Heart Attack Recovery Story: Finding Faith, Hope, and Peace After a Life-Changing Diagnosis

​My heart attack recovery. After surviving a heart attack, I share my six powerful lessons I never want to forget about God and why gratitude is so important.

I share my personal experience surviving a heart attack and the lessons it taught me about God and gratitude.

This honest reflection explores the warning signs, the emotional impact of recovery, and six important reminders I want to carry forward. If you or someone you love has experienced heart problems, I hope this story offers encouragement and perspective.

This video is for personal storytelling and general information only. Always seek advice from a qualified medical professional for symptoms, treatment, or recovery guidance.

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I was speaking on practicing the Sabbath. And I said something off the cuff. I said, "If you don't take a regular Sabbath, a Sabbath can take you. Since it happened to ancient Israel, what makes you think it won't happen to you?"

And I sat down after that message, right there in my chair, and I felt this menacing voice.

Clear as day. It said, "That's the last sermon you're ever going to preach."

Now, I don't have time for menacing voices. Jesus didn't argue with demons, so why should I?

I just brushed it off. That was my twelfth time I spoke in fourteen weeks.

My books were selling, people were telling others about my materials.

By the grace of God, I wasn't going to fall. Why should I worry?

The Heart Attack and Recovery

But a week later I had a heart attack.

And I had a lot of time to think about that menacing voice as I recovered.

And since the heart attack,

• I’ve had three stents put in and surgery for two types of carcinoma.
• I’ve had AFIB and Cardiac Ablation surgery,
• I am being treated for fibromyalgia.
• I get tinnitus that can shut me down for the day and
• knots in my legs that can wake me up screaming.
• I’ve lost a range of frequencies in my hearing, so I wear hearing aids.
• My arms got too short and font on phones only get so big so I have to wear readers.
• And I’ve had complications—and I don’t like complications—and
• sat in so many waiting rooms and waited for so many diagnostic test and specialist. And
• I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been rushed to emergency—although I think it’s only once the paramedics had to come.

Heart Attack Recovery and God

But I’ve also had an atheist grab me and ask me to pray so she can have my peace. I’ve had a nurse tell me “you’re far too joyful for someone in this situation.”

I’ve learned I can create safe space for people to self express their thoughts, feelings and emotions without judgment criticism and condemnation.

I’ve been able to tell people about the hope that I have in Jesus.

I've seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. And because of all of that, there are six things I never want to forget.

All of us have something

All of us have gone through something that drops us to our knees.

The question is, how do you ENDURE when life makes less sense?

So I developed this tool. I call it the

How to ENDURE Tool

One letter at a time. And I want to walk you through it.

E: Ever remember to never give God credit for the works of the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

The first E reminds me to Ever remember to never give God credit for the works of the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

Jesus came to give us life and have it to the full. The enemy comes for the opposite reason.

So the question you can ask yourself is this: Am I giving God credit for what the enemy is doing?

Our emotions show us what we truly believe.

The lies we hold onto, they need to be surfaced.

You can't just treat the symptoms. You've got to get to the root.

And then let Holy Spirit replace those lies with the truth he reveals.

​N: Never forget to treat all hardship as discipline.

N reminds me to Never forget to treat all hardship as discipline.

Hebrews tells us that God disciplines those he loves as a father.

Now, discipline isn't punishment. It's training. It's preparation. It's him shaping you for something.

And Romans 8:28 says he works all things together for the good of those he’s called.

It's by the word of our testimony that we overcome. Never forget God's goodness to you.

Don't give God credit for the devil's work, and we see hardship as training. But how do you actually keep your peace through it?

D: Don't ever ignore that the God of all hope fills me with all peace and joy as I trust in him so I can overflow with hope by the power of Holy Spirit

D reminds me - Don't ever ignore that the God of all hope fills me with all peace and joy as I trust in him so I can overflow with hope by the power of Holy Spirit

Nothing is more important than your peace. Peace is the emotion that needs to rule your heart.

I've had too many Christians tell me they are trusting God but they just can't stop worrying. And I want to say this gently.

Show me your peace and I'll know you're trusting God. Show me your joy and I'll know you're trusting God. Show me your hope and I'll know you're trusting God.

Because your emotions, they show you what you actually believe--Not what you say you believe--what you actually believe.

So if you don't have peace, here's what I've learned to do. Go back to the last place you had it. Where did you lose it? What happened?

And then confession and repentance, they work wonders to get it back. Repent and do the things you did at first. That's not just religious language. That's practical. That's how you find your way back.

U: Understand that I can worry about nothing but pray about everything with thanksgiving.

U in ENDURE reminds me to Understand that I can worry about nothing but pray about everything with thanksgiving. Philippians 4:6 and 7.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says giving thanks in all circumstances is his will for you.

In 2024 I did my first 70-Day Gratitude Challenge. Every day for 70 days I decided to give thanks, feel grateful for what I was giving thanks for, and show appreciation for what I felt gratitude toward. I was giving thanks with my whole heart.

We don't learn habits in 21 days. But in 21 days you'll be 10 percent happier. If you do three sets of 21—that's 63 to 70 days, the neural pathways realign.

Your brain actually rewires itself.

In 70 days you realign your brain so you can give thanks at all times.

And that's God's will for you.

So you guard your peace and you practice gratitude. But what do you do with the actual weight of what you're carrying? https://revtrev.link/thanks

R: Remember to cast all my cares upon Him because He cares for me.

R reminds me to Remember to cast all my cares upon him because he cares for me. I've learned something important.

Never leave a time of prayer without exchanging your problems for his peace. Don't just bring your list of requests and walk away still carrying them.

Exchange them. Pour out your heart to God. Trust Him with your requests and you'll have His peace.

After first gratitude challenge, I felt God calling me to seek him. And I didn't know what that would look like with my current reality. I mean, I've got all these health things going on. I'm tired. I can't physically do what I've done. How do I practically seek him in the middle of all this?

I eventually developed what I call the Our Father Prayer Rhythm. https://revtrev.com/thanks

I write down all my requests and I write down all the answers. Because let me tell you something. My God answers my prayers.

And when I see those answers written down, it builds my faith for the next thing.

Worry about nothing. Pray about everything with thanksgiving. That's the rhythm. That's how you live.

E: Embrace that He has showered me with His kindness along with all wisdom and understanding so everything is figureoutable

E stands for Embrace that he has showered me with his kindness along with all wisdom and understanding. Galatians 6:8. and so everything is figureoutable.

