by Marilynn Chadwick

"In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33 NKJV

Giving thanks to God can diffuse even life's most difficult circumstances. Gratitude has a healing power all its own. I have seen this over and over in our decades of ministry as we have come alongside people during their times of trial. I've watched praise and thanksgiving rise up from those walking through the worst of tragedies—clear evidence that God is providing supernatural strength and comfort.

Several years ago, I personally learned anew the value of giving thanks—this time in the trauma ward of our local hospital. I was not there as a caregiver but as a family member. My younger sister had sustained a traumatic brain injury in a fall and was fighting for her life. Some of you have walked through a similar journey. There's lots of watching, waiting, and praying at a time like this.

During those nightmarish 40 days visiting the trauma unit, I decided to begin each difficult morning thanking God for what he was doing in this situation. I also began watching for evidence of his work, jotting down each little sign of hope—however tiny—in my journal.

There were many. Like the kind custodian who assured me that "God was in control." Looking over at my comatose sister, he added, with conviction, "She's going to be all right." Or the beautiful chaplain with a Middle Eastern background who talked about how her family had smuggled Bibles into her closed country. What a special time of prayer we had together right there in my sister's hospital room. Or the beautiful garden I discovered behind the hospital—a nice spot to have lunch in the bright October sunshine. Then, there was the beautiful walking trail just outside the hospital; the friends who dropped by at just the right moment to pray for my sister. The list goes on.

To the surprise of the medical team, my sister regained consciousness. She also retained much of her cognitive ability, though there were some physical limitations. We had a long road ahead of us. Over the next twenty-nine months, there were ups and downs, hard moments and bright moments before my sister eventually went home to heaven. But during that time, there were many reasons to have hope. Above all, I finally became assured she had accepted Jesus. And I was truly thankful. Gratitude had surely softened the suffering.