Lately, I've had a new appreciation for the difference that being thankful can make in my life. This might be a short(er) post than usual, but it seemed to be an appropriate topic due to American Thanksgiving happening this week.

I hope these thoughts can be encouraging, and perhaps help those who are suffering continue to hang on as we wait for Jesus to take all true Christians to heaven in the Rapture, hopefully very soon.

The Challenge of Being Grateful in the End Times

Although it can always be a challenge for us to remember to be grateful for the good things we have in our lives, I think this is especially challenging for Christians who feel called to watch for the signs of the end times.

As we might expect, many of these signs are things which tend to be negative, such as wars and threats of wars, pestilences, famines, earthquakes, false teachers and prophets, and Christian persecution (Matthew 24:5-12). Yet the daily news often involves far more negative subjects than just these things.

I could obviously try to provide a list of examples, but trying to list everything that is wrong with our world would take quite a while, and at the end we would all likely feel quite depressed and frustrated.

Now, Jesus does promise a special heavenly reward called the Crown of Righteousness for everyone who loves the promise that one day, at the Rapture, Jesus will come back to take all true Christians to be with him in heaven (2 Timothy 4:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18).

I believe that paying attention to the things that are going on in our world which indicate that we may be very close to the Rapture is one way that Christians who long for Jesus' return demonstrate this attitude in our daily lives.

Ironically, then, when Christians see things getting worse in the world, we should be hopeful, rather than pessimistic, because we know that our redemption at the Rapture is very near (Luke 21:28).

Christians can also have the peace of knowing that no matter how bad the world seems to get, we know the world will still generally be going on like 'normal' when the Rapture happens. It will be just like it was during the time before the worldwide flood came, or before the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were suddenly destroyed (Luke 17:26-30, Matthew 24:36-44).

I hope that all Christians would be excited about the idea of Jesus coming back to take us home to be with him (John 14:1-3). After all, Paul wrote that being in heaven with Jesus is far better than being in this world (Philippians 1:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8).

As just one example of how much better Christians' lives will be in heaven, we are told that at the Rapture, all true Christians who are alive will be instantly transformed from mortal to immortal:

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)

Our new glorified 'spiritual' bodies will be far better than they are now. I like how the Contemporary English Version puts it:

That's how it will be when our bodies are raised to life. These bodies will die, but the bodies that are raised will live forever. These ugly and weak bodies will become beautiful and strong. As surely as there are physical bodies, there are spiritual bodies. And our physical bodies will be changed into spiritual bodies. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, CEV)

Basically, our bodily upgrade at the Rapture will be even better than if we went from living in a worn-out, floppy, saggy, flimsy tent that leaks in the rain and doesn't keep the cold out, to moving into a mansion made of the best and most luxurious building materials with every amenity we could possibly hope for (2 Corinthians 5:1-5).

Thus, it's natural that right now, Christians will groan inwardly in our spirits as we wait for this incredible promise to be fulfilled:

For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (Romans 8:22-24, NLT)

And these new glorified bodies are only one part of how amazing our eternal lives in the New Heaven and New Earth will be, which will be completely free of sin and all forms of suffering and pain (Revelation 21:4).

Now, I do encourage Christians to think often about heaven, and to keep watching for the Rapture because I think these things should give us a lot of hope, and also help put our lives in this world into the right perspective. The Bible does encourage us to keep our minds on things that are eternal and currently invisible, rather than things that are visible and earthly (2 Corinthians 4:18).

But in the meantime, while we anticipate one day finally experiencing all of the amazing things God has promised for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9), there is a risk that constantly comparing our lives now to how incredible we imagine heaven will be can make our lives in this world seem almost unbearable.

Sometimes, I find I'm almost overwhelmed by all the suffering and negativity I see in the world, or that I feel at times when I'm especially vulnerable to negative thoughts. During these times, I just wish Jesus would come back already and fix everything, or else, take me out of here so I don't have to experience it anymore.

And I'm blessed to be someone who doesn't currently live with chronic pain, who isn't experiencing homelessness, or major illness, or physical disability, and who doesn't live in constant anxiety about how to put food on my table or pay my bills on a day-to-day basis. I don't live with an abusive spouse, or have children who have disowned me. I don't have kids that are suffering from terrible illnesses, and I'm definitely not suffering the way that persecuted Christians do in many countries around the world.