He not only prompts me to do his will, he empowers me to accomplish it. Every good work prompted by faith, he gives me the ability to do it.

I don't know what lies ahead. I really don't. But I know he's already there. I know I can trust him to prove himself good.

I know his favour is on me and his blessings overwhelm me. Even though in this world I will have trouble, I take heart knowing he's overcome the world.

That’s my Heart Attack Recovery Story

So that's the tool. ENDURE. That's my story and that's six things I never want to forget. I know I must endure and I want to encourage you to do the same.

I don't know what impossible situation you're facing right now. I don't know what lies you're believing or if you feel rejected or forgotten or completely alone.

Maybe you're dealing with a scary diagnosis. Maybe you're sitting in a waiting room right now wondering what comes next.

Maybe you got that phone call that dropped you to your knees and you're still trying to figure out how to stand back up.

I want you to know something.

God is for you. And if God is for you, who can be against you?

He is big enough for your questions. He's given you the gift of lament.

He is going to finish the good work he started in you.

He rejoices over you with singing. He quiets you with his love.

That's why I can say I have seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Not in some far-off heaven someday—although I want to keep my thoughts on heaven. Right here. Right now. In the middle of the mess.

If you want to try the Our Father Prayer Rhythm or the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge, you can find them at the links below. They're free. They're tools. They've helped me and I think they can help you too.

How to Give Authentic Appreciation

​Learn how to give authentic appreciation with sincere words, specific praise, and meaningful actions that strengthen trust, connection, and relationships.

​Learn How to Give Authentic Appreciation through sincere words, specific recognition, and meaningful actions. This video explains how to make your appreciation feel genuine, personal, and impactful in friendships, relationships, and the workplace. Discover practical ways to recognize others, avoid empty compliments, express gratitude clearly, and build stronger connections through everyday appreciation.

Learn more about the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge at https://revtrev.link/thanks

Trevor H Lund helps capable and caring people—who are growing weary in doing good—move from striving and stress to peace and purpose as they rediscover and enjoy the life God created them for. He does this as an encourager, writer, and authorpreneur. He encourages through his blog, podcast, and live casts at https://revtrev.com/, shares his writing at https://trevorlund.com/, and teaches in Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca/.

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Read the Blog Post Authentic Appreciation: How to Make People Feel Seen, Valued, and Encouraged

​Have you ever worked hard, given your best, and still felt unnoticed?

You may have carried a difficult responsibility, supported someone through a challenging season, or quietly served without recognition. When no one acknowledges the effort, it can leave you wondering whether what you do matters.

Most people understand the importance of working wholeheartedly. Colossians 3:23–24 reminds us to work with all our heart as though we are serving the Lord. Christ sees and values our faithfulness.

Still, being appreciated by the people around us matters too.

People need to feel seen. They need to know that their effort, sacrifice, kindness, and presence have meaning. This is why authentic appreciation is so important.

Gratitude recognizes value; appreciation reveals it.

What Is Authentic Appreciation?

Authentic appreciation is a sincere expression of gratitude that recognizes a person’s effort, character, presence, or influence.

It is more than saying “thank you” out of habit. It involves paying attention, identifying what matters, and communicating your appreciation in a way the other person can genuinely receive.

Authentic appreciation may be expressed through:

• Specific words of encouragement
• A thoughtful message
• Practical help
• Undivided attention
• A handwritten note
• A generous act of service
• A sincere compliment
• Prayer and personal support

Appreciation becomes meaningful when it is specific, timely, and sincere.

Why Appreciation Matters

A lack of appreciation can slowly affect a person’s heart. Over time, people may become discouraged, emotionally distant, or less willing to offer their best.

The opposite is also true. A sincere expression of appreciation can give tired people courage. It can strengthen relationships and remind someone:

• “Your life has value.”
• “Your work has meaning.”
• “I see what you are doing.”
• “You are not carrying this unnoticed.”

Every day, people around us are managing unseen burdens. A parent may be exhausted but continue serving. A friend may be grieving while still showing up. A coworker may be learning something difficult. A church volunteer may keep working without recognition.

When we notice and acknowledge them, our words can bring encouragement in a moment when they need it most.

Appreciation does not remove every burden, but it communicates that people do not have to carry those burdens unseen.

Appreciation Must Be Genuine

When I was growing up, my siblings and I sometimes had to say three positive things to one another after an argument. If we struggled, the number increased.

Although we were following instructions, our words were not always sincere. We were simply completing an assignment.

Appreciation is different. It cannot be reduced to polite phrases or forced compliments. Genuine appreciation comes from a grateful heart.

Spontaneous appreciation can feel especially meaningful because it is not connected to a holiday, birthday, promotion, or obligation. Hearing, “I was thinking about you today, and I wanted you to know how much I value you,” feels personal because it is freely given.

Three Lessons About Authentic Appreciation

1. Appreciation Requires Wisdom About Timing

A positive message can be poorly received if it is offered at the wrong time or in an unsuitable way.

Proverbs 27:14 says:

“A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse!” — Proverbs 27:14, NLT

The words may be kind, but timing and delivery still matter.

Some people enjoy public recognition. Others feel uncomfortable when attention is placed on them. Some appreciate written messages, while others prefer a private conversation. One person may welcome a hug, while another may prefer practical help.

Showing appreciation well requires more than good intentions. It requires wisdom.

Before expressing appreciation, ask:

Will this person receive my message in the spirit in which I intend to give it?

2. Appreciation May Not Come Naturally, but It Can Be Learned

Some people are naturally expressive. They easily notice what others do well and communicate encouragement.

Others may feel appreciation deeply but struggle to express it. They may assume people already know how they feel, or they may focus so much on what still needs to be done that they overlook what has already been accomplished.

But appreciation should not depend on personality. It is a choice anyone can make.

First Thessalonians 5:11 says:

“Encourage one another and build each other up.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11, NLT

Encouragement requires intention. We must choose to notice another person’s effort, patience, kindness, sacrifice, faithfulness, or character. Then we must choose to communicate what we noticed.

Ask yourself:

Am I waiting until appreciation feels easy, or can I choose to show this person that I value them?

3. People Cannot Know What You Do Not Show

You may feel thankful for someone without ever telling them. You may value their work, notice their kindness, or admire their patience while keeping those thoughts to yourself.

