Gratitude Amidst the Storm

Jake Luehrs
July 04, 2026

ONE QUESTION

How can we make pain useful?

ONE THING TO PONDER

Arguments aren’t something to win, they are something to unpack.

ONE PERSPECTIVE

Gratitude is easy when we feel good. It isn’t a flex when it’s easy.

How would we experience life if we also felt gratitude for the challenges we face?

If we truly want to experience gratitude, we need to be grateful for everything, the good experiences, the challenges, and the tough emotions. That may sound counter intuitive, yet hang in there with me.

There is a gift wrapped up in each challenge we face in life. We just aren’t allowed to see the gift while it’s still wrapped.

And unfortunately, the only way to unwrap the gift is to allow time to reveal the meaning behind the challenge.

We’ve all had hard times show up in our lives…all of us.

Challenges don’t make us unique, they make us human. Take comfort in knowing you’re not alone.

There is a choice at the crossroads. We can use those hard times as a blessing or we can use them as a crutch in perpetuity.

It's not uncommon to talk with people that are grateful for the challenges they’ve endured during their lives.

Those challenges have the opportunity to be great gifts:

They expose opportunities that would have otherwise been hidden.
They open the door to relationships that change the trajectory of our lives.
They uncover wisdom, perspective and appreciation to the things that really matter.
They increase our strength and resilience.

Yet, to get all the benefits from challenges, having gratitude towards them is an important practice to hold.

If we hold the perspective that challenges are just there to get in the way, we’ll live the rest of our lives unhappily while constantly resisting reality.

However, when we bring a level of meaning to the challenges, they have a way of transforming our perspectives and bringing fulfillment.

It’s a situation I like to label “I wish it didn’t happen, but I’m glad it did.”

Find meaning, wisdom, and perspective in overcoming the challenges while being a gift to others in the process.

Onward and upward!

LEAD & LEARN : WEEKLY PICK

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The Seven Frequencies of Human Connection with Erwin McManus

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This conversation is a reminder that the quality of our relationships is shaped less by what we say and more by how we show up. Genuine connection is built through presence, authenticity, curiosity, and a willingness to truly understand the people in front of us. Whether you're leading a team, serving clients, or strengthening your closest relationships, the frequency you bring into every interaction matters.