Being Thankful Despite Trials

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our reading titled, Being Thankful Despite Trials, was written by Nancy Gavalanas. I've been following and praying for a fellow writer who's been posting online about her cancer journey. She alternates between sharing updates about her physical pain and challenges and sharing prayer requests with scripture and praises to God.

It's beautiful to see her courageous smile, whether she's in the hospital awaiting treatments or at home wearing a bandana because her hair is falling out. With each challenge, she never fails to encourage others to trust God during trials. When we're going through difficulties, it may be challenging to find reasons to be grateful and to praise God. However, Psalm 100 gives us reasons to rejoice and give God praise despite our circumstances. The psalmist says, Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. He adds, For the Lord is good and his love endures forever.

His faithfulness continues through all generations. Whatever our trial, we can take comfort knowing that God is near to our broken hearts. The more time we spend with God in prayer and reading the Bible, the more we'll be able to, as verse four states, enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise and give thanks to him and praise his name. We can shout for joy to the Lord even and perhaps especially when we're in a difficult season because our God is faithful.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is Psalm 100. Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us and we are his.

We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever.

His faithfulness continues through all generations. Let's pray. Gracious Lord, even in our darkest moments, remind us that you are God, our creator, and our shepherd, whose love and faithfulness endure forever. Fill us with joy, even as we endure life's trials, as we trust in your unfailing goodness and comfort. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening today. My name is Brenna Holzclaw and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.