Why should I thank God when I’m grieving?

Dear God of all comfort,

Thank you.

I’m grieving, but I thank You for everything.

Thank you for creating the church, which functions like a family. I can’t explain how people I’ve never met or hardly know can send me a prayer or encouragement, and I instantly feel loved and no longer alone.

Thank you for making prayer a way to express grief, joy, fear, and frustration. I don’t know why it works, but it does.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve You by serving other people. I don’t know why loving someone else when I need to be loved fills an emotional hole, but it does.

Thank you for growing my faith through trials. I don’t completely understand how suffering can produce joy in my life, but I see it happen all the time.

Thank you for asking me to be generous. I can’t explain how we can give away so much and still pay our bills, but remarkably, it’s true.

Thank you for a million other blessings–for every sunset, for every flower, for every smile, for every laugh. For exquisite tastes and smells. For the bliss of cuddling a child and kissing a spouse. I am astounded by the richness of life.

You are truly remarkable. There is no other explanation for the joy of life, except to say that You are God. You are holy, righteous, just, wise, fierce, and tender. I am in awe of You.

Thank you for that, too.

Amen.