How to Stand Strong When Life Shakes You

When life gets hard, gratitude becomes your anchor. It shifts your focus from what's wrong to what's right, transforming suffering into strength and hope.

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

"Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God."
—John Wesley

TODAY’S OBJECTIVES

Daily Vitamin: Gratitude rewires everything.
Inspirational Story: Your response to suffering matters more than the suffering itself.
Verse of the Day: Romans 12:12

Gratitude rewires everything.

Small acts of thankfulness transform how you see the world. When you choose gratitude daily, fear loses its grip and hope takes root.

• Pray for eyes to see what’s still right.

• List three things you’re grateful for this morning.

• Share one small win from today before bed.

  

How to Stand Strong When Life Shakes You

Life doesn’t hand out free passes when trouble comes.
If it did, I’d grab a stack and pass them out to everyone I love.

We don’t want to suffer.
We don’t want the people we care about to hurt either.

But sometimes life throws things at us we never saw coming.
It can feel so unfair, so unpredictable.
The ground shifts beneath our feet, and we’re left scrambling for balance.

But the hard times don’t define you.
How you respond does.
And one of the most powerful ways to rise above the struggle is:
Gratitude.

That might sound strange.
When life feels heavy, gratitude can feel impossible.
It’s easy to get stuck asking, “Why me? Why now?”
Those questions loop in our minds like a broken record.

Gratitude changes everything.

It shifts your eyes from what’s wrong to what’s still right.

It’s not about pretending everything’s fine or slapping on a fake smile.
It’s about seeing the good, even when the bad feels bigger.

Gratitude doesn’t make the struggle disappear.
It gives you the strength to walk through it.

The Apostle Paul knew suffering.
He was beaten, shipwrecked, thrown in prison, and left for dead.
Yet listen to his words:
“But we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3)

Hope. That’s where gratitude leads us.

Happiness is found in gratitude right where you stand.

Want to build this muscle?

Start small.
Each morning, pray and name three things you’re thankful for.
Before bed, pray again and think of one small win from your day.
Call someone and tell them what they mean to you.

These simple acts rewire how you see the world.
Over time, they help you face challenges with hope instead of fear.

Gratitude isn’t just a feeling.
It’s a choice you make again and again, until it becomes who you are.

When life gets hard, and it will, remember this:
Gratitude is your anchor.
It won’t stop the storms, but it will keep you steady through them.

Choose gratitude today, and watch how it transforms everything.

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)

Devotion: Hope fuels our joy even in hard times. Patience and prayer anchor us in God’s promises.
Action: Write down one hope you have and pray about it consistently throughout the day.

Download February’s Calendar

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WATCH THE BIBLE COME TO LIFE

SHE LAUGHED IN GOD’S FACE | GENESIS 18 PT. 1

Is anything too hard for the Lord?

This is Episode 10 of Bible in a Year with Jack Graham, inspired by Genesis 18:1–15 and Genesis 21:1–7. 📖

👇🏽Hit the image or the link below to witness God’s assurance to Abraham and Sarah, laughter born from doubt, and joy fulfilled with the birth of Isaac.

Watch Now