Gratitude may live in the heart, but appreciation becomes visible through words and actions.

Ephesians 4:15 encourages us to speak the truth in love. That includes speaking honestly about the good we see in others.

Do not withhold encouragement because you are worried someone might become proud. It is not your responsibility to make other people humble. Speak truth with love, and allow God to work in their hearts.

Ask yourself:

Am I willing to make my gratitude visible through authentic appreciation?

Six Benefits of Authentic Appreciation

1. It Strengthens Relationships

Expressing appreciation communicates that people are valued. Over time, this can build trust, closeness, and relational stability.

When people know their contributions matter, they are more likely to feel connected and secure in the relationship.

2. It Helps Protect Against Resentment

Regular appreciation can help prevent relationships from becoming focused only on problems, mistakes, or unmet expectations.

In healthy relationships, positive interactions need to significantly outweigh negative ones. Sincere appreciation contributes to a more balanced and supportive connection.

3. It Supports Mental and Physical Well-Being

Practicing gratitude and expressing appreciation can contribute to improved mood, greater life satisfaction, and a stronger sense of connection.

Appreciation helps shift our attention from what is missing to what is valuable. It does not deny difficulties, but it helps us notice goodness alongside them.

4. It Builds Stronger Communities

First Thessalonians 5:11 calls believers to encourage one another and build each other up.

Families, workplaces, friendships, and churches become healthier when people feel recognized rather than overlooked. Appreciation strengthens the shared commitment of a group.

5. It Recognizes God’s Work in Others

The apostle Paul often expressed thanks for specific people and their faithfulness. In Philippians 1:3, he wrote:

“I thank my God every time I remember you.”

When we appreciate others, we can also recognize the character, gifts, and good works God is developing in their lives.

6. It Helps Guard Against Bitterness

Hebrews 3:13 encourages believers to encourage one another daily so that their hearts do not become hardened.

Regular appreciation helps prevent emotional distance from taking root. It reminds people that they are known, valued, and supported.

The THANK Tool for Authentic Appreciation

If you want a practical way to express authentic appreciation, use the THANK method.

T — Tell Them What You Noticed

Avoid vague praise such as “Good job.” Instead, identify the specific action, skill, or character trait you observed.

Try saying:

• “I appreciate how patiently you explained that.”
• “Your honesty helped us make a better decision.”
• “I noticed how calmly you handled that difficult conversation.”
• “Thank you for staying with that project when it became challenging.”

Specific appreciation proves that you were paying attention.

Reflection question:
What do I need to notice today?

H — Have an Unsolicited Check-In

Reach out when you do not need anything from the person.

You could:

• Send a short text
• Write a note
• Leave a voice message
• Ask how they are doing
• Tell them you were thinking about them
• Remind them that you value their friendship

Keep the focus on them. Do not attach a request to your message unless it is necessary.

For example:

“I was thinking about you today and wanted you to know how much I appreciate your friendship.”

Reflection question:
Who can I encourage without asking for anything in return?

A — Act Through Practical Service

First John 3:18 says:

“Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” — 1 John 3:18

Look for a small burden you can help carry.

You might:

• Bring a coworker a coffee
• Take a household chore from your partner
• Run an errand for a friend
• Prepare a meal
• Help with a task before being asked
• Offer support during a busy season

Make sure your help meets the other person’s needs. Do not assume that your preferred way of helping will be meaningful to them. Ask when necessary.

Reflection question:
What small blessing could I offer someone today?

N — Notice Them with Undivided Attention

In a distracted world, focused attention is one of the clearest ways to show appreciation.

When someone is speaking:

• Put your phone away
• Make eye contact
• Stop other tasks
• Listen without planning your response
• Ask a thoughtful follow-up question
• Remember what they share

James 1:19 says:

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak.” — James 1:19

Giving someone your full attention communicates that their thoughts, feelings, and time matter.

Reflection question:
Who needs my full attention today?

K — Keep Appreciation Real

Romans 12:9 says:

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them.” — Romans 12:9, NLT

Do not force words you do not mean. Authentic appreciation naturally flows from gratitude.

Wholehearted thanksgiving involves three parts:

1. Decision: Choose to recognize what is good.
2. Emotion: Allow yourself to feel grateful for what you notice.
3. Action: Express that gratitude through words or behavior.

Appreciation may include a conversation, act of service, prayer, time, encouragement, or respectful treatment.

The more specific your gratitude is, the easier it becomes to express sincere appreciation.

How to Be More Specific

General appreciation is kind, but specific appreciation is often more powerful.

Instead of:

“I’m grateful for my family.”

Try:

“I’m grateful that my family makes time to call even when everyone is busy. Those conversations help me feel connected.”

Instead of:

“I appreciate my partner.”

Try:

“I appreciate that you prepared my coffee this morning and gave me quiet time before work. That small gesture made my morning easier.”

Instead of:

“I’m grateful for today.”

Try:

“I’m grateful for the sunlight during my walk, the quiet time I had to think, and the message from my friend that made me smile.”

Use this simple formula:

I’m grateful for [specific action]. It made me feel [specific feeling] because [specific impact].

For example:

“I’m grateful that you stayed late to help me finish the project. It made me feel supported because I knew I was not handling the pressure alone.”

Appreciation Is Not Limited to Major Achievements

Encouragement is not only for promotions, awards, completed projects, or impressive accomplishments.

Appreciate people for:

• Their consistency
• Their patience
• Their honesty
• Their willingness to learn
• Their compassion
• Their faithfulness
• Their courage
• Their presence
• Their effort during a difficult season

Appreciation honours the person, not only the result.

A parent may need appreciation for continuing to show up. A friend may need encouragement for remaining faithful through grief. A coworker may need recognition for asking questions and trying to improve.

Small, thoughtful expressions of appreciation can have a lasting impact.

What Authentic Appreciation Feels Like

Think of a time when someone appreciated you in a way you still remember.

Perhaps someone noticed a sacrifice others overlooked. Maybe a teacher believed in you during a difficult season. Perhaps a friend reminded you of your strength when you had forgotten it.

How did it feel?

You may have felt:

• Seen
• Valued
• Understood
• Encouraged
• Supported
• Strengthened

That is one of the gifts we offer when we appreciate others. We give them more than a compliment. We give them courage to continue.

Appreciation tells people that their presence matters—not only their performance.

