So, newsflash: your life matters. Not because you have everything figured out, your future is sorted, or your Instagram looks good. Your life has value because you were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). That value doesn’t disappear when life gets messy.
And one of the most powerful things you can grow in this life? Gratitude.
You can be grateful and still be struggling. Gratitude is not denial—it is remembering God’s goodness while you wait.
When Your Life Doesn’t Look Like the Highlight Reel
It’s easy to scroll through everyone else’s wins and feel like you’re falling behind. Someone got the job. Someone is travelling. Someone seems to have their whole life together.
Meanwhile, you’re just trying to get through the week.
Gratitude doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine. It means recognising that God is still present, even when your circumstances aren’t what you hoped for. You may not have everything you want, but in Christ you already have grace, forgiveness, love, and a living hope (1 Peter 1:3).
That is worth more than anything money can buy.
You Can Be Grateful and Still Be Struggling
The Bible tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Notice: in all circumstances, not for every circumstance.
You can be grateful and still feel disappointed. You can thank God and still have questions. You can trust Him while admitting that something hurts.
Gratitude is not denial. It is choosing to remember God’s goodness while you are still waiting for things to change.
The 10,000 Reasons Challenge
Matt Redman’s 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) reminded us that God’s blessings are more than we can count on our hands.
Life groups in Pretoria took that idea into a Gratitude Journal challenge. They wrote down things they were thankful for every day and numbered each one. Some reached 100 reasons by the end of the week. Others noticed their lists getting longer as the days went by.
Their lives had not necessarily changed overnight. But what they were noticing had.
Try It for Seven Days
Grab a notebook or open your Notes app. Write down five things you’re grateful for today. Number them. Tomorrow, add five more.
Don’t overthink it. A good conversation counts. So does a meal, a safe place to sleep, an answered prayer, or simply having enough strength to get through a difficult day.
See what happens when you start looking for what God is doing instead of only noticing what you wish was different.
Gratitude won’t make every problem disappear. But it can change your perspective, grow contentment, and remind you that your identity is rooted in God—not popularity, possessions, or performance.
Gratitude doesn’t make your life valuable. It helps you recognise the value God has already placed in it.
Written by Kabelo Milton.
The views expressed herein are those of the writer and not I Am Youth.
If you need to talk to someone, reach out to our 24-hour free Youth counselling service on 076 037 6345 (WhatsApp, SMS, or Call).
