If a victim mentality is like glasses that make us see the world through a gloomy, hopeless lens, gratitude does the opposite. It forces our mindset to shift and spot the good in life.
The Bible doesn’t promise that life as a follower of Jesus will always be easy. In fact, it acknowledges that there are many times where it won’t be. But instead of letting the tough seasons of life knock us down – or acting like everything’s fine and ignoring our problems – we can live in the tension of experiencing difficulty and being grateful for what God’s still doing in our lives.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us to keep a thankful heart, no matter what's going on around us. In the hard situation you’re walking through right now, what are you noticing God doing in and around you? How is he making you stronger, more compassionate, or more resilient? Over time, pay attention to how focusing on the good stuff changes your perspective.