A Seven-Day Authentic Appreciation Challenge

Ask God to show you three people you can appreciate this week:

1. Someone in your family
2. Someone at work or school
3. Someone in your church or community

Then use the THANK method:

T — Tell them what you noticed
H — Have an unsolicited check-in
A — Act through practical service
N — Notice them with undivided attention
K — Keep appreciation real

Do not wait for a holiday, birthday, promotion, or perfect opportunity. Appreciation is often most meaningful when it arrives unexpectedly.

At the same time, do not hold back when someone is celebrating a special occasion. Every opportunity to encourage someone is worth taking.

Final Thoughts on Authentic Appreciation

Authentic appreciation is simple, but its effect can reach far beyond the moment.

When we pay attention, speak specifically, serve thoughtfully, listen fully, and keep our words sincere, we help people remember that they are valued—not only for what they accomplish, but for who they are.

Through appreciation, God can use our words and actions to strengthen the weary, restore connection, and build healthier families, workplaces, friendships, and churches.

This week, ask God to show you three people who need encouragement. Do not assume they already know how you feel.

Tell them what you notice. Send an unsolicited message. Offer practical help. Give them your full attention. Let your gratitude become visible.

Gratitude recognizes value; appreciation reveals it.

When appreciation flows from a grateful heart, it brings warmth to relationships, courage to tired people, and honour to God.

A Prayer for Authentic Appreciation

Lord, help us notice what we might otherwise miss. Help us see the people around us and recognize the qualities, efforts, and sacrifices You value in them.

Give us wisdom to know what to say, when to say it, and how to express appreciation with sincerity. Make our gratitude visible through our words and actions.

Help us encourage others, strengthen the weary, and honour You by treating people with love and respect.

Amen.

How to Pray Like Jesus: Abide Don’t Strive

​Stop striving and learn how to pray like Jesus taught His disciples can grow your faith, deepen your trust in God, and transform your daily prayer life.

​Striving is over. In this message, discover how praying like Jesus taught His disciples can grow your faith and deepen your relationship with God. Jesus gave His disciples a clear model for prayer through the Lord’s Prayer. His teaching shows us how to honour God, seek His will, depend on Him daily, receive forgiveness, forgive others, and trust Him through temptation.

Download the Our Father Prayer Rhythm https://revtrev.com/our-father

Learn more about the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge https://revtrev.link/thanks

​Trevor H Lund helps capable and caring people—who are growing weary in doing good—move from striving and stress to peace and purpose as they rediscover and enjoy the life God created them for. He does this as an encourager, writer, and authorpreneur. He encourages through his blog, podcast, and live casts at https://revtrev.com/, shares his writing at https://trevorlund.com/, and teaches in Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca/.

Listen to Abide Don’t Strive Discovering Peace in Faith

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Read Abide Don’t Strive Discovering Peace in Faith

​How to Pray Like Jesus: A Simple Prayer Rhythm for Moving From Striving to Abiding

How to pray like Jesus is not about finding the perfect words, praying for a certain amount of time, or working harder to earn God’s approval. Jesus gave His disciples a simple pattern that helps us draw near to God with trust, gratitude, honesty, and faith.

Many people approach prayer as another task to complete. They may feel pressure to pray longer, read more Scripture, serve better, or become more disciplined so God will accept them. But Jesus did not invite His followers into a life of constant striving. He invited them to abide in Him.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”
—John 15:4

Abiding means remaining close to Jesus and receiving life from Him. It is the difference between trying to produce spiritual fruit through your own effort and allowing God to work through you.

Striving Versus Abiding in Prayer

Striving says, “I must earn God’s love.”

Abiding says, “Because I am already loved, I can follow God.”

When you are striving, prayer can feel like another item on your to-do list. Bible reading becomes a box to check, and service becomes a way to prove that you are enough. Even good desires—such as wanting to please God or serve others—can gradually become burdens.

You may begin to believe that God is disappointed in you whenever you fail or feel tired. Instead of running toward Him for grace, you hide from Him in shame.

But exhaustion does not necessarily mean you are unfaithful. Sometimes it means you are carrying responsibilities that were never meant to be yours alone.

Jesus offers a different way. He teaches us to remain in Him, depend on Him, and pray from the security of knowing we are already loved.

Jesus’ Pattern for Prayer

When Jesus’ disciples asked Him how to pray, He gave them what is commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.”
—Matthew 6:9–13

This prayer is more than a set of words to repeat. It is also a pattern for spending time with God.

The prayer moves through six connected stages:

1. Adoration – Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name
2. Intercession – Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
3. Petition – Give us today our daily bread
4. Alignment – Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us
5. Battle – And lead us not in temptation, but deliver us from evil
6. Worship – For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever Amen.

Gratitude can be included in every stage. It helps turn prayer from a performance into a relationship with God.

1. Begin With Adoration

Jesus began with:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Prayer starts by remembering who God is. He is not distant or reluctant to listen. He is our Father, holy and worthy of praise.

Before bringing your needs to God, take time to acknowledge His character. Thank Him for His faithfulness, mercy, wisdom, power, and love.

The psalmist writes:

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!”
—Psalm 100:4

Gratitude helps prepare your heart to pray. As you thank God for what He has done, you naturally begin to praise Him for who He is.

Questions to consider

• What has God done for which you can thank Him today?
• Which of God’s qualities do you need to remember?
• How has He shown His faithfulness in your life?

2. Intercede for others

Next, Jesus taught us to pray:

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

This is intercession—praying for other people and asking God to work in their lives. Paul taught Timothy how to pray for all people:

Ask God to help them, intercede for them AND give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1

You can pray for your family, friends, church, coworkers, community, country, and leaders. Ask God to bring healing, wisdom, justice, salvation, peace, and direction.

Paul encouraged believers to pray for all people and to give thanks for them. Gratitude can change the way you pray for difficult people. Instead of allowing frustration or criticism to control your thoughts, you can ask God to help them and give thanks for them.

This does not mean ignoring harmful behavior or pretending that every situation is easy. It means placing people in God’s hands rather than allowing resentment to control your heart.

Questions to consider

• Who has God placed on your heart today?
• Where do you want to see God’s will done?
• Is there someone you have been criticizing whom you can bring to God in prayer?

3. Bring God Your Daily Needs - Petitions

Jesus then taught:

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

God welcomes our requests. You do not need to hide your needs or pretend that everything is fine. You can talk to Him about your health, finances, work, relationships, decisions, responsibilities, and long-term plans.