When I think about all these sorts of situations, I'm instantly humbled.

Now, that's not to say that I have no suffering in my own life, even if it is different. And I do think every Christian suffers in one way or another. Therefore, we shouldn't go around playing the "who suffers more" game to try to make ourselves feel justified in complaining about our lives, or to minimize our own suffering.

We also shouldn't judge others, because we really don't know what sorts of hidden suffering someone might be going through who otherwise seems to have an outwardly perfect life.

Of course, we can be encouraged that the Bible says that one day, all our suffering will be compensated for by how incredible heaven will be:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

Furthermore, God promises to even bring some sort of good out of our current suffering (Romans 8:28).

I've also written about several ways that suffering can be useful to Christians. However, admittedly, holding onto these biblical promises and consolations doesn't actually reduce the suffering we are going through right now.

So then what can we do? How can Christians keep a positive attitude while we see all the signs occurring around us that seem to show that we do not have a long-term future in this world, since everything seems to be rapidly falling apart, or rather, falling into place for the Tribulation?

Here's where I think an attitude of thankfulness is extremely powerful.

The Proverbial Half-Full or Half-Empty Glass

I know it's a cliché, but I think that how we look at our life dramatically affects our attitude toward it.

Having a positive attitude toward our lives can increase our ability to keep on enduring all the trials and difficulties that Jesus said we would face in this world (John 16:33). And having endurance is especially critical for us who now live in these very last days before the Tribulation begins (Revelation 3:10-11).

I've noticed that when I feel pessimistic about the world, it's easy to see the glass as being half-empty. That is, I put my focus on all the negatives in my life, or all the things that seem to be missing that I think would make my life better. But when I focus on these things, then it causes several more negative attitudes to show up in my heart, like:

• Grumbling and complaining to God or others about all the things I feel I'm lacking.
• Feelings of envy or jealousy toward those who do seem to have these things I want.
• Anxiety and fear about when or if I'll ever be able to have those things I want.

Even worse, I've noticed that when my focus is only on the half of the glass that is empty, then I totally miss the half of the glass that is full. I become oblivious to all the good things that I do have in my life, because I only see what is missing or negative.

So I think that one of the most powerful tools Christians have to help us get through the suffering we all experience or that we see in the world around us is to turn our focus away from these negative things by putting more focus on giving thanks for everything good that God has put in our lives.

Likely, if we could go and interview Christians who live in some of the worst places in the world, they could still list a few things in their lives that they are grateful for. Those of us who live in better places typically have far more that we should be grateful for every day.

And when we are grateful, we should then give thanks to God for everything we are grateful for. After all, God is the source of everything good in our lives (James 1:17). There is nothing good that I have that I didn't receive as a gift from God (1 Corinthians 4:7). Thus, we should always be giving thanks, regardless of our situation (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

So instead of making that list of everything that I feel is wrong with the world or my life, I remind myself that I should do the opposite.

When I do stop and challenge myself to make a list of how many things I have to be thankful for, I realize it could go on and on.

But instead of just making a one-time list, which then gets forgotten about and stuck in some obscure folder on my computer, I recently challenged myself to try to do this mentally at various points throughout the day.

For example, when I'm sitting at my desk, I'm reminded to give thanks for a functional computer that lets me do everything I need to do. I'm grateful for a comfortable chair, a working keyboard and monitor, and even some candles and other trinkets just for decoration.

I'm grateful for the comfort of my warm sweater, and grateful that my apartment is warm enough that I can type without my hands freezing. I'm grateful that I live in a safe neighborhood where I don't have to worry about my apartment being broken into and having my computer stolen, or having to live with sketchy roommates who might do something to break it.

I'm grateful for the electricity and internet connection needed to run my computer, and for even some spare time to spend watching YouTube videos. I can even be grateful for working eyes and fingers, for glasses that make it easier to read my screen, and for the ability to sit in my chair without pain.

