Hello and welcome to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the Bible teaching ministry of Rick Warren.

You know, with Thanksgiving just around the corner, we're pausing our current series to bring you a special message from Pastor Rick,

one that will help you reflect on God's goodness and grow a heart of gratitude.

Now, let's jump right in with part one of a powerful message called

Being Thankful Even in Bad Times.

Thanksgiving is not an easy holiday for a lot of people.

Anybody in pain has a hard time being grateful.

How do you be thankful of Thanksgiving if the doctor just told you

it's cancer? How do you be thankful of Thanksgiving if the person you love the most just walked

in and said, I don't love you anymore and I'm leaving you for somebody else? How do you be thankful when you have a chronic

illness that just isn't getting any better? How do you be thankful this Thanksgiving when

you've been laid off and you've gone to 14 job interviews and they've all turned you down?

How do you be thankful when your dream has collapsed?

Or when an economic tsunami has wiped out everything you've earned in your lifetime?

How do you be thankful when your son commits suicide?

2013 was the worst year of my life.

How am I supposed to be thankful at Thanksgiving?

And yet the Bible tells us to always be thankful.

In 1st Cessalonians 518, the first verse on your outline, it says this, give thanks in all circumstances.

For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

You want to know God's will for your life?

Part of God's will is that you give thanks in all circumstances.

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