Your “daily bread” includes the concerns that occupy your thoughts. If you need to work for something, plan for it, make a decision about it, or carry responsibility for it, you can bring it to God.

Philippians 4:6 gives similar instruction:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Notice that thanksgiving is part of the process. You can ask God for what you need while also remembering what He has already done.

Keeping track of answered prayers can help you recognize God’s faithfulness. A written record of His provision can strengthen your trust during future seasons of uncertainty.

Questions to consider

• What needs are occupying your thoughts today?
• What decisions or responsibilities should you place in God’s hands?
• Where have you seen God provide in the past?

​4. Confess, Forgive, and Align Your Heart

Jesus continued:

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

This part of prayer brings us into honest alignment with God. We can ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and show us anything that needs attention.

Confess

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Confession means to agree with God.

Question you can ask God:

Have I done anything to make you unhappy?

Prayer Prompts

BE STILL and Know Tool https://revtrev.com/be-still/

Address

1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Be still. Let Him show you.

Question you can ask God:

Am I holding on to some worry I haven’t released to you?

Prayer Prompts

CAST Your Cares Upon Him Tool https://revtrev.com/cast/

Lament

Psalm 56:3 But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

It’s OK to feel your feelings.

Question you can ask God:

Am I needing to trust You with emotions—that may scare me?

Prayer Prompts

100 Psalms of Lament ordered by feeling expressed. Find one that feels the same way you do and camp out for a while. https://revtrev.com/psalms

Repent

Acts 3:19-20 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord,

Change your mind and go in the opposite direction

Question you can ask God:

Do I need to change an attitude or action?

Prayer Prompts

TURN to repent tool https://revtrev.com/turn/

Forgive

Colossians 3:13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Forgive with your whole heart

Question you can ask God:

Is there is anyone I hold anything against?

Prayer Prompts

Forgive with your whole heart tool https://revtrev.com/forgive/

Tip: Do not leave this time of alignment without peace, hope or joy.

Forgiveness does not mean approving of wrongdoing or refusing healthy boundaries. It means releasing the desire to take revenge and entrusting justice to God.

This portion of prayer is not meant to leave you trapped in shame. God’s conviction leads us toward repentance, restoration, hope, and freedom.

Questions to consider

• Is there anything you need to confess to God?
• Have you been holding on to resentment?
• What would it look like to receive God’s forgiveness today?

5. Battle

Jesus taught His disciples to pray:

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

This reminds us that spiritual life includes real opposition. However, prayer should not magnify fear or make the enemy the focus. Our confidence is in God’s authority and protection.

The Bible reminds us that our struggle is not ultimately against people, but against spiritual forces. Therefore, we can ask God for discernment, strength, protection, and courage.

We can also pray for wisdom to recognize temptation and the strength to choose what honors God.

Giving thanks in difficult circumstances does not mean pretending that pain is good. It means trusting that God remains present and faithful, even when circumstances are hard.

Questions to consider

• Where do you need God’s protection?
• What temptations or pressures are you facing?
• How can you seek God’s strength instead of relying only on your own?

6. End With Worship

The Lord’s Prayer concludes with a declaration of praise:

“For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”

Prayer begins and ends with God. We start by honoring His name, and we finish by remembering that He rules with power and glory.

Ending with worship helps place your concerns in the right perspective. Your needs matter to God, but they are not greater than God. He is still sovereign, present, and worthy of trust.

Questions to consider

• What do you want to praise God for before ending your prayer?
• Which truth about God do you need to carry into the rest of your day?
• What are you willing to place back into His hands?

A Simple Prayer Rhythm for Everyday Life

Learning how to pray like Jesus does not require a complicated formula. You can use this six-part rhythm in a few minutes or spend more time in each section.

The Our Father Prayer Rhythm

1. Adoration: Praise God for who He is.
2. Intercession: Pray for other people and for God’s kingdom.
3. Petition: Bring your daily needs and concerns to God.
4. Alignment: Confess, repent, receive forgiveness, and forgive others.
5. Battle: Ask for protection, wisdom, and strength.
6. Worship: End by honoring God’s kingdom, power, and glory.

Gratitude belongs in every part of this rhythm. You can thank God for His character, His work in other people, His provision, His mercy, His protection, and His eternal authority.

Prayer Is an Invitation, Not a Performance

Jesus did not teach prayer as a way to earn God’s love. He taught prayer as a way to remain connected to the Father.

When you stop striving to prove yourself and begin abiding in God’s love, your prayer life can change. Prayer is no longer just a task to complete. It becomes a place where you remember who God is, receive His grace, and place your life in His hands.

You do not have to carry every burden alone. You do not have to produce spiritual fruit through your own strength. Jesus invites you to remain in Him.

Start with a grateful heart. Praise God for who He is, pray for His kingdom, bring Him your needs, confess what He reveals, ask for protection, and end in worship.

That is how to pray like Jesus—not by striving harder, but by abiding more deeply.

Your Next Step

Try this prayer rhythm tomorrow. Set aside a few quiet minutes and move through each section of the Lord’s Prayer. Do not focus on saying everything perfectly. Focus on being present with God.

You can also download the free Our Father Prayer Rhythm at https://revtrev.com/our-father to help guide your daily prayer time. If you want to build a lasting gratitude habit that supports a life of abiding, learn more about the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge at revtrev.link/thanks.

Why Your Faith May Feel Distant from God and How to Restore it

​Feeling distant from God? Discover the spiritual, emotional, and practical reasons behind it—and find hope, clarity, and a path back to faith today.

In this training, you’ll discover practical and faith-based steps to reconnect with God, strengthen your prayer life, and find hope when God feels far away. If you are experiencing spiritual dryness, remember that feeling distant does not mean God has abandoned you. Learn lament and the power of gratitude today.

​Trevor H Lund helps capable and caring people—who are growing weary in doing good—move from striving and stress to peace and purpose as they rediscover and enjoy the life God created them for. He does this as an encourager, writer, and authorpreneur. He encourages through his blog, podcast, and live casts at https://revtrev.com/, shares his writing at https://trevorlund.com/, and teaches in Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca/.

Listen to Why Your Faith May Feel Distant from God and How to Restore it

Subscribe to the podcast anywhere you listen to them https://revtrev.com/radio

Watch the Replay of Why Your Faith May Feel Distant from God and How to Restore it

Read Why You Feel Distant From God—and How to Find Your Way Back

Have you ever wondered why you feel distant from God?

You may still pray, attend church, serve others, and read the Bible. Yet something feels different. Your faith feels mechanical. Your heart feels tired. You may even wonder whether God has withdrawn from you—or whether you have somehow failed Him.

Feeling spiritually distant does not mean you have lost your faith. Often, it means you are carrying disappointment, grief, unanswered questions, or unmet expectations that you have not brought honestly to God.

The Bible gives us a clear way to understand this distance—and a path back to closeness with Him.

When Obedience Does Not Look the Way You Expected

I once left a church I loved because I believed God was calling me to move my family around the world. It meant leaving behind family, friends, finances, and a familiar future.

A month after I announced our plans, my father was diagnosed with bulbar ALS and given only a short time to live.

I believed I was obeying God, but I also told Him, “If I go, I want open heaven.”

We arrived in Auckland, New Zealand, on January 1, 2005. It was a city of about a million people, and everyone seemed to be at the beach. As we drove along empty four-lane highways to a friend’s house, I remember thinking, “This does not look like open heaven.”

We stayed in New Zealand for eight months. Eventually, everyone who knew us agreed that we needed to return to Canada to be with my family. I helped my father finish his book and get it published before he died.

At the time, I did not have the words to describe what I was feeling. I only knew the familiar language: “God is the potter, and I am the clay. Who am I to question what He is doing?”

But beneath those words, I felt hurt and confused. I felt separated from God. Someone even asked me, “You used to be someone. What happened?”

Looking back, I realized that I was not simply confused. I was offended by God.

Spiritual Distance Often Begins With Unmet Expectations

Many people experience spiritual distance through a slow drift.

You continue praying. You keep serving. You attend church and fulfill your responsibilities. But your heart begins to run on autopilot.

You may not remember a specific moment when things changed. You did not intentionally walk away from God. You simply moved farther back, emotionally and spiritually.

This often happens when your experience does not match your expectations.

You expected healing, but the diagnosis remained.

You expected provision, but the financial pressure continued.

You expected a clear answer, but God seemed silent.

You expected obedience to lead to blessing, but instead you encountered loss.

When reality clashes with what we believed God would do, disappointment can quietly create distance.

Even John the Baptist Felt Distant From God

John the Baptist had a powerful spiritual history. He publicly pointed people toward Jesus and called Him “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

John had baptized Jesus. He had heard the voice from heaven say, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Jesus even described John as one of the greatest prophets.

Yet John eventually found himself in prison.

While John waited in darkness, Jesus was healing the sick, setting people free, and preaching the good news. John had expected the Messiah to bring freedom, but he was still imprisoned.

So John sent his disciples to ask Jesus:

“Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
—Matthew 11:3

John’s question came from a painful gap between what he believed and what he experienced.

Jesus did not shame him for asking. Instead, He told John’s disciples to report what they had seen:

“The blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”
—Luke 7:22

Then Jesus added:

“Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
—Matthew 11:6

In other words, blessed is the person who is not offended by Jesus when His work does not happen according to their expectations.

That message is still relevant today.

You May Feel Distant From God Because You Are Hurt

Sometimes the reason you feel distant from God is not that you have stopped believing. You may simply be disappointed with Him.

You may be carrying:

• An unanswered prayer
• A painful loss
• A difficult diagnosis
• A broken relationship
• A season of silence
• A calling that became harder than expected
• A spiritual disappointment
• Anger over something God allowed

These emotions do not make you a bad Christian. They make you human.

The danger is not having honest emotions. The danger is hiding them.

When you pretend everything is fine, you may create emotional distance from God. You stop telling Him what you really think. You offer polite prayers while keeping your deepest questions locked away.

But God already knows what is in your heart. Honesty does not inform Him; it opens you to relationship with Him.

God Gives You Permission to Lament

The Bible gives us a language for seasons when God feels distant: lament.

Lament is the honest expression of grief, confusion, anger, disappointment, and pain before God.

A large portion of the Psalms consists of lament. The writers ask questions such as:

• “How long, Lord?”
• “Why have you forgotten me?”
• “Why do you hide your face?”
• “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts?”

These prayers are not examples of faithlessness. They are examples of faith that refuses to run away.

The psalmists brought their pain directly to God. They did not pretend to understand everything. They did not hide their emotions behind religious phrases.

They told God the truth.

Then, often in the same psalm, their perspective began to change. Their circumstances had not necessarily changed, but their focus shifted from the problem to God’s character.

Psalm 13 begins with the cry:

“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?”

But later, the writer says:

“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.”

The psalmist did not deny the pain. He brought the pain to God and remembered who God is.

Lament and Gratitude Can Exist Together

Many people assume that gratitude requires pretending life is easy. It does not.

You can be grateful and grieving at the same time.

You can say:

• “God, I am hurting, but I still trust Your love.”
• “I do not understand this, but I believe You are with me.”
• “I feel abandoned, but I choose to remember Your faithfulness.”
• “This situation is painful, but You have been good to me.”

The apostle Paul wrote:

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:18

Giving thanks in all circumstances does not mean giving thanks for every painful event. It means choosing to recognize God’s presence and goodness even in difficult circumstances.

Gratitude redirects your attention. It helps you remember that your current feelings are real, but they are not the whole story.

The Way Back Begins With Honesty

If you want to know how to reconnect with God, start by telling Him the truth.

You do not need a perfect prayer. You do not need impressive words. You can simply say:

“God, I feel far from You. I am disappointed, tired, and confused. I do not understand what You are doing, but I want to know that You are near.”

That kind of prayer is not weakness. It is an act of faith.

You are choosing to bring your real self to God instead of hiding behind religious performance.

The moment you become honest with God, the drift begins to reverse.

What Does Repentance Have to Do With Feeling Distant From God?

The Old Testament word often translated as “repent” is connected to the idea of turning around and returning.

The New Testament word points to a change in how you think, understand, and respond.

Repentance is not simply feeling guilty. It is turning away from the pattern that has taken you farther from God and turning back toward Him.

When you feel distant from God, repentance may involve:

• Admitting that you are disappointed with Him
• Confessing that you have stopped trusting His character
• Acknowledging that you have been hiding your pain
• Releasing expectations about how God must act
• Choosing to seek Him even before your circumstances change
• Returning to prayer with honesty

You cannot turn around until you acknowledge that you have drifted. That is why honesty is such an important part of spiritual renewal.

A Simple Practice for Finding Your Way Back

Here is a practical way to respond when you feel distant from God.

1. Find a Psalm That Matches Your Emotions

Choose a psalm that reflects what you are experiencing.

If you are afraid, find a psalm about fear. If you are grieving, find one about loss. If you are angry or confused, choose a lament.

Do not select a psalm only because it sounds positive. Find one that gives words to what you are actually feeling. Check out https://revtrev.com/psalms to find all the Psalms of Lament categorized by emotion.

2. Read It Slowly and Out Loud

Allow the words to shape your prayer.

Pause when a sentence expresses something you have been unable to say. Repeat it. Personalize it. Speak honestly to God.

You do not need to rush through the passage.

3. Let Yourself Lament

Tell God what hurts.

Talk about the disappointment, the unanswered prayer, the exhaustion, or the confusion. Do not edit your emotions to make them sound more spiritual.

God can handle your honesty.

4. Remember God’s Character

After you express your pain, reflect on who God has shown Himself to be.

Remember His faithfulness, mercy, patience, goodness, and presence. Think about times He helped you in the past. Recall promises from Scripture.

This does not erase your pain. It places your pain in a larger story.

5. Choose Gratitude

Thank God for one thing.

It may be something significant, or it may be something small:

• A person who supports you
• A moment of peace
• A past answer to prayer
• Strength to make it through today
• God’s patience with you
• The promise that He will never leave you

Gratitude may begin as a decision before it becomes a feeling.

God Is Not Afraid of Your Questions

Many people were taught that faithful Christians should never question God. Yet Scripture is filled with people who questioned, argued, grieved, and cried out to Him.

Job questioned God.

David questioned God.

Jeremiah questioned God.

John the Baptist questioned God.

God did not reject them for bringing their questions to Him.

What damages intimacy is not honest struggle. It is pretense.

You do not need to protect God from your emotions. You need to bring your emotions into His presence.

The Distance May Be an Invitation

The distance you feel may not be a wall between you and God. It may be an invitation to deeper honesty.

Perhaps God is inviting you to move beyond routine prayers and religious performance. Perhaps He is inviting you to bring Him the parts of your heart that you have kept hidden.

You may not receive an immediate explanation for everything you have experienced. But you can begin a genuine conversation with God today.

Bring Him your:

• Disappointment
• Doubt
• Anger
• Grief
• Exhaustion
• Unanswered questions
• Fear of being forgotten

Then allow gratitude to remind you that God’s silence is not proof of His absence.

Final Thoughts on Why You Feel Distant From God

If you are wondering why you feel distant from God, the answer may be connected to disappointment, unmet expectations, unprocessed grief, or a slow spiritual drift.

You do not have to pretend that you are fine.

Start with a prayer of honesty. Find a psalm that expresses what you feel. Read it slowly. Lament before God. Remember His character. Then choose gratitude, even if your circumstances have not changed.

The way back does not begin with performing better. It begins with becoming honest.

God is closer than your next breath. You can bring Him your whole heart—including the parts that are confused, wounded, and afraid.

Find a Psalm that matches how you feel today and begin the conversation.

You can also learn more about the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge.

Unlock the Anti-Striving Strategy: Renew Your Soul!

​Discover the anti-striving strategy to renew your soul, quiet inner pressure, find rest, and live with greater peace, purpose, and trust every day.

​Trevor H Lund helps capable and caring people—who are growing weary in doing good—move from striving and stress to peace and purpose as they rediscover and enjoy the life God created them for. He does this as an encourager, writer, and authorpreneur. He encourages through his blog, podcast, and live casts at https://revtrev.com/, shares his writing at https://trevorlund.com/, and teaches in Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca/.

Pre-campaign

​Wednesdays 10:00 AM MDT - August 26 - September 16, 2026

This is part of the Pre-Campaign for the 3rd Annual Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge.

​The Gratitude Challenge itself runs from Friday, September 18, 2026 – Thursday November 26, 2026 I’m doing weekly live casts on X, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Tiktok and Instagram. As well as doing group coaching and weekly meetings in the Cascade Chalet.

Join me.
Build a habit of gratitude, one day at a time https://revtrev.link/thanks

Listen to Unlock the Anti-Striving Strategy

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Watch the replay of Unlock the Anti-Striving Strategy

Subscribe and set notifications so when I go live you’ll be notified https://revtrev.com/tv

Read the text of the teaching for Unlock the Anti-Striving Strategy

Have you ever had a full schedule without feeling overwhelmed—and then had another day with only a few tasks that left you exhausted?

Busyness is not always about how much you have to do. Often, it is about the weight you are carrying while you do it.

The good news is that there is an anti-striving strategy that can help you move from stress and self-reliance to peace and purpose: learning to give thanks with your whole heart.

The Morning I Realized I Was Too Busy to Be Busy

I remember dropping my children off at school one morning while mentally racing through the day ahead.

I had already attended one meeting and was trying to work out whether I could get to another meeting before my lunch appointment.

A friend saw me and asked, “How’s your day—busy?”

I was about to agree with her and continue on my way. Instead, I heard myself say:

“I don’t have time to be busy!”

The statement surprised me. Where had it come from?

As I thought about it, I realized it had exposed something beneath my packed schedule. I wanted to learn how to accomplish what needed to be done without constantly feeling rushed, pressured, and overwhelmed.

That question led me to discover an anti-striving strategy that changed how I understood work, faith, and rest.

The answer was not doing more for God.

It was learning to trust Him and give thanks with my whole heart.

Busyness Is Not Always About Your Schedule

There have been seasons when I was doing many things but did not feel particularly busy. At other times, I had only a few responsibilities but felt completely overwhelmed.

That contrast made me ask an important question:

What is the root of busyness?

My family and I moved to New Zealand in 2005. At that time, the culture felt laid-back and relaxed. The phrase “no worries” seemed to describe the general attitude.

Yet the busiest people I knew were often involved in church work.

I also noticed that some people became busier after retirement. Even when their employment ended, their sense of pressure did not.

This showed me that busyness is not simply a calendar problem. It can be a soul problem.

How Shame Turns Work Into Striving

The early chapters of Genesis helped me understand this more clearly.

Before sin entered the world, Adam and Eve worked, but work was not described as painful, anxious, or oppressive. They walked with God and lived without shame.

After the fall, everything changed.

Shame entered the human experience. Work became difficult. In Genesis 3:19, God tells Adam:

“By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made.”
—Genesis 3:19, NLT

Work itself was not the problem. Striving was.

Shame can cause us to feel that we must prove ourselves, protect our image, avoid failure, and carry responsibilities without help. We may work hard not only to accomplish something, but also to show that we are valuable, competent, or acceptable.

That pressure creates inner busyness.

You can have an empty calendar and still feel driven. You can be doing good things and still be running on fear.

Jesus Offers an Anti-Striving Strategy

Jesus speaks directly to weary people:

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
—Matthew 11:28–30, NLT

Jesus does not offer a new checklist.

He offers a shared life.

What Is a Yoke?

A yoke is a wooden beam that joins two animals together so they can work as a team. Traditionally, a stronger, more experienced animal would help train a younger one.

The stronger animal carried much of the weight. The younger one learned to walk in step.

When Jesus invites us to take His yoke, He is not saying, “Here are more responsibilities for you to manage.”

He is saying:

Walk with Me. Let Me teach you. Let Me carry the weight.

The rest Jesus gives is not simply a nap or a break from responsibility. It is a different way of living—one based on trust rather than self-reliance.

The Real Problem Was Not Doing Too Much

I eventually realized that my problem was not necessarily the number of things I was doing.

The deeper problem was that I was trying to do them alone.

I was trying to:

• Look good
• Avoid looking bad
• Manage every outcome
• Prove that I could handle everything
• Carry the weight of my own life
• Make sure everything worked out

That kind of effort is exhausting.

Jesus offers a better way. His yoke becomes light when we trust that God is good and that He is able to work through every situation for good.

Without that trust, we can become like a young ox resisting the older one. We hesitate, pull back, and struggle against the direction we are being led.

Gratitude Helps Us Walk With Jesus

This is where gratitude becomes an important anti-striving strategy.

When we worry, our attention turns toward possible problems, imagined outcomes, and everything we cannot control.

When we give thanks, our attention turns toward God’s presence and goodness.

The situation may not change immediately, but something changes within us.

Instead of saying:

“God, help me survive this.”

We begin to say:

“God, You are already with me in this.”

The apostle Paul gives us this pattern:

“Worry about nothing; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
—Philippians 4:6, NLT

Thanksgiving does not mean pretending that life is easy. It means bringing our real concerns to God while remembering that we are not facing them alone.

What Does It Mean to Give Thanks With Your Whole Heart?

I used to think that giving thanks with your whole heart meant becoming highly emotional.

But the biblical understanding of the heart is broader. The Hebrew word lev refers not only to emotions, but also to the center of a person’s decisions, thoughts, and actions.

Giving thanks with your whole heart involves three parts:

1. Decide to Give Thanks

Gratitude begins with a choice.

You may not feel thankful when you start. You may be tired, worried, or discouraged. Still, you can choose to look for God’s goodness.

2. Feel Grateful

As you name what you appreciate, your emotions often begin to catch up with your decision.

You might feel grateful for:

• God’s presence
• A safe place to sleep
• A supportive friend
• A meal
• A meaningful conversation
• Strength for today
• A lesson learned through difficulty

3. Express Appreciation

Gratitude becomes complete when it is put into action.

You can express appreciation through:

• Prayer
• A written journal entry
• A message to someone
• An act of service
• A spoken thank-you
• Generosity
• Paying attention to the good around you

This three-part rhythm—deciding, feeling, and acting—turns gratitude from a quick phrase into a whole-person practice.

Why a Gratitude Practice Can Help

Research on gratitude journaling suggests that regularly recording what you appreciate can improve emotional well-being. Some studies have found that people who practice gratitude report greater happiness and satisfaction.

However, it is important to treat specific claims carefully. There is no universal rule that everyone will become exactly 10% happier after 21 days, nor is there a guaranteed timetable for changing brain patterns.

What we can say is that repeated practices can help shape attention and behavior over time.

The spiritual principle is simple:

What you repeatedly notice becomes easier to notice again.

If your attention is trained only on problems, your mind may become quicker to find problems. If you regularly notice God’s provision, kindness, and presence, gratitude can become a more natural response.

A Simple 70-Day Gratitude Practice

This understanding led me to create the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge.

It is not intended to be another demanding program or task on your already-full list. Instead, it provides simple structure for developing a new response to daily life.

For 70 days, you practice three steps:

1. Decide to give thanks.
2. Feel grateful for what you have named.
3. Show appreciation through words or actions.

The purpose is not to deny hardship. The purpose is to create space to recognize God’s goodness in the middle of hardship.

Over time, this practice can help you respond to stress with greater awareness, trust, and peace.

How to Begin the Anti-Striving Strategy Today

You do not need to wait for a perfect season. Try this simple practice tomorrow morning:

Step 1: Name One Concern

Be honest with God about what is making you anxious or tired.

Step 2: Give Thanks in the Same Situation

Ask:

• What is still good here?
• Where might God be present?
• What support has He already provided?
• What can I receive instead of control?

Step 3: Express Appreciation

Write down one sentence of thanks, send an encouraging message, or take one practical action that reflects gratitude.

For example:

“I am worried about today’s meeting, but I am thankful that I have prepared, that I am not alone, and that God can guide me through it.”

This is not denial. It is trust in practice.

You Do Not Have to Carry Your Life Alone

The heaviest burden you may ever carry is the burden of your own effort—the belief that everything depends on you.

Jesus offers a different way.

He invites you to walk with Him, learn from Him, and allow Him to carry what you were never meant to carry alone.

Gratitude helps you keep pace with Him.

So remember:

“Worry about nothing; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
—Philippians 4:6, NLT

This is more than a comforting verse. It is a practical way to respond when worry begins to take over.

Join the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge

If you are growing weary from trying to do good while carrying too much pressure, the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge can help you build a daily gratitude practice.

Sign up free through the link below and begin tomorrow morning—before the worries of the day begin to pile up.

The worries will come. But with practice, gratitude can become a new response.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May His peace rest on you as you learn to give thanks with your whole heart.

Learn more and join the free challenge: https://revtrev.link/thanks

Trevor Lund helps capable and caring people move from striving and stress toward peace and purpose as they rediscover and enjoy the life God created them for. He encourages through his blog, podcast, and live broadcasts at revtrev.com, shares his writing at trevorlund.com, and teaches through Live LIGHT Academy.