's a it's you we don't always

think about this part of it when we're

in the thick of it, right? When when

we're in the trenches, we might use that

word. But when he's saying, "My

brethren, count it all joy when you fall

into various trials." See, that just

sounds so odd to us to talk about joy

and trials. Doesn't sound joyful at all.

But it says knowing that the testing of

your faith, he says you got to

understand, you got to know some things.

It's knowing that the testing of your

faith produces something. What does it

produce? Patience. But let patience have

its perfect work that you may be perfect

and complete, lacking nothing. So here's

this tools that we're talking about in

God's hands that trials, what they do is

trials produce endurance, produces

growth, maturity. All of those things

are included here.

And and I like the the thought that that

God uses difficulty like a sculptor uses

a chisel.

Get that imagery in your mind.

So gratitude grows when we trust the one

holding the hammer.

Can we say that we trust God in that

kind of way? Gratitude says, you know, I

don't know how, right? But I trust

you're working.

God is still working.

And how grateful we should be

in whatever circumstance we find

ourselves to be in.

Let me submit to you as well is that we

can be grateful because God is still

with us. The reminder that we constantly

need is what Hebrews 13:5 and 6 says.

Hebrews 13:5

one that I believe it's a familiar

passage just like the other ones that

we've considered briefly already. But

Hebrews 13:es 5 and 6, look what it

says. Let your conduct be without

covetousness. Be content with such

things as you have. For he himself has

said, I will never leave you nor forsake

you, so we may boldly say, "The Lord is

my helper. I will not fear. What can man

do to me?"

You ever thought how gratitude grows

from God's presence?

God never promised a life free from

storms. Did not. You won't find it in

the scriptures where it says there's a

promise from God that we're going to

have a life free from storms, from

difficulties and trials obviously.

But what he did promise is his presence

in the storms.

We have a great example of that of Jesus

proving such of when he was stilling the

water, he was there with them.

How many passages do we see like the

psalmist in chapter 23 and verse4, "Thou

art with me." That's a prime one that we

see. Psalm 23 and:4, uh Isaiah 43 and

verse two talks about when you pass

through the waters, I will be with you.

It's a promise.

What was it? Matthew 28 we saw this

morning. You might remember we we look

at that as the considering the great

commission that was being given from the

account there in Matthew. In Matthew

Matthew 28 · chapter mention

chapter 28, I'll back it up just a few

verses, but Matthew chapter 28

Matthew 28 · chapter mention

down through verse 20. It says, "And

Jesus came and spoke to them, saying,

All authority has been given to me in

heaven and on earth. Go therefore, make

disciples of all the nations, baptizing

them in the name of the Father and of

the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching

them to observe all things that I have

commanded you. And lo, what's it saying?

I am with you always,

even to the end of the age. Amen.

See, there there's several passages.

Again, those are just a few I'm giving

you real quickly,

but I'm asking a question.

that as me I've talked to over time in

in regards to problems and trials that

they face that they're going through

that these reminders are here for all of

us.

And have you ever thought about how

presence

is more powerful than explanation?

Have you ever thought about that? I want

to give you an example real quickly.

I've experienced this as a child and you

have too.

If you have children, have children, you

understand at an early age, you've

experienced this.

You remember,

especially as an adult with a child,

when your kid comes in there and they're

afraid at night,

woo, that 2:00 in the morning, it's

like,

it's going to be okay. There's nothing

going on, you know, and you got to go

through the whole thing, right? But I I

want to give you something.

What I have found

is that as a child, if I think back to

when I was a kid, which a little bit

ago,

I thought I didn't really need a

lecture.

I didn't need that.

Do you know what stealed me more than

anything is I had a parent in the room.

Their presence

is what brought calm.

Their presence is what brought peace

because I knew it would be okay because

they were there.

And I thought about that

that God doesn't always explain

our pain and all of those things. And I

mean a lot of times that's what we want.

We want to, you know, because all these

things that's in our heads, right? just

we these kids we have all these things

that's going on. It's like I you know

but we need him in our room if you know

what I mean. And that's I think that's a

powerful point that he never leaves us

in it alone.

I don't know, just some thoughts there

from when I was a kid.

But be grateful because God is still

with us.

Difficulties and trials. Boy, can I give

you a lot of lists from my own life and

I know you could give me some of yours.

But I I submit to you a lot of these.

And just like this next one, be grateful

because God still provides hope.

Well, that's a big one, isn't it? You

look at First Peter chapter 1, and I

1 Peter 1 · chapter mention

want you to look at verses 3-7.

1 Peter 1:es 3-7

with me. Blessed be the God and Father,

our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to

his abundant mercy has begotten us again

to a living hope through the

resurrection of Jesus Christ from the

dead, to an inheritance incorruptible

and undefiled and that does not fade

away, reserved in heaven for you, who

are kept. Y'all see those words? Who are

kept by the power of God through faith

for salvation ready to be revealed in

the last time. In this you greatly

rejoice, though now for a little while,

if need be, you have been grieved by

various trials, that the genuiness of

your faith, being much more precious

than gold that perishes, though it is

tested by fire, may be found to praise,

honor, and glory at the revelation of

Jesus Christ.

So Christians always have a future worth

thanking God for. We can say thank you

even in the valley because this world is

not our home. Our suffering is temporary

and heaven is real. It's all right

there. And this gratitude grows when we

shift our view from the temporary to the

eternal.

Paul in I could spend a lot of time

there regarding Paul. a lot of the

things that he endured and you can go

and and look at the extensive list

that's given and and there's several

places again we we see the instances of

and his journeys and and the the

persecutions the oppression the beatings

that that that he took uh the

imprisonment all all of that and 2

2 Corinthians 11 · chapter mention

Corinthians chapter 11 gives a a a

pretty good bit of description there in

the suffering for Christ that he had

when when he talked about uh his

background and such, but but he he

talked about from the Jews. Five times I

received 40 stripes minus one. That's

verse 24 of 2 Corinthians 11. Three

times I was beaten with rods and I was

once I I was stoned. Three times I was

shipwrecked. A night and a day I've been

in the deep and journeys often in perils

of waters and perils of robbers and

perils of my own countrymen and perils

of the Gentiles and perils in the city

and perils in the wilderness and perils

in the sea and perils among false

brethren and weariness and thirst and

fastings often and cold and nakedness.

Besides the other things, what comes

upon me daily, my deep concern for all

the churches. He gives a glimpse of of

the troubles and difficulties, the

hardships that he faced in his

day-to-day life because he was a

Christian

as an apostle and he was going about and

doing a great work for giving the

praise, honor, and glory to God.

And when we read that, you back up to

second Corinthians chapter 4 and look

2 Corinthians 4 · chapter mention

what he says there. Therefore, we do not

lose heart. Even though our outward man

is perishing, yet the inward man is

being renewed day by day. For our light

affliction,

sounds strange when you think that don't

sound light to me. But he says, "Our

light affliction, which is but for a

moment, is working for us a far more

exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

While we do not look at the things which

are seen, but the things which are not

seen.

For the things which are seen are

temporary, but the things which are not

seen are eternal. So think about that.

Paul endured what I just read from

chapter 11. He endured beatings,

imprisonment, slander, hardship after

hardship. And yet he wrote this.

What's that tell us?

That his gratitude flowed from eternity,

not from his circumstances.

That's the difference.

Because what he's saying is hope can

give us a reason to say thank you even

with tears in our eyes.

That yes, we can grieve, we can hurt, we

can struggle, but we do not do so

without hope.

It's powerful when you look at these

words. So let me give you some practical

ways to remain grateful during difficult

times. Again, great questions I believe

are very good for us all to be reminded

that when we think about our times of

difficulties, how can we be grateful?

One of the first ones that we know will

come up is this one is we need to count

our blessings, but we need to be

intentional about it.

