Why You Should Be Thankful for the Bad Things

It's that time of year, friends! The time for everyone to share what they are thankful for, and a time for everyone to try just a little bit harder to be nice. People who are typically brusk and temperamental can even be found making the tinsiest bit more effort. Maybe it's the weather, or the excuse for cozy blankets. Maybe it's the copious amounts and turkey and pie that they anxiously await, but whatever it is, it helps.

I am definitely a fan of the human race being kinder and more festive. Believe me- this time of year lifts my spirits just as much as the next gal. But I have to wonder: in all our giving thanks, do we ever give thanks for the things in our lives that are difficult? Are we ever thankful for our physical ailment or our emotional trauma? Do we thank God for our car accident or for that time we were embarrassed in front of our friends?

My guess? No, we don't.

And I get it- Shoot, I do it! It's not natural for us to think of bad things as something to give thanks for. We don't normally think of a tragedy or hardship as something worth celebrating. But I believe that we should begin to think that way.

1.) Bad Things Often Turn Into Great Things

You remember when you lost your job? You were mad, anxious, and completely freaked out until... you got that even better job that you never would have pursued had you not been let go.

Or what about that guy who broke your heart. You thought he was fantastic, but after the breakup you saw his true colors; ugly, putrid colors that you don't care to look at anymore, right?

Bad/hard situations seem to have a way of working out. That isn't always true, but I have seen it play out in my own life and I'd be willing to bet that you have too.

2.) Bad Things Build Our Character

So, I'm not gonna lie. Sometimes I wish I had an easy life. Who cares if my character is built up. As long as I have a happy, easy, pain-free life, I'm good. But then I remember that that's not how I want to live.

I want to be kind, generous, gracious, forgiving- but those qualities have to be grown over time. And how do those things grow? They often come when we are challenged the most.

An easy life doesn't make for the best character. And if going through trials is what it takes to become a better version of me, then I should be thankful for the molding I am going through.

3.) God Works All Things for Our Good

Now, I think this one is the perfect tie between numero uno and numero dos. You see, as God builds our character through the hardships in our lives, He is working out everything for our good. And when God works all things for our good (which He ALWAYS does for His children) then we will reap the benefit of each trial that comes to us.

But, one thing that we have to understand is that sometimes, God is working on something eternal. And while we may see many of the good things He is working on for us while we are here on earth, sometimes we won't see or reap the benefits until Heaven.

Sometimes, the good He is working out for us will be obvious, like point number one, but sometimes, what God is working on has more to do with the person we are becoming- our character. Sometimes we just have to trust that God is good enough to know what's best, even when we cannot see it.


So this holiday season, keep being thankful for all the blessings- that's fantastic. But why not also decide to give thanks for all the "bad things" in your life that are helping you get exactly where you need to be, whether you can see it at the time or not.

For the Christian, even the worst of things has a purpose. With God, all things work together for our good. So give thanks for the bad things!