Life's a Mess, but Thanks Anyway

Last week, I hit a rock bottom. Yes, it’s true. 

A Grateful Heart in the Chaos 

I'd just wrapped up this tiring month at work as well as in my personal life, where deadlines piled up like unwashed dishes in the sink at my home, and my inbox mocked me with its endless red flags like my ex. At home, the fridge hummed its lonely tune because I'd forgotten to grocery shop again, and a different ache in my chest whispered that maybe, just maybe, I was unraveling faster than I could knit myself. I was on a rollercoaster of life with no breaks. 

I stepped out for a walk, the kind of aimless stroll that usually ends up with nothing or coffee with forced optimism. But Mumbai's weather had some other plans, rain in winter. As, I was standing in the shade, I saw an old man huddled under a tattered blanket on the corner bench, his shopping cart overflowing with what looked like a lifetime squeezed into plastic bags. His eyes met mine for a split second, tired, but not defeated by the conditions of life and he offered a nod, like we were old soldiers swapping war stories. 

In that moment, my "struggles" felt like a luxury problem for me. Here I was, making my small emails a problem, and he was battling the elements for a dry spot to rest his head in that rain. I gave him some money but that encounter? It cracked me open from my soul. Suddenly, gratitude inside me woke up; an unfair ride we call life, which is not the same for everyone. 

Life's a Mess, but Thanks Anyway? 

I'm saying that incident is to make you understand the importance of gratitude and thanksgiving. Looking from a theological lens, gratitude isn't just good manners, ceremony or a mood booster; it's an act of worship which we do. 

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV) 

Trusting God even when the time is bad and thanking him for having your back is a kind of worship. Remember when people touched Jesus’s cloak and got healed? It was an act of trust on God. Thanks, opens the door to God. Even on rough days like King David and Job went through, they trusted. Again, trusting and thanking him is the key. 

“They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.” (Matthew 14:36) 

Thanking in the Social Media Era 

Social media is like a hurdle between real-life appreciation. Thanking for the lavish lifestyle with fancy food and happy words is the truth? I think our life means more than that. After visiting the church and getting to know the system, I understood that thanksgiving isn't just about one day. It's a habit like sharing bread and wine in church, where "thanks" means a lot and also praying for each other, the act of giving and selflessness. We thank the God who made us (Psalm 139:13-14), who knows our names (I have summoned you by name; you are mine, Isaiah 43:1), and the people who show us we're not alone. 

Toasting the Mess

So, as we cut the cake (or whatever you eat), let's toast the wild ride of all the life we've lived till now. Give it back to God, who fixes everything and who made us grow. Let's thank God for nurturing us as he nurtured the plants to grow into trees. 

Life's messy? Yes. But thanks anyway for twists that bring us close to God, comebacks from His Spirit and new chances tomorrow; held by hands that took nails.

Common Questions on Gratitude in the Mess 

Ever wonder how to keep a thankful heart when life feels like a storm or a messy storm? Here are five quick questions I've heard and asked myself about gratitude from a different angle. An angle of faith. Each one comes with a Bible verse to relay on simple truths to connect us in this lifetime. 

1. What if I'm too stressed to feel thankful? 

Its okay, gratitude isn't about faking a smile or giving something without whole heart. It's a choice to bring your worries to God in any way. This verse, Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Start small: thank Him for one breath, one friend, one sunrise and one day. He meets us there, always, no matter what. 

2. Does God really want thanks in the bad times? 

Yep, it's His way of reminding us He's bigger than the chaos of the world. This verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 puts it straight: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Not for the hard stuff, but in it. Like Habakkuk 3:17-18: even when crops fail and joy's gone, "yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."  

3. How do I spot God's goodness on rough days? 

Look for the little gifts—they're everywhere if we pause. James 1:17 reminds us, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." That hot coffee? The hug from a kid? A song that hits your soul? Those are His whispers, saying grace is enough (2 Corinthians 12:9). 

4. Why bother with thanks—does it even help? 

It rewires us toward joy and peace, turning our eyes from the mess to the Maker. Colossians 3:15-17 ties it up: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts... And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly... singing psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit... giving thanks to God the Father through him." It's worship that settles our soul and spills over to others. 

5. What's the ultimate reason to say thanks? 

Because of Jesus, the gift that changes everything. 2 Corinthians 9:15 nails it: "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" In the middle of our messes, His love redeems it all. Psalm 107:1 echoes, "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever." That's the heart of Thanksgiving, not our circumstances, but His endless goodness. 

6. Who am I to preach? 

I am Yash Gadade, I write on these blogs: The Eternal Texts, The YG Take and Offshore Scribe. I study theology and whatever I learn, I write it down. 

7. Is Yash Gadade a Pastor? 

No, Yash Gadade is a Marketing and Communication Executive, blogger, and author based in Mumbai, India, who has an interest in theology.  

He has worked in digital marketing, public relations, and social media management for various companies, including AAFT Online and Manifest Media. He also writes blogs on various topics, including lifestyle, entertainment, and theology, and is the author of a book.  

While he posts content related to the Bible and theology on his social media and professional profiles, his professional career is centered in marketing and communications. Yash Gadade himself holds a corporate marketing role.