Be intentional. I'm asking when was the

last time that you were intentionally

counting your blessings rather than our

afflictions. Okay? Because that's like

I've said many times, it's easier to

count our afflictions than our

blessings. Counting our blessings really

makes us think, doesn't it?

That that we're that we're not talking

about just vague gratitude, but I'm

talking about being specific.

Can we name at least five blessings

every morning? Can we name them?

Can we write a gratitude list even

during trials that we are going through?

Can we thank God in prayer for even the

small mercies, for the small things,

right? We might consider

I think that's one number one. Number

two, I would say is f focus on on God's

faithfulness in the past.

We're talking about David and Goliath

this morning just briefly in our our

parallels and the talking of the shadows

and uh to substance series, David and

Jesus this morning. And one of those

things that you find when David of

course defeated Goliath, one of those

things that he remembered and he even

brought up was the lion, the bear. What

that meant to him was God's past

deliverances. And he gave credit where

credit was due. David was just patting

himself on the back saying, you know,

look at me and all the skill and all

those things, you know, and we might

find ourselves guilty of that. But I

tell you what, we better take a step

back.

He gave God the credit.

And and and the reminder that David had

and I believe we can even see for

ourselves is that God has not brought us

this far to abandon us now.

And you see that in throughout great

biblical characters just like Elijah,

another powerful one, right? Elijah, he

had some trials and he had some

hardships and difficulties, didn't he?

What? You know, grateful for what? My

life. Take it. He's underneath that

juniper tree and he's ready to die. Take

my life.

God reminded him.

Focus

on God's faithfulness in the past. We

need the reminders

and what God still is working just as

those other points. They're all there.

What about this one? What about serve

others? I think that's a big one, isn't

it?

Serving someone else in need often lifts

our own burdens and restores

perspective.

I found that to be true a lot serving

others. I got a lesson on about about

that in our sermon song next Sunday

evening. So I'm not going to jump all

into the points there. Okay. What about

number four about pray honest prayers?

We pray honest prayers. You're like,

"Well, it should be honest, right? We're

talking to God.

But gratitude sometimes I think we have

a misunderstanding. Gratitude does not

mean pretending everything is okay.

You ever look at the Psalms, those

prayers

was all those prayers everything's

great.

We appreciate everything. Everything's

great. No. You go and you look at the

Psalms and there's some there's there's

some hardships that the Psalmist was

dealing with. We talked about on the run

from Saul hiding in caves. There psalms

that he wrote while he was in there.

David would say basically, "Lord, I'm

hurting, but I still trust you."

He was honest. Look, God knows what's in

our hearts. He knows how we feel. And we

can be thankful for our blessings. We

can focus on his faithfulness in the

past just like David was.

What about this one? Stay close to God's

people.

You ever think about how the early

church sometimes we use the word

survival mode,

survived.

I I think it's it's difficult for us

sometimes to understand

the

problems that they had. Sometimes I

don't know if there's a word that just

really just sums all that up. I've tried

to look for the right words.

But when you think about Steven being

stoned to death

and yet he still cared for the souls who

were stoning him.

You got those who were being persecuted

in the early church

and all those hardships they did

together.

They did it together because that's

God's design. Isn't that what that's

We're studying the book of Acts. We just

started this morning in our Bible class,

our adult Bible class. And we're going

to find that they stayed close.

That's what unity is all about. That's

the that's God's design of the church

because he knows it's going to be tough.

He knows it's going to be difficult. And

grateful hearts grow best in a Christian

community.

These are just a few thoughts that I

want to share with you. Great question.

One that just certainly helps me

again reminds me as it reminds you

that gratitude in difficult times is not

denial. That's not what it is.

I would say it's defiance. It's a

declaration of faith

that God is still good. God is still

working. God is still with us and God

still provides hope. Those are four

points I believe we can take away from

that question tonight

because I believe it's clear from the

scriptures that a grateful Christian is

not someone who has an easy life but

someone who has a faithful God.

Can we say together today, we have a

faithful God.

As I mentioned in the Bolden article

this week and in this lesson,

we as Christians have a reminder of a

deeper truth. Gratitude is not just a

holiday.

It's a way of life for God's people.

In scripture, thanksgiving is rooted in

remembering God's goodness. Right? Psalm

118 and verse one, give thanks. Oh, give

thanks to the Lord for he is good for

his mercy endures forever.

Gratitude as we noted begins when we

take time to recall how God has blessed

us in so many ways in so many different

areas physically, spiritually,

emotionally

that Paul ties that very gratitude to

our trust in God. Philippians 4:es 6 and

7. Be anxious for nothing, but in

everything by prayer and supplication

with, look at that word, thanksgiving.

Let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of GOD WHICH SURPASSES ALL

understanding will guard your hearts and

minds through Christ Jesus.

So even when life is difficult and when

we have things that's going on that we

have a hard time wrapping our minds

around, we can express gratitude because

we know God is faithful. He's present.

He's working for our good. And friends,

I I'll tell you that a thankful heart

softens pride, reduces complaining,

strengthens relationships, and fills our

lives with joy. I look at that example

in the life of Christ, in the life of

Paul. That's what they showed. They

demonstrated it. And that's what we

should demonstrate to a world

who needs this reminder as well.

But as I noted as well in the bulletin

article that most importantly

thanksgiving points us back to the

cross.

I thought about how on the night Jesus

was betrayed, he took bread and he gave

thanks

and broke it. Have you ever stopped and

just consider for just a moment that he

gave thanks although he knew exactly

what that bread represented in the very

institution of the Lord's supper?

his body given for you.

Because gratitude in the shadow of

sufferings

brings the reminder of God's greatest

gift, our salvation through Christ.

So being thankful or grateful is not one

day on the calendar, but it is the daily

posture of a Christian. our posture

and yes even in difficult

trying times.

Why is that?

I believe because gratitude turns our

eyes

away from temporary concerns and fixes

them on eternal realities.

That's my belief. [clears throat]

For when we practice daily gratitude,

worship becomes richer,

prayer becomes deeper, service becomes

joyful, trials become bearable, hope

becomes stronger.

And we are called as God's people to not

reserve gratitude for one day, but to

live it out every day, choosing to speak

it, live it, share it in a world

in need of God's light.

Colossians 3 and verse 15. and let the

peace of God rule in your hearts to

which also you are called in one body

and be thankful.

Friends, I have looked and I have said

to myself and this and and and this

question and studying

I said to myself if Paul for certain

could be thankful and have a complete

interesting perspective I don't know

even during the things he faced and what

excuse do I have

sir certainly don't have one.

Great reminders in our Q&A yet again.

You may be struggling, but as I stated

in the lesson, it's why we stay close to

God's people,

why we stay close to God,

because he invites us to draw near.

It may be that your spiritual need this

evening is prayers on your behalf.

Maybe again the reminder that we need to

stop counting our afflictions, start

counting our blessings intentionally.

Be honest.

It's God's design

and it's a beautiful one.

Be thankful. Be grateful

even in difficulties. There is

great lessons. There are great lessons.

If you're outside of Christ,

he invites you right now to obey the

gospel call. Having heard the word, you

believe that Jesus Christ is the son of

God. If you can answer in the firm, say,

"I believe that he is the son of God."

Repent of your sins, confess him to be

the son of God, and be baptized,

immersed, buried with Christ in baptism

to rise and walk in newness of life. As

Romans 6 3 and 4 says,

as a Christian

carrying burdens,

the church stands ready to pray with you

and for you.

And we will be thankful and grateful

in our lives to be able to help you

in any way possible to be what God has

called you to be and help you through

those storms and those trials.

You can just say, "Lord, I'm coming

home."

If you're subject to the invitation call

this this evening, won't you come as we

stand as we sing the song that's been

selected?