Friend, do you find it hard to be grateful when God doesn’t give us what we want?
Granted, it is easy to be grateful when our desires are met and our needs satisfied. But what about when the miracle we expected doesn’t happen, and God doesn’t give us what we want, even if it is something good?
Here is a sneak peek of my guest post for Begin Within: A Gratitude Series hosted by Twyla Franz, in which I share how gratitude helped me experience that God is enough amidst unfulfilled desires and longings.
Remember to pin me for later!
Grateful for Not Getting What We Want
Why is it so hard to be grateful when we don’t get what we want? How do we keep trusting God in the middle of it?
The problem may come from our belief that getting what we want is the path to happiness and satisfaction. For example, we think that if we enjoy good health, have a well-paid job, make a career, have success, have children, have a nice house, have a loving husband, and rarely encounter pain and hardship, we will be happy. But this is not what the Bible teaches.
God Wants Us to Find Satisfaction in Him Alone
God wants us to be happy and satisfied, sure, but He wants us to find satisfaction in Him alone, not in having our desires fulfilled. He wants to bring us to the point where we can join this declaration with all our hearts:
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19, NIV)
Read the rest of the post at twylafranz.com to learn how gratitude opened my eyes to the miracles of transformation.
We Can Be Happy Even When We Don’t Get What We Want
What if fulfillment and happiness aren’t found in getting everything we prayed for? SATISFIED is a raw, compassionate memoir about infertility, unanswered prayer, and discovering a faith that endures when the miracle doesn’t come. This book is for anyone learning to trust through the unanswered.
More Encouragement for You
If you need more resources, encouragement, and comfort when you go through pain, grief, and struggle with unmet expectations and longings, I can highly recommend these books. Check them out.
Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings by Hadassah Treu
Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace in Your Every Day by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk
The Night Is Normal by Dr. Alicia Britt Chole
Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life by Denise Dubois Pass and Michelle Nietert
Life Can Be Good Again by Lisa Appelo
It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lisa Terkeurst
Hope When Life Unravels: Finding God When It Hurts by Adam Dooley
Restoration Year – a 365 Days Devotional by John Eldredge
All Things New by John Eldredge
Hope for the Hard Days by Sarah Geringer
Lean into Grace by Stacey Pardoe
This page contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. The commission I make from these items will help keep this blog going. Thank you!
Your Turn
Is there something God didn’t give you for which you are grateful now? Share in the comments and on social media if you found this article helpful. Thank you!
God wants us to be happy and satisfied, but He wants us to find satisfaction in Him alone, not in having our desires fulfilled. #desires #satisfaction #happiness Share on XA Reminder of who I am
A certified human flourishing, trauma-informed, and spiritual growth coach helping trauma survivors find deep mental and emotional healing through a faith-based approach. An award-winning bilingual author of 5 books and co-author of 14 more, I love encouraging the broken-hearted to partner with God so they can heal, endure, and grow in the dark valleys of life. Featured on nearly 100 faith-based platforms and podcasts, I am a hope-bringing speaker and writer at onthewaybg.com, a Top 100 Faith Blog ranked by Feedspot in 2025 and 2026.
I send my newsletter “Keep the Faith” every two weeks. I share with you first the newest blog post, recommended books and articles, and the newest freebies and resources to keep the faith.
