Gratitude has power. It doesn’t just change our mood, it changes us. Over the next five days, The Gratitude Effect will take you on a journey of how giving thanks can transform your heart, renew your outlook, and deepen your trust in God. Whether you are in a season of joy, waiting, or rebuilding, gratitude will meet you there and lead you closer to the One who is worthy of all our thanks. 

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.”-1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 

There is a story of a photographer named Hailey Bartholomew who found herself at a point in her life where she was unable to enjoy the things life had to offer. In short, she went to visit a nun who at the time was helping people with different counseling needs. The nun recommended that Hailey take the next several weeks to write down the things that she was grateful for after each day. Eventually, Hailey turned her gratitude list into a photo project, capturing daily moments of thankfulness for an entire year. In a TEDx talk, she mentioned: “ …the biggest thing I learned was how my expectations on other people prevented me from really appreciating who they were.” 

Gratitude doesn’t ignore problems — it reframes them. It shifts your focus from what’s missing to what God is still doing. 

The Bible says in Acts 16 that Paul and Silas after being beaten, chained and thrown into prison, sang hymns to God. They didn’t complain and give up, instead they chose gratitude in worship which not only shifted their perspective but also allowed God to show up with an earthquake that opened up the prison doors. 

Today, I encourage you to use gratitude to change how you see your situation and then watch how God shows up to change the situation. 

Reflection: 

How might choosing gratitude right where you are shift how you see it? 

Additional Reading: Acts 16:25; Habakkuk 3:17-18 

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”-1 Kings 19:11-12

Growing up in the Midwest, spring often brought severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes. I remember many times when my family had to seek shelter as sirens wailed outside.

Tornadoes represent chaos — moments when everything feels uprooted and swirling around us. But even in those storms, God’s presence remains steady. Gratitude in the “tornado seasons” of life is an act of defiance. It’s says, “I will give thanks even here.” 

When we choose gratitude in the midst of life’s violent winds, we discover that God often speaks after the storm — in the calm, in the whisper, and in the rebuilding. 

Reflection: 

What is one thing that you can be thankful for even in the storm? 

Additional Reading: Nahum 1:7; James 1:2-4

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” — Psalm 51:10 

When David wrote Psalm 51, he was broken. He was desperate for God’s forgiveness. In the midst of repentance, we hear something deeper than guilt, we hear longing for restoration. This is where gratitude begins to form. David believed that God could cleanse, renew, and restore. 

Gratitude has a way of doing that in our own lives too. When we start to thank God even when we are wounded, something shifts. Thanksgiving softens what bitterness has hardened. It reminds us of God’s mercy when shame tries to speak louder. It replaces heaviness with hope. 

Gratitude transforms how we carry the past. It re-centers us on God’s grace rather than our regret. Every “thank You” becomes a step toward a healed heart and a renewed spirit. 

When we choose gratitude every day we are saying: “God I still believe you are working in me.” 

Reflection: 

What wound in your heart might God be ready to heal through gratitude? 

Additional Reading: Isaiah 61:1-3 

“Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known His deeds among the peoples.” - 1 Chronicles 16:8 

Have you ever been part of a “pay it forward” moment—like being in a drive-thru line when the person ahead of you pays for your order? Often, that simple act of kindness inspires you to do the same for the person behind you, creating a ripple effect of generosity. 

The Bible says that when the Ark of the Covenant was returned to Jerusalem, David danced before the Lord with thanksgiving. His thanksgiving set the tone for an entire generation’s worship.

Like a “pay it forward” act, gratitude is contagious. It shifts the atmosphere around you. Gratitude reminds others that God is good. A thankful heart influences others and spreads hope and encouragement. It can be the thing that reignites someone's faith. 

Today, let your thanksgiving be seen and heard. It may inspire someone else to worship. 

Reflection: 

Who might be encouraged when they see you giving thanks today? 

Additional Reading: Psalm 100:4-5; Philippians 1:3-5

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” - Psalm 27:13 

Waiting can be hard. As a child, I remember being so excited for Christmas mornings that my siblings and I would rush to bed early, hoping the night would pass quickly. But no matter how early we woke up, our parents’ rule was clear: no gifts until everyone (meaning them) is awake. The wait always felt like forever. 

Waiting seasons test our trust, patience, and hope. Waiting can make your heart grow weary. The Bible says that Hannah waited years for a child while enduring deep sorrow. Instead of turning bitter, she turned to prayer. When God finally answered, her first response was gratitude. Hannah’s gratitude was formed during her waiting period. 

Gratitude in the waiting does not ignore the pain of delay, but it does transform it. When we thank God before the answer comes, we are showing our trust in God. This kind of thanksgiving becomes an anchor for our hearts. It brings a sense of calm when we begin to doubt or feel inpatient. God’s timing is always perfect. 

If you are in a waiting season today, put your trust in God. Praise Him for what He has done and for what he is preparing to do in your life. Thanksgiving during the wait gives your heart the strength to endure. 

Reflection: 

What has God already done in the past that reminds you He will come through for you again? 

Additional Reading: 1 Samuel 1-2