Or when I'm doing dishes, I can be grateful for hot running water and soap to clean my dishes, for the food that I ate off of the dishes, and the ability to clean my own dishes without difficulty or pain. I'm grateful I have a family I can clean dishes for, and an apartment in which I can cook and eat my own meals, as well as the money to buy my own food.

When I do this sort of mental exercise, I find that I stop focusing on the negative things, and am able to focus on the positive. This shifts my attitude likewise.

In contrast, focusing only on what is lacking or what I think could be better only leads to a constant sense of bitterness, anger, frustration, jealousy, and ungratefulness for everything good that I do have.

Furthermore, it also helps me to adjust my expectations while I'm living here in this world. If I assume that everything in my life should be perfect, then any tiny little thing that is slightly imperfect can seem to be intolerable. This can then tempt me to complain to God about it, or feel angry that God didn't fix it or prevent it.

But if I shift my attitude to focus on all I have that is good, then some imperfections can be tolerated much more easily.

It also helps me to remember that Jesus never promised that Christians would have perfect lives in this world (John 16:33). I've written a previous post about the many reasons why God doesn't make Christians' lives perfect right now. Therefore, I can't blame God for not giving me what he never promised me.

Paul said he could be content with much, or with little (Philippians 4:11-13). He said we should remember that following Jesus isn't about getting rich, and so we can be content with having just the basic necessities (1 Timothy 6:6-8).

Therefore, I can remember to thank God for all the good things that he has given me in this life, and especially, for providing me at least the basics of what I need to live (Matthew 6:31-32). And in reality, he's given me far more than that.

Remember That We're Currently In A Spiritual War

Another thing that helps me adjust my perspective and attitude when I start to become ungrateful is to recall that while I'm in this world, my main goal is not to achieve maximum personal satisfaction and happiness.

Right now, all Christians are engaged in a spiritual war, whether we know it, or not:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

If you're interested, I've written more about how Christians experience spiritual warfare in my posts here and here.

But for this post now, what matters is that in a war, soldiers don't get to sleep in a comfortable, warm bed every night, eat luxurious meals, or have massages at the spa. They also aren't the ones who decide when it's time for them to pack up and head home from the front lines. They're stuck there, in the trenches, trying to make the best of things while they follow their commander's orders.

Paul encouraged Timothy to not get caught up in 'civilian' affairs, but to serve God as his commanding officer, even though this inherently involves some suffering (2 Timothy 2:3-4). So likewise, in this life, our primary mission as Christians is to follow God's plans and purposes for our lives, rather than getting caught up in pursuing all the things that non-Christians prioritize, such as wealth, success, fame, personal satisfaction, physical pleasures, and even happiness.

End-times teacher Lee Brainard once said, "we have this one short life to be soldiers; we have one long eternity to be fulfilled human beings".1

This is a helpful attitude for me to keep in mind when I'm tempted to start complaining about how bad things are in this world, or to whine about how unfulfilled and unsatisfied I am, despite how I do still have far more things to be thankful for on a day-to-day basis than I often realize.

Conclusion

So as I've argued in this post, despite us currently living in a spiritual battleground, in a sin-filled world, in these perishable and imperfect bodies, if we can remember to be thankful for all the good things God has given us, I believe it will enable us to endure these temporary imperfections and trials and difficulties with a more positive attitude.

And finally, someday when the Rapture happens (which I believe is coming very soon), we'll effectively be airlifted out of the spiritual trenches we're currently battling in.

Then we'll experience the reality of being seated with Jesus on his throne in heaven (Ephesians 2:6, Revelation 3:21). We'll return with Jesus at his second coming, at the end of the Tribulation, and will help Jesus rule the world which will ensure that it will be filled with righteousness and justice (Revelation 2:27, 19:15, Jeremiah 23:5, 33:15).

In the meantime, let's be grateful for all the good things we still have in this world, even while we keep on watching for the Rapture, sharing the gospel with those around us, and doing the good works God has prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). This is how we engage in our Master's business until he returns (Luke 19:13), even while we go about doing all the other daily activities we need to do in this world.

Footnotes:

• 1. See the last few minutes of Lee Brainard, "The Glory Revealed To Us," Soothkeep, August 22, 2023, accessed at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4LR1tr1hxI on November 26